Women in Jewish Educational Leadership: Breaking New Ground
When I was selected for Prizmah's Orthodox Women's Leadership Cohort in 2023, it was a milestone — not just for me personally, but as a reflection of a broader shift happening in Jewish education. Women are stepping into leadership roles in ways that are reshaping our schools, our communities, and our understanding of what educational leadership looks like.
The Landscape Is Changing
For generations, women have been the backbone of Jewish education — in the classroom, in the home, in the community. But formal leadership positions — heads of school, directors of education, strategic decision-makers — have been predominantly held by men. That's changing, and it's changing fast.
My Own Journey
My path to leadership wasn't linear. From fitness instruction to Montessori education to curriculum development to directing innovation — each role taught me something different about what it means to lead. And at every stage, I encountered the same truth: the skills women bring to leadership are exactly what our schools need.
Relational Leadership
Women leaders tend to prioritize relationships — and in education, relationships are everything. When teachers feel seen and supported by their leaders, they bring their best to the classroom. When parents trust that school leadership cares about their children as individuals, partnership flourishes.
Collaborative Decision-Making
The best educational decisions emerge from dialogue, not directives. Women leaders often excel at creating spaces where multiple voices are heard, where consensus is built, and where stakeholders feel ownership of the direction.
Emotional Intelligence
Leading a school is deeply emotional work. You're navigating student needs, teacher wellbeing, parent expectations, board dynamics, and community politics — often simultaneously. Emotional intelligence isn't a soft skill; it's the essential skill.
The Orthodox Women's Leadership Cohort
Prizmah's cohort brought together Orthodox women from across the country who are leading or aspiring to lead in Jewish day schools. The experience was transformative in several ways:
What Our Schools Need
Jewish day schools face significant challenges — enrollment pressures, financial sustainability, attracting and retaining teachers, meeting diverse student needs. Addressing these challenges requires leadership that is creative, empathetic, persistent, and collaborative.
Women bring all of these qualities. And increasingly, communities are recognizing that elevating women into leadership positions isn't about representation for its own sake — it's about making our schools stronger.
A Call to Action
To women considering leadership: take the step. It just takes a little bit of chutzpah — just like any big initiative in life does.
To schools and communities: invest in women's leadership development. Create pathways, provide mentorship, and build cultures where women's contributions to leadership are recognized and valued.
The future of Jewish education depends on it.
