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May 21, 1999/6 Sivan 5759, Vol. 51, No.34
King David School names director
LOU HIRSH
Contributing Editor
The Board of the King David School has tapped a Valley public-school principal to be the director of the community's new, independent Jewish day school.
Judith Fineman, principal at Acacia Elementary School in Phoenix's Washington Elementary School District, has been hired as the top administrator at King David effective July 1, the day the school officially begins operations as an independent day school on the campus of Temple Beth Israel. The school formerly was known as Solomon Schechter Day School and has been located at Beth El Congregation. The school's board voted last December to disaffiliate from the Conservative movement's day-school association.
King David School Board President Judy Laufer said Fineman has both experience in public education and knowledge of the local Jewish community.
"Her experience as an administrator and her commitment to excellence made her stand out in our minds," said Laufer. "She knows the Jewish community here, and she's committed to the idea of a community school."
Fineman, 43, is a member of Beth Joseph Congregation in Phoenix and currently serves on the board of the Council for Jews with Special Needs. She is the former program director of the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center's preschool and day camp, and has also served as director of Beth El Congregation's Camp Shemesh. Laufer said Fineman's work in the Modern Orthodox movement, combined with her experience with non-denominational Jewish programs, makes her well prepared to address the religious and educational concerns of all families with children enrolled in the new school.
"It was important to us to have someone who can reach out to a variety of people, and Judy definitely brings this to the table," said Laufer. "We are now a traditional day school located on a Reform campus."
Board member Mark Searle, who headed the director search committee, said the choice "reflects the idea that we are an independent school" that will draw from all Jewish denominations.
Fineman said this week that she will miss the students and staff at Acacia, but is "extremely happy" with the prospect of leading the new day school.
"This is a really good fit with the kinds of things I have always enjoyed doing, and I'm looking forward to the challenge of my new job," she said.
A native of Cleveland, Fineman has lived in Phoenix since 1983. She and her husband, Scott, who owns an optical store, have three children, Evan, Todd and Shawn.
Fineman, a former assistant principal and elementary school teacher, became principal at Acacia in 1996, overseeing 750 students and a staff of 80. She holds a master's degree in education leadership from Northern Arizona University and a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Ohio State University.
Families of children enrolled at King David will be able to meet Fineman at the school's annual BookEnds event, on Sunday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. at Beth El Congregation's Shapiro Hall.
Classes for students in grades 1 through 8 will begin in August. Laufer said enrollment remains open, with 97 students enrolled for the 1999-2000 academic year as of May 17.
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