Jon A Levisohn

Leaders of Jewish day schools play an important role in shaping, nourishing, and sustaining Jewish commitment. A long line of research points to the importance of Jewish day schools in shaping Jewish commitment and teaching the skills and knowledge conducive to participation in Jewish life. School leaders directly affect educational programs; teachers’ professional practice; and how administrators, faculty, students, and parents work together as a community. These effects are
generated through the leaders’ many job responsibilities. Among them are hiring and supervising teachers, ensuring high standards for teaching and learning, and building a safe and supportive school climate. Limited research exists on Jewish educational leadership practices and conditions for school leader success. The few studies on educational leadership that have been published in the past 15 years primarily drew on case studies. There is a need for research that includes a large sample of Jewish day school leaders and examines leadership practices and the conditions that influence them. This study is part of a three-year research project that aims to answer the research question: What is effective educational leadership in Jewish day schools, and how can it be nurtured and sustained?