Epstein Hebrew Academy
Head of School
St Louis, MO

About Epstein Hebrew Academy:

The H.F. Epstein Hebrew Academy (EHA) is an Orthodox child-centered school, dedicated to educating Jewish children in Judaic and General Studies and nurturing a love for the State of Israel. In addition to teaching children to think critically and to excel in the academic sphere, the school models lessons in middot and chesed.

EHA, established in 1943, was the first Jewish day school in Missouri and has been pioneering the field of education ever since. Our school is the only preschool -12th grade Jewish Day School in the region. With nearly one hundred students and 35 staff members, we offer a staff- to- student ratio that allows for teachers to provide individualized instruction. EHA is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Central States and associated with both the National Association of Hebrew Day Schools and Prizmah.

Our Philosophy:

EHA educates holistically, promoting cognitive growth, emotional and social well-being, and the highest levels of academic excellence in all areas of study. The school, students, and parents form a true collaborative partnership and our faculty model a curiosity and thirst for knowledge and growth.

We actively engage as global citizens of the world. Our guidance and education employ the best educational practices that focus on and prioritize technology, collaborative game- play, creativity, and modern teaching tools. Judaism is a religion of all five senses. Our experiential education curriculum immerses students in the sensory components of religious practice and in the spirit and joy of religious observance. EHA graduates young Torah scholars with a thirst for Torah’s wisdom, granting them the skill set to unlock our sacred texts and debate our tradition’s deepest questions. The State of Israel is central to our Jewish identity, and to our devotion to the Jewish people.

Head of School Position:

At EHA we are looking for a Head of School who is a self-starter and brings passion, strategic vision and a strong background in management to our community. The Head of School will serve as the public face of EHA and will lead our community of students, parents, faculty and staff. As the CEO of our school, this person will be tasked with setting the school’s culture and ensuring the continued love of learning and life-long commitment to Jewish values and traditions.

The Head of School is expected to play a strong role in the fiscal growth of our school and in expanding the size of our incoming student body, The successful Head of School will develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders of the school. Marketing our school’s tremendous value will be a key area of focus.

The Head of School will report to the Board of Directors and work closely with them to implement EHA’s vision and mission Working with the board, this person will define the school’s strategic priorities and motivate, empower, and collaborate with the community in setting the course for future growth. This role will oversee the school's administrative and educational team, school finances, resource development, and student enrollment.

Qualifications:

We are looking for a Head of School who is a proven leader, a strong manager and has a passion for Jewish education. This individual must know how to manage their team while appreciating each member's talents and contributions.

This person should have:
A natural comfort working with multiple stakeholders including an ease with relationship building.
A proven track record of strong management and the ability to successfully delegate.
Financial literacy and familiarity with overseeing large budgets.
A desire to strive for excellence in all aspects of a school’s program.
Ability to communicate effectively and successfully tell our school’s story.
An ease with cultivating and soliciting donors.
A dedication and comfort with strategic, solution-based thinking that is collaborative in nature.
A dedication to being a team player who can motivate others.

About St Louis:

St. Louis is the perfect combination of a midwestern locale with the cultural amenities of a major city. St. Louis is located along the Mississippi River and some of our biggest cultural draws include the historic Gateway Arch, The Fabulous Fox theater, the National Blues Museum, The World Chess Hall of Fame and the Anheuser Busch Brewery. We have a number of nationally ranked universities, including Washington University in St. Louis, which brings a sense of innovation to the city . St. Louis is home to top medical schools and centers.

Our community is located close to Forest Park which is the country’s largest urban park and includes running and biking trails, a world class art museum, a Shakespeare in the park festival, an award winning zoo and the Muny outdoor musical theater, all of which offer free entertainment for all ages. St. Louis is known as a music center and we have many interesting music venues to hear jazz or blues as well as large national acts. Other family attractions include the St. Louis Children’s Museum, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, the incomparable City Museum, the new St. Louis Wheel and the St. Louis Aquarium.

For Sports Enthusiasts, St. Louis is a proud baseball city and home to the 11 time World Series Champion St. Louis Cardinals, who often provide entertainment from April through October, the recent Stanley Cup winning St. Louis Blues and we are welcoming a professional Soccer team in the next year.

Our Jewish community is mid-sized and inviting. We have a variety of congregations for every level of practice and a robust Jewish Federation. We have two recently updated JCC facilities. We have a growing number of kosher dining options and many fun community events including a kosher BBQ cookoff to highlight St. Louis’s rank as a BBQ city.