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June 30, 2000/27 Sivan 5760, Vol. 52, No.43
High school to get technical assistance
BARRY COHEN
Community Editor
The Jewish Community High School of Greater Phoenix has been awarded a technical assistance grant in the form of a madrikh from the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education.
It is one of seven schools nationwide selected to participate in the High School Madrikh Program, which is based in Boston, Mass.
The madrikh (Hebrew for "coach") is a representative of a core group of six experienced, professional educators who are now consultants.
"It is a major triumph for the Phoenix-area Jewish community that our school has been chosen to participate in this prestigious program," said Jay Schechter, Headmaster of the Jewish Community High School. The high school expects to open its doors to students in the fall of 2001.
"When you are recognized by a national foundation, then you've joined the community of Jewish day schools," said Bonnie Hausman, program officer for PEJE.
She added that the Phoenix Jewish community has "everything in place to be successful," such as growing numbers, a large base of Jewish youth, growth in elementary and middle day schools and support from the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix.
What also made Phoenix's high school distinctive is that its headmaster is Jay Schechter, Hausman explained.
"Phoenix is particularly lucky to get him," she said.
"This is a really important step," said Deborah Harris, president of the board of the Community High School. She added that now the school's leaders will be able "to hook up with people who have had real success, who know the pitfalls and possible routes to take for desired outcomes."
The madrikh will work with the community high school's professionals and lay leaders on board development, curriculum planning, recruitment and advertising, said Hausman. The grant includes 17 days of consultations, six days on-site and 11 phone conversations of one and a half hours each, she explained.
PEJE awarded technical assistance also to schools in San Francisco; Palo Alto; Los Angeles; Westchester, N.Y.; Philadelphia; and Chicago.
The Phoenix high school's madrikh, to be determined in consultation with the high school's leaders, will begin in September.
Founded by Michael Steinhardt in 1996, PEJE is a collection of 12 major philanthropic planners, designed to strengthen the quality of Jewish day school education in the U.S. and Canada.
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