Meet Emily Fernandez — Our Chief Schools Officer!

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We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Emily Fernandez will be joining our team in July as Hebrew Public’s new Chief Schools Officer!

Emily is an inspirational and strategic leader entering her fifteenth year as an educator. She is currently finishing the school year as Founder and Principal at Brownsville Ascend Middle School (part of the Brooklyn-based Ascend school network, on whose Board I have the privilege of serving).

Emily is an expert in instructional coaching, school leadership, student and staff culture, and evaluation. Students at her school have shown significant academic growth. She has a deep knowledge of how to ensure that growth while also creating warm and supportive school environments for children, staff, and parents. In addition to her work at Ascend, Emily has held roles at KIPP NYC and Teach For America in Miami-Dade, Florida.

Emily is driven by a deep belief in the ability of young people to excel when presented with rigorous challenges and unwavering support.

Upon accepting the position, Emily said, “There are many things that drew me to Hebrew Public. I’ve seen the network’s passion and motivation for children of all backgrounds to flourish while receiving an exceptional education in a diverse community. Teaching the Modern Hebrew language is a great way to expose young people to the world, a new language, and achieve high levels of academic achievement through instruction in two languages. In touring the schools, I’ve seen wonderful, positive, and kind children that have the character not just to excel for themselves, but to make a difference locally and globally. It is a unique movement, in unique schools, and I am so excited to be joining Hebrew Public at this pivotal time!”

Please join us in welcoming Emily to the Hebrew Public team!

Jon Rosenberg
President and CEO

P.S. Emily lives in Brooklyn and spends most of her free time reading to, playing with, or chasing after her two young children. She also loves exploring new restaurants and parks with friends.

A Broadway Benefit to Remember

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Witty, funny, touching, and REAL.

Every year, our network hosts a Broadway Benefit. These events have raised a total of over $1.3 million to support our schools. It has become an annual tradition  — a celebration of Hebrew Public, and an opportunity to connect with our community.

This year, we watched the show Tootsie. The new musical is based on the acclaimed 1982 comedy classic. The story follows talented but difficult actor Michael Dorsey, played by Tony nominee Santino Fontana, who struggles to find work until an audacious, desperate stunt lands him the role of a lifetime.

The show was a representation of real-life scenarios. Each character revealed their true colors, the good AND the bad. The show touched on topics that most Broadway musicals would probably steer away from, such as gender politics, rejection, unemployment, difficult relationships, and the obstacles that one may face when pursuing their dream — with a hilarious spin.

We’ve all been through at least one of these situations, right? The show is relatable. I’m not sure if anyone of us would go to the extent that Michael Dorsey did by pretending to be someone they are not, but desperate times do call for desperate measures.

I must say that Tootsie did not let us down. It also confirmed that being a woman, is no job for a man!

Prior to the show, we enjoyed a performance from our third and fourth-grade chorus during our pre-show reception. They sang beautifully while families enjoyed hors d’oeuvres. It was a wonderful afternoon, with a room filled with family, friends, and laughs.

 

 

 

As our families walked out of the theatre — you could see the smiles and joy on their faces, which only meant one thing — that our Broadway Benefit was a success. We are truly grateful for the support we receive from each and every one of you.

Until next year!

 

By Elisabeth Castera

Meet Hadar Dohn — Our Head of School!

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We are thrilled to announce that after a thorough search, Hadar Dohn has been named the new Head of School for Hebrew Language Academy.

Hadar Dohn has been a leading educator for over three decades. As a lifelong learner, Hadar strives for continuous professional development for herself and all those around her. She is committed to and experienced in, meeting the needs of diverse learners. Hadar knows how to mentor, coach, and support teachers, and always has students’ best interests at heart. She has been described by former colleagues as collaborative, an effective communicator, empowering, and radiating camaraderie.

Most recently, Hadar was the Principal of Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago, which is a K-8 school. Before Schectner, Hadar served as the Head of School at the Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor for four years. Prior to that, she was at Temple Israel in Hollywood Day School in California for nineteen years. During that time, Hadar served in a variety of roles, including a Hebrew Teacher and Head of the Hebrew Department, and finally, as Principal. Hadar was also an elementary school art teacher earlier in her career.

Hadar has a Bachelor degree in Art from California State University, and a Bachelor of Literature and a Masters in Education from the American Jewish University. In addition, she is a Fellow and Graduate of the Day School Leadership Training Institute and Harvard University Principals Center.

During her spare time, Hadar enjoys reading and taking walks with her three dogs. She also loves cooking, but not baking, since it requires measuring. Hadar and her husband Mark, also an educator, are the proud parents of three children.

Hadar will start full-time this summer and will be making periodic visits to the school in the interim, so be sure to say hello and introduce yourself!

We are delighted to welcome Hadar Dohn to our community!

Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School Awarded Startup Grant

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For immediate release
May 1, 2019

Philadelphia – Philadelphia School Partnership (PSP) awarded Philadelphia Hebrew Public Charter School a $600,000 startup grant for the 2019-20 school year, with the potential to grow to $1.5 million over four years.

Hebrew Public is leading a national movement of exceptional, diverse public charter schools that teach Modern Hebrew to children of all backgrounds and prepare them to be successful global citizens. This grant supports the startup of Hebrew Public’s first school in Philadelphia that will be a citywide, open-enrollment public charter school.

PSP’s multi-year investment will enable Philadelphia Hebrew Public to launch with only grades K-1 in 2019-20 and grow to serve K-8 by 2026-27. After nearly three years of planning, the new school will open serving 156 students in September. Grounded in extensive outreach and demographic research, the school will be located at the junction of diverse neighborhoods in East Falls and Allegheny West and draw a diverse student body from across the city. Even in its first year, Philadelphia Hebrew Public has seen significant interest and is already engaging registered families in regular social events to build this unique school community.

“We are deeply grateful for PSP’s help in making it possible to bring Hebrew Public’s diverse by design school model to Philadelphia,” said Jonathan Rosenberg, President, and CEO of Hebrew Public. “Thanks to this investment, we’ll be able to launch thoughtfully and deliberately growing from a K-1 to a K-8 by 2026,” Rosenberg reflected.