Starr Family Jewish Day School, San Antonio, TX

Head of School

We are looking for a Head of School to manage all administrative tasks and provide educational leadership both for Limudei Kodesh and General Studies. CoJDS will work with the incoming Head of School and the SFJDS board to help promote educational leadership and proper governance of the school

As the HOS, you’ll need to wear many different hats; the planner, the problem-solver, the educator, and the counselor are a few of them. You will need to use your skills to communicate with various people, handle budgets and logistics, and keep all educational programs running. You will be a religious role model for the parents and the students and ensure that the school’s mission is understood and adhered to. You will need to work with the board of directors and Rabbinic Committee as well as interact with the community at large. If you’re up to the task and you’re also committed to high-quality religious education, we’d like to meet you.

Responsibilities:

• Manage budgets, logistics, and events or meetings
• Handle scheduling, record-keeping and reporting
• Ensure the school complies with relevant laws and regulations
• Develop and run educational programs
• Hire, train, and advise staff
• Counsel students when needed
• Resolve conflicts and other issues
• Communicate with parents, regulatory bodies, and the public
• Have a hand in the creation of the school curriculum
• Implement actions that improve the school and the quality of education (e.g. building renovations, new
• Help shape and uphold the vision of the school

Requirements:

• Proven experience as a School Administrator
• Classroom experience
• Knowledge of administrative processes of schools
• Familiarity with education management systems
• Excellent communication skills
• Outstanding organizational ability
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution skills
• Good judgment and decision-making aptitude
• Degree in Education or similar field; post-graduate degree is a plus

Starr Family Jewish Day School – SFJDS (formally TASA), founded in 2013, is an Orthodox Jewish day school that currently serves 60  students from Kindergarten through Grade 8. Set in beautiful San Antonio, the school is located on a campus with an Orthodox synagogue. The school’s families primarily come from the two Orthodox Synagogues in the area: the Chabad Center and Cong. Rodfei Sholom. The school has students that come from a mix of different religious traditions, including Chabad, Yeshiva-type, Modern Orthodox, Sefardic, and non-Shomer Shabbos homes.

SFJDS is a school where academic excellence and Jewish values are intertwined. The school’s commitment to Jewish Tradition, Halacha, Middos, empathy, and inquisitive learning forms the heart of the SFJDS community and educational program. With innovative teaching, small class sizes, and faculty’s commitment to know each child throughout the school, SFJDS supports students’ academic, personal, and spiritual growth. SFJDS seeks an energetic, highly relational, educational leader to serve as head of the school beginning July 1, 2025, and lead our school into the phase of growth and success.

MISSION and VALUES
To create confident and engaged Jewish adults through a happy educational experience rooted in traditional Jewish values.

The school strives to nurture students into” mensches”, compassionate, responsible individuals. SFJDS guides students in exploring their Jewish identities and connecting to the world around them, equipping them with the tools and values to thrive as thoughtful, engaged citizens and leaders. 

PROGRAM
SFJDS is a K-8 co-ed grade school. Beginning in Middle School, classes are separated by gender for Limudei Kodesh. The schoolcurriculum blends academic excellence with Jewish values, fostering critical thinking, problem-solving, and leadership. It reflects the beliefs in the importance of students owning their learning, collaboration, and personal growth. Small class sizes allow teachers to differentiate instruction to meet each student’s academic level, utilizing standards-based grading, project-based learning, and “I can” or “not yet” statements to encourage self-reflection and a growth mindset. 

CAMPUS, CLIMATE & CULTURE
SFJDS is an authentically warm and welcoming community where students, families, and staff feel a deep sense of belonging. Staff members take pride in knowing each child and family, fostering personal connections that create a close-knit community. Families appreciate the personal connections and high-quality education SFJDS provides, viewing it as an integral part of their family’s Jewish community. The faculty share a genuine passion for student-centered teaching, fostering an environment where students are eager to engage in their learning in and out of the classroom. The school’s leadership prioritizes positive faculty/staff morale, consistently seeking ways to support the well-being and professional growth of the entire staff. SFJDS’s positive professional culture is apparent and a great strength. 

SFJDS is located in north central San Antonio, in the heart of the Jewish community. The school has built an independent school building on land leased from Cong. Rodfei Sholom and remains a separate entity with its own governance and board of directors. This shared campus provides students access to amenities, including playgrounds, and secure closed campus. The administrative teams of SFJDS and the neighboring schools coordinate schedules and maintain a cooperative relationship. 

FACULTY & STAFF 
SFJDS employs eight full-time and six part-time faculty and staff. Additionally, the school has utilized consultants and outside professionals to enhance initiatives and programs, including music, after-school activities, and professional development. 

ENROLLMENT
SFJDS’s current enrollment of 60 students. Over the last 5 years we have seen consistent growth in the school. With the State of Texas making School Choice and Vouchers a priority for the upcoming legislative session, we believe that School Choice and State money will fundamentally change students’ financial structure and ability to attend the school. We also believe this will facilitate an influx of Orthodox families from out of town to the school.

BUDGET
SFJDS has an annual budget for the 2024-25 school year of $780,493. The school has consistently raised in the area of $350,000 annually through traditional fundraising and our two annual school fundraisers. The school runs two primary fundraisers in November and May. The Jewish Federation of San Antonio has consistently allocated funds to the school.

GOVERNANCE, BUDGET & ASSOCIATIONS
The governance structure at SFJDS is designed to ensure effective leadership and strategic oversight. The Board of Directors is currently comprised of 11 members, which includes seven current parents, parents of alumni, community members and alumni.  SFJDS’s governance includes several standing committees, including the Executive Committee, Security Committee, Rabbinic Committee and President’s Circle The Board prioritizes recruiting members who are passionate about the school’s mission and well-suited to achieve its strategic goals.

SFJDS is a member of the San Antonio Jewish Federation, works with Torah Umesorah, the Consortium for Jewish Schools, and is accredited by Cognia. Its last reaccreditation took place in 2021 and confirmed SFJDS’s myriad strengths. We are scheduled to be reaccredited during the 2025-2026 school year.

LEADERSHIP NEEDS

SFJDS next head of school will embrace the school’s mission and exude its core values. They will be an experienced, collaborative leader and educator who has strong knowledge of and appreciation for Jewish values, embrace those values in their own life, and share SFJDS’s commitment to Chinuch Al Taharas Hakodesh. 

Additionally, the next head of school will:  

• Be a highly relational individual who authentically enjoys interacting with individuals of the many ages represented within the school’s community.
• Possess a track record of conceiving and implementing strategic initiatives with successful outcomes, as well as the ability to partner with and lead Board members and other stakeholders in securing SFJDS’s future.
• Demonstrate the personal skills and enthusiasm to serve as a compelling chief ambassador both within the school community and throughout the San Antonio Jewish community
• Understand and be energized by fundraising and marketing, enjoying the opportunities to encourage others to invest in the school
• Revel in the opportunity a small school enables to balance the internal and external pieces of a head of school’s responsibilities and possess a track record that underscores the ability to prioritize competing demands
• Be an effective, inspiring, and adept communicator in both small and large group settings, able to listen well and engage in challenging conversations with ease and empathy
• Appreciate SFJDS’s educational approaches to student-centered learning, academic rigor, and an innovative curriculum, and engage knowledgably in discussions of pedagogy, both secular and Judaic, and
• Serve as a compelling role model, possess a sense of humor, and exude infectious joyfulness.

About San Antonio

City Population: 1.5 million (7th largest city in the US) Jewish Population: 10-12K

Housing: $300K-$500K

Driving Times:
Austin: 1:15 hours Houston: 3 hours Dallas: 5 hours Corpus Beach: 3 hours

Attractions: Six Flags Fiesta Texas, Sea World, Riverwalk, Downtown, Texas Hill Country, 

Professional Sports Teams: San Antonio Spurs

Industries: Healthcare, Technology, Aerospace, Military

Weather: Hot Summers, Mild Winters

Community Organizations:
Jewish Federation, JCC, Senior Services, Jewish Family Services, Holocaust Museum, HIllel @ UTSA, Vaad Hakashruth, Hebrew Free Loan,

Non-Orthodox Synagogues:
Temple Beth El (reform), Temple Chai (reform) Beth Am (reconstructionist), Agudas Achim (conservative)

Orthodox Shuls/Communities:
Congregation Rodfei Sholom (50 Shomer Shabbos families)
Daily Minyan, Mikva, Eruv, Preschool, NCSY, Emtza, Kollel, Chevre Kadisha,

Chabad Center – Blanco Road (40 Shomer Shabbos families)
Daily Minyan, Mikva, Eruv, Gan Gani Preschool, C-Teen, C-Kids, Summer Camp
Housing: $350K-$600K

Chabad Israeli Center – La Cantera
Minyan, Mikva, Eruv, Chabad on Campus, Yummy Restaurant

Chabad of Downtown San Antonio
Chabad of Boerne

Food:

Yummy Grill @ Chabad Israeli Center
HTea0 – Coffee/Tea/Drinks

Brevity Coffee

Nothing Bundt Cakes

HEB –  Large Kosher selection

Preschools:
Gan Gani Preschool
Rodfei Gan
JCC
Heintz Preschool

Universities in the area:

UTSA

UT Health

Texas A&M at SA
Lady of the Lake
Trinity
St. Mary’s
Incarnate Word
Alamo Colleges
Texas State (San Marcos)
Texas Lutheran (Seguin)
UT Austin (Austin)
A&M (College Station)

For Consideration
Please send: Resume, Letter of Interest, and Educational Philosophy or Personal Statement to Rabbi Heshy Glass at [email protected]

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