Taking advantage of an extra Adar this year, dozens of women in school leadership will convene in Los Angeles, CA to build their skills as principals and directors of Chabad girls schools from preK through high school. The third annual Chabad School Leadership Retreat, run by the Menachem Education Foundation (MEF), brings principals together at another Lubavitch school each year, to learn best practices, gain inspiration and insight, and come back refreshed and ready to lead their own schools to success. This year’s retreat will take place on Feb. 25-26 / 16-17 Adar, hosted by Bais Chaya Mushka of Los Angeles.
The program offers professional development workshops and inspirational sessions with Rabbi Mendy Greenbaum, Rabbi Zalmy Kudan, Rabbi Yosef Shusterman, and more, with a special early childhood track led by Mrs. Mimi Wilhelm. In addition to workshops, networking, and inspiration, the principals will tour local moisdois to learn best practices and expand their toolkit: Zlata’s Little Lights for Early Childhood directors, Bais Chaya Mushka and Bais Rebbe for elementary and middle school principals, and Ohel Chana for High School. The program hinges on the theme of “Redefining Our Role as School Leaders Today,” with each part of the program unpacking the evolving priorities and responsibilities of today’s Chabad principals.
In previous years, principals have testified to the meaningful impact that took place, with one sharing how she got the koach to power through an usually difficult year, another implementing a new system for teacher recognition and appreciation, and a third gaining practical new tools to make a seemingly insurmountable job more doable.
Mrs. Rochie Charytan, one of the principals of Bais Chaya Mushka, LA, attended last year’s retreat and is on the hosting committee for this year’s program. “I feel like the conference was a balm for my neshama and a reinvigoration of my Shlichus,” she shared. “I would rejoin for that alone. I so appreciate receiving that along with practical workshops.”
So far, educators have signed up from throughout North America, including Montreal, Toronto, New York, Florida, Seattle and across the West Coast. With a low subsidized cost of $250 for participation, and a limited number of availability for free accommodations as well, the program is filling up quickly. Principals can still register at www.mymef.org/womensleadership.
A parallel event for men in school leadership is taking place one week later, in Coral Springs, FL, where the first women’s retreat was hosted three years ago. Menahalim can view more details and sign up for that at https://mymef.org/leadership/m.
Mrs. Blumi Brook, a principal in Bais Rivkah High School of Crown Heights, attended the conference for two years in a row. Why? “It’s what gives us chayus to continue our Avodas Hakodesh.”
