A (Very) Transparent Thanksgiving

I have learned a lot of important lessons over the last month.  One of those lessons?  It is very easy to espouse “transparency” as a value when things are going well and/or when the issues are simple and non-controversial.  It is another thing altogether when things are more complex, risky and deeply personal.  As a complicated episode in my professional life has played out over the last few weeks, I have felt compromised between my professional desire for transparency and my personal desire for privacy.  I have struggled with the decision about whether or not it was appropriate to utilize this “professional” blog – property of the school, not the person – to discuss events which have had a profound impact on not just me, but my family.  With the episode (thankfully) resolved, it just did not seem right to pretend that it never happened (by its absence in my primary vehicle for reflective practice, this blog).  

[I realize that although the primary audience for this blog was and is the school family, there is an extended readership who may or may not be interested in some of its content. I try to manage those potential audiences through how I do (or don’t) promote the blog via social media.  Another side-effect of “transparency”?  If the boundaries were semi-permeable before, they sometimes feel as if they have disappeared altogether.  I’m not sure this is a good thing, but it feels like the truth.]

The facts are relatively straightforward and have been public knowledge since November 1st.  An unanticipated opportunity to compete as a finalist for the headship of Sinai Akiba Academy in Los Angeles, CA resulted in my exercise of an opt-out clause in my current contract.  My wife and I went to LA for our finalist visit and returned to Jacksonville. After meeting with my lay leadership here, I withdrew my candidacy for the position at Sinai Akiba and have renewed my commitment to remain here at MJGDS.

It seems so simple when you write it like that!

Both institutions handled this delicate situation with tremendous grace and with incredible transparency.  A series of public meetings here in Jacksonville with all concerned constituencies (parents, faculty, boards, etc.) resulted in the formation of a search committee charged with seeking out my replacement (since closed).  My candidacy in Los Angeles was a matter of public record on the school’s website and my finalist visit was conducted openly as all such visits are.

Needless to say, the situation left me (and my family) rather exposed on all sides.  That it was self-imposed did little to dull the piercing spotlight the month of November has brought to us.  Again, let me clear.  The choices were mine.  The responsibility for them was mine.  And the situation could not have been handled any more professionally or compassionately by everyone.  But I would be lying if I suggested that it also was not deeply and personally stressful.  It was, in fact, agonizing.

As I said to the search committee for Sinai Academy when I withdrew…

“…I write to officially notify you of my decision to renew my commitment here in Jacksonville, thus withdrawing my candidacy from Sinai Akiba.  I thank you all for your hospitality, your warm welcome, and the opportunity to have been a finalist.  I am confident with lay leaders like yourself and the high quality of your other candidates that only bright days lay ahead for Sinai Akiba.  I look forward to following your success and working with your next head as a fellow Schechter colleague.

Thank you again for the time and care you put into my candidacy.”

I have nothing, but positive things to say about Sinai Akiba Academy.  We met lovely people during our visit and our desire for their continued success is genuine.  But our decision and our future is here – at the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, the Jacksonville Jewish Center and in Jacksonville, Florida.  And for that we are thankful.

We have barely begun to write a chapter in the book of the life of this remarkable school which turns 50 this spring.  The idea of leaving so much exciting work undone certainly contributed to my professional desire to continue as head of this school.  It has been a dynamic and satisfying year and a half since we came here, but the “job” of becoming the school we wish to be is hardly “done” (if such a thing in an organic learning organization could ever be accomplished)!  We have so many exciting projects in the near and long-term future. [I don’t want to use this post to re-list all the initiatives and ideas that are in progress or fomenting.  A quick scroll through this blog or our school’s website provides a thorough recap.]  I couldn’t imagine not being part of them.  And I am thankful that I don’t have to.

But more than the work are the people…

…as I wrote to my teachers last week:

“As we enter into a holiday week, let me take a moment to express my gratitude to all of you for the opportunity to be part of this team.  As you know, it has been a topsy-turvy few weeks for me (and for everyone) as events unfolded, but it is with genuine humility that I tell you that a most significant factor in wanting to remain here is the opportunity to continue to work together to make this the finest, most innovative, highest-quality school it can possibly be.  I come to work each day excited about what we can accomplish together.  I am thrilled to have the chance to continue this journey with you and look forward to brighter and brighter days ahead.”

And I gladly extend those thoughts to this entire community – parents, students, colleagues, communal partners, etc.

So as we head into Thanksgiving tomorrow…let me express how joyously thankful I am for the blessings in my life:  The blessing of a healthy family.  The blessing of a caring community.  The blessing of blossoming friendships.  The blessing of fulfilling work.  The blessing of committed and generous lay leaders and volunteers.  The blessing of extraordinary colleagues.  The blessing of dedicated and talented staff and faculty.  The blessing to have an opportunity to work each and every day with others to ensure a Jewish future.  The blessing to feel one’s roots dig a little deeper into sacred ground.

For these blessings and more, I am thankful.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Author: Jon Mitzmacher

Dr. Jon Mitzmacher is the Head of the Ottawa Jewish Community School. Jon is studying to be a rabbi at the Academy for Jewish Religion and is on the faculty of the Day School Leadership Training Institute (DSLTI) as a mentor. He was most recently the VP of Innovation for Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools.  He is the former Executive Director of the Schechter Day School Network.  He is also the former head of the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School, a K-8 Solomon Schechter, located in Jacksonville, FL, and part of the Jacksonville Jewish Center.  He was the founding head of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Las Vegas.  Jon has worked in all aspects of Jewish Education from camping to congregations and everything in between. View all posts by Jon Mitzmacher