Looking Backwards to Look Forward: An Introduction
It was exactly Purim, eight years ago, that Jaimee and I shared the news that we were leaving Jacksonville, Florida and were headed to Ottawa. Eight years is a long time, but I still recall with great clarity how I felt during the interview process, why I accepted the position, the challenge and the opportunity I believed it presented, and walking the empty halls during the Summer of 2017 filled with equal parts excitement and anxiety about the journey we were about to embark on together here at the Ottawa Jewish Community School.
The beginning of any new headship by definition represents standing at the intersection of past and future. I have always viewed the life of a school as a rich narrative, each era a distinct chapter authored by those at its helm. When I joined OJCS, I became a co-author of its unfolding story, building upon the visions of those who came before and setting the stage for those who would follow.
Coming into a new community as Head of School always involves navigating history and tradition while simultaneously pointing toward innovation and growth. This intersection—rich with potential, laden with responsibility—is exactly where transformative leadership takes place. Now, as my tenure enters its final stretch, I find myself at that intersection again—though the view feels profoundly different. Instead of gazing forward into uncharted territory, I’ve turned around to reflect, to assess, and to ask honestly:
What did we achieve? What truly mattered? And how might these insights inspire future leadership?
Thus was born this new blog series: “Looking Backwards to Look Forward.” Over the coming months, I’ll revisit pivotal moments, decisions, and ideas from my tenure at OJCS. Each reflection will follow a consistent rhythm:
- I’ll start by naming a “big idea”—something that significantly shaped our school’s journey.
- Next, I’ll revisit and quote directly from my original blog posts to recapture the initial vision, my early hopes, and even the uncertainties we faced.
- Then I’ll explore the journey since that moment—what unfolded, what we learned, and how we adapted along the way.
- Finally, each post will close by raising essential questions and possibilities, offering future leaders, educators, parents, and community members an invitation to dream and build upon these foundations.
This reflective practice isn’t about nostalgia or legacy-building—rather, it’s an opportunity to spotlight the key decisions we made as a community, to understand their lasting impact on our students, staff, and families, and to thoughtfully imagine the next steps ahead.
For example, in the next reflection, we’ll revisit the concept of “Personalized Learning”—what we called a “floor, but no ceiling.” This represented a major shift in our educational philosophy. At the time, I wrote:
We believe each student deserves to be met exactly where they are—and then challenged to go as far as their talents, efforts, and aspirations can take them. This isn’t about removing standards; it’s about recognizing that standards are the starting line, not the finish.
That was our bold promise then. Eight years later, we’ve gathered powerful evidence—successes, setbacks, and profound growth. How has personalized learning reshaped our classrooms? How has our teaching staff evolved as facilitators of student-driven learning? And importantly, what’s the next frontier under new leadership?
In the months ahead, I’ll reflect on other foundational decisions and initiatives from my headship: our commitment to transparency, strengthening our school’s culture through habits of kindness, building community bonds, forging innovative partnerships, and the ongoing effort to align every educational choice with our school’s values.
Finally, we’ll culminate in reflecting on perhaps the deepest and most enduring theme of all—clarifying and strengthening the “J” in OJCS. Reinforcing our school’s Jewish identity has been my greatest passion and perhaps the most nuanced task of my tenure. We’ll revisit how we deepened our school’s Jewish character, celebrating victories and openly acknowledging ongoing challenges. And we’ll ask honestly: What opportunities still await?
Why do this now? Because leadership in a school is rarely just about the leader—it’s fundamentally about the institution, the community, and its future. Reflecting on these past eight years isn’t merely looking backward; it’s giving those who follow clarity, context, and insight—a foundation from which they can meaningfully shape the next chapter of OJCS.
As we stand together at this intersection—celebrating what’s been accomplished, acknowledging the road traveled, and anticipating what’s yet to come—I warmly invite you, the readers, our current and prospective families, to engage deeply. Share your own reflections, your memories, your ideas, and your hopes for the future of OJCS. After all, as Rabbi Tarfon famously taught:
“It is not your responsibility to finish the work, but neither are you free to desist from it.” (Pirkei Avot 2:16)
As my chapter at OJCS comes to its final pages, the narrative of our school continues to unfold. The beauty of a school’s story lies in the fact that it never truly ends—it evolves, deepens, and passes from one set of hands to another. I will soon hand the pen forward, confident that those who come next will write thoughtfully, courageously, and joyfully, authoring the next inspiring chapter of the Ottawa Jewish Community School’s ongoing story.
Our collective responsibility isn’t to finish the journey—it’s simply to ensure it continues purposefully, thoughtfully, and joyfully.
Looking backwards to look forward—I’m excited to embark on this final reflective journey with you.
