Dear Yavneh Family,
It is with a heavy heart that I write this letter.
Six years ago I was blessed with the gift of joining Yavneh Day School. After working in Jewish Day Schools for over 20 years, I was searching for a school that embraced innovation, curiosity, collaboration, and integration while truly putting the students at the center of their education. From my very first day on campus, I felt like I had come home; Yavneh has become more than a place of employment. Its staff and teachers have become my family. Its students have become my children.
These last two years have been challenging for all of us. I am thankful for the Board’s partnership as we navigated the pandemic. Keeping true to our fundamental beliefs, we kept our community safe and strong as we educated our students. I experience our success in the incredible learning that I witness as I visit our classrooms and from the heartwarming testimonials of our recent graduates. I sense our accomplishment each day as I see engaged and curious students who strive to make a difference.
Like many of us, coping with our ever changing world has led to more self-reflection. As I watch my parents and in-laws enter their golden years, I realized that I need to find better balance. After much soul searching and contemplation, I have decided not to return to Yavneh for the next academic year.
The strength of a school is ultimately measured by the quality and commitment of its staff, board and community. Yavneh is a strong school in a strong community, and I am confident that it will continue to grow from strength to strength. I look forward to working with the Board to ensure a smooth transition and to savoring my remaining time at Yavneh.
L’Shalom,
Cindy
On behalf of the Board of Trustees, I want to thank Cindy for her many contributions over the past six years. During Cindy’s tenure at Yavneh, she established the gem that is our outstanding Middle School, and her experience and academic acumen drove improvements in instruction across the curriculum. As Head of School, Cindy led Yavneh through an unprecedented time. She kept the health and safety of our children, faculty, and community always at the forefront and worked tirelessly to keep our community strong during the toughest of times.
The Talmud tells a story about a person planting a carob seed, which will take decades to bear fruit. A passerby asked, “Why are you planting that seed? Don’t you know you will never see its fruit?” The person replied, “I don’t plant this for me, but for the generations to come.” We are grateful that Cindy made Yavneh her home. The seeds that she planted will help our community thrive into the future. We wish Cindy the very best as she embarks on the next chapter in her journey.
As we move forward, the Board of Trustees is dedicated to finding a new Head of School who will provide the leadership necessary to grow Yavneh into the future. The Board is focused on identifying the skills, qualities, and attributes required for Yavneh’s next leader, and a search committee will be assembled in the coming weeks to carry out this important work. There will be many opportunities for the involvement of parents, faculty, and staff in the process. We will share more information early next year regarding the search process and transition planning.
While times of transition are never easy, our strength is in our shared vision for the success of our students and our school. Together with the parents, faculty, students, and friends of our community, we know that through this process Yavneh will continue to go from strength to strength, setting a course for the next 40 years!
L’Shalom,
Alison
