WANTED: A Principal for the Ramaz Upper School

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Mr. Cannon acknowledged that some candidates would not be available to begin until the following academic year, but Ramaz would consider this for the right person. However, the school would not “compromise on some of the key qualities required to lead the Upper School, even if that means missing a deadline,” said Mr. Cannon.

Mr. Cannon additionally provided some context regarding the search: It began in September by “combing professional networks and conducting outreach within our own community.” In early November, the school began assessing the resumes of over 30 potential candidates from several leading professional job sites, networking, as well as the search firm, Carney Sandoe. With the help of the Search Advisory Committee, the number of candidates was eventually narrowed down to two. These individuals participated in further extensive interviews, and ultimately the decision was made to continue looking for additional candidates.

The Rampage reached out to Mr. Cannon in order to better understand the situation. When asked about the Search Committee and its members, he notified Rampage that these positions are appointed by the Head of School. “I established various search advisory groups to help with that process, including upper school faculty administration, parents, and students, as well as board members and colleagues from other divisions,” he said. “As we get to the point where we are assessing serious candidates, these advisory groups will be formed again, and we will determine how they are structured. I anticipate that there will be many people who will be the same as last time.”

On the topic of the most important qualities and characteristics that Ramaz is looking for in a new Upper School Principal, Mr. Cannon expressed that the school is seeking an individual who shares the values of Ramaz and can build strong relationships with students, faculty, and parents. The candidate must be someone with credibility in educational leadership and possess the ability to “build community, be respectful of Ramaz’s many traditions and accomplishments while also being able to lead change where appropriate, effectively, and thoughtfully.”

Ramaz plans to achieve this by working with an outside search group and reaching out to people in the community and beyond for suggestions and recommendations, as well as using its own contacts. Mr. Cannon revealed that a group of potential candidates has been assembled for this year, and that Ramaz is continuing to expand that list. Ramaz has stopped working with Carney Sandoe and is currently partnering with Lydia Musher from Tradition Search Partners. Ramaz is looking for “someone whose hashkafa reflects the mission of the school, a modern orthodox yeshiva of excellence.” Mr. Cannon continues to intend to be incredibly transparent and informative regarding this matter.

On January 12, 2023, the Ramaz Upper School posted a job description for a division head/principal on the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) website. This includes the ability to establish direct communication with faculty, staff, and parents and foster pride among the Ramaz community. The candidate will nurture the school’s culture and academic excellence. Another highlighted responsibility is supporting the school’s mission as one that prepares students for their futures in the Jewish community, and creating a learning environment that not only gives students Torah knowledge and values, but also encourages them to engage in Jewish life. Outside of Ramaz’s mission, the candidate must be someone who is a successful leader and initiates change, as well as someone who builds effective, well-functioning teams. They must be a strong communicator and relationship-builder, and someone who is perceptive and knowledgeable. Ramaz expects this applicant to have a master’s degree in education or related field (preferred) and over 10 years of experience in managing a similar school setting.

Some of the many contributors to the search process are the students, as choosing a candidate fit for this position is essential to their success and well-being. “In my freshman and sophomore year, when we had a principal, I felt secure knowing that I had someone to talk to if I needed support,” said Daniela Woldenberg ’23. “When there was a leadership team, it was a bit more confusing, because we didn’t know who to go to to connect us with someone who might be able to help. I think with two principals things have been simpler when it comes to communicating. A pro in having two leaders is that if one is busy, you can go to the other. When looking for a principal, the school should seek out someone who is approachable and organized. These two traits are needed to help a student feel supported and as though their inquiries and hopes can be answered and executed.”

The leadership model at the Ramaz Upper School has indeed evolved over time. Ramaz previously had a Headmaster, a Dean, and an Assistant Dean. Later on, after the departure of Ira Miller, Ramaz adopted a system of a Head of School, Dean of Faculty, and Dean of Students. This team was comprised of Rabbi Stochel, Ms. Krupka, and Rabbi Slomnicki, respectively. At the start of the 2020-2021 academic year, Ramaz was led by Rabbi Stochel and Ms. Krupka, who retained their titles. Following Rabbi Stochel’s leave, Ramaz distributed authority a little differently. Five faculty members were chosen, each with their own contributions: Dr. Jucovy, Director of Humanities, Ms. Krupka, Dean of Faculty, Ms. Messinger, Dean of College Guidance, Rabbi Pianko, Director of Programming and Student Life, and Rabbi Schiowitz, Director of Judaic Studies and Religious Life. Currently, the leadership team is similar to last year, the only changes are as follows: Ms. Krupka is now Associate Principal of Upper School, Rabbi Schiowitz is now Associate Principal of Upper School and Director of Judaic Studies and Religious Life, and Ms. Brachot is the Director of General Studies. Evidently, the progression of Ramaz’s oversight has taken on many iterations. Yet, they seem to be looking for a single leader to shepherd the upper school. Can one person embody all of the desired characteristics and fill all of these roles?

Leadership is vital to assisting a group’s functions. Ramaz, like any other school, needs an administration that will steer the community in the right direction and implement positive change. Leadership must evolve over time and adapt to the current state of any organization. Ms. Krupka, a Ramaz administrator, Dean of Faculty, and now Associate Principal, shared with Rampage: “My role at Ramaz has moved from the more micro to the more macro elements. I used to just teach my own class, now I oversee larger projects and ideas as well as how the school should run. I spend a lot of time meeting with chairs or other administrators about larger plans for the school. I sometimes regret that this moves me away from immediate access to students.”

When asked about the ideal leadership model for Ramaz, Ms. Krupka noted the benefits of various leadership models that Ramaz has previously adopted: “I think that there is a value to having one person who is running everything, but I also know that the partnership team that has worked over the last couple of years has worked really well in terms of dividing up responsibilities. No one person feels like they’re completely in charge and there are different people that kids can reach out to. There is also a value in people not feeling like they have to go straight to the person in charge to get things done, and instead feeling like there are multiple people to support them.”

As for a candidate, Ms. Krupka recommends that Ramaz look for “someone who is able to understand our culture, who we are and what we value. This person needs to know how to move things forward and ensure that things actually happen, and work towards a better balance of our focus on academic rigor, mental health, and spirit.”