The Head of School/Rosh Menahel serves as the senior educational, spiritual, and institutional leader of the yeshiva and is responsible for ensuring excellence in every aspect of the school’s educational mission. Reporting to the Board of Directors and working closely with local Rabbonim, the Executive Director, the Director of Development, and the Vaad HaChinuch, the Head of School provides strategic, educational, and institutional leadership while safeguarding YRITEA’s strong Torah Hashkofo and mission. The Head of School cultivates an environment of Yiras Shomayim, pride in Yiddishkeit, Shmiras HaMitzvos, Middos, Chessed, academic excellence, professionalism, warmth, accountability, and continuous growth. The successful candidate is a visible leader who inspires faculty, earns parents’ trust, and strengthens the school’s reputation within the Los Angeles Orthodox community. The Head of School sets the overall educational direction of the Yeshiva and has final authority over all matters of Chinuch, admissions, curriculum, faculty supervision, student placement, and student discipline. The Executive Director oversees the Yeshiva’s financial, administrative, and operational affairs, and the Director of Development leads fundraising and donor relations. These positions have distinct areas of responsibility and coordinate as needed to advance the Yeshiva’s mission under the oversight of the Board of Directors.

About the School

Established in 1953, YRITEA has grown into one of the largest Orthodox Elementary Day Schools outside the New York Metropolitan area, with an enrollment of over 1,000 students in three divisions: Early Childhood, Boys Elementary, and Girls Elementary, Pre-1 through Grade 8, spread over a six-building campus. Offering an extensive Limudei Kodesh program and a fully accredited General Studies program, YRITEA is at the forefront of providing quality and superior education to its students. It is recognized as the flagship Mosad of the Los Angeles Torah community and serves as a catalyst for its continued growth. The Yeshiva’s graduates have achieved success in both Harbotzas Torah and Hachzokas Torah.

Educational Leadership

• Hire, guide, support, and evaluate department heads, rabbeim, teachers, and other educational personnel, and make recommendations to improve staff performance and retention.
• Oversee the overall educational program through regular contact with department heads and educational administrators regarding current student issues and the school’s overall educational health.
• Develop and monitor curricular goals and standards, including periodic review of student performance and special needs, both academic and emotional.
• Ensure rigorous standards in both Limudei Kodesh and General Studies.
• Promote instructional excellence and continuous curriculum improvement.
• Develop systems for student assessment, teacher coaching, and academic accountability.
• Support thoughtful innovation while preserving the school’s Mesorah and educational philosophy.
• Monitor student achievement and school-wide educational outcomes.
• Communicate with parents when issues require the attention of the school’s senior educational authority.
• Address parent concerns as they pertain to the school’s educational departments and write or approve schoolwide educational communications to parents.
• Address discipline issues referred by department heads.
• Collaborate with veteran Mechanchim regarding available programs, experiences, and challenges.
• Resolve critical educational issues and unforeseen challenges as they arise.

Leadership and Personnel

• Recruit, hire, supervise, mentor, and retain exceptional faculty and educational administrators.
• Build a high-performing educational leadership team.
• Conduct regular evaluations of principals, department heads, and key educational personnel.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and professional growth opportunities for educational staff.
• Foster collaboration between Limudei Kodesh and General Studies departments.
• Develop succession plans for key educational leadership positions.
• Promote a positive, respectful, and mission-driven school culture.

Financial Stewardship

Working closely with the Executive Director, Board Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Board of Directors, the Head of School shall:

• Establish educational priorities that inform development of the annual operating budget.
• Review the financial implications of significant educational initiatives and staffing decisions.
• Promote responsible stewardship of resources allocated to the educational program.
• Identify educational priorities and opportunities for effective use of institutional resources.
• Provide educational input concerning major expenditures and capital projects affecting the school program.
• Participate in long-range strategic planning with the Board and Executive Director.

The Executive Director has primary responsibility for preparation and administration of the budget, financial reporting, tuition setting, scholarship determinations, tuition billing and collection, payroll, accounting, facilities, human resources, insurance, compliance, and other business and operational functions.

Enrollment Management

Provide strategic oversight of enrollment by:

• Exercise final authority over all student acceptance decisions, including determining whether prospective students and families are an appropriate fit for the Yeshiva.
• Monitor admissions and retention from an educational and institutional perspective.
• Oversee student placement and educational transition into the Yeshiva.
• Support communications that accurately present the Yeshiva’s educational mission and culture.
• Build the school’s reputation throughout Los Angeles and surrounding communities.

The Head of School does not determine tuition, payment arrangements, or scholarship awards. Those financial decisions are made by the Executive Director.

Development and Community Relations

Serve as the face of the school to the community. Responsibilities include:

• Support the Director of Development by articulating the Yeshiva’s educational vision and institutional priorities to donors and the broader community.
• Promote a spirit of Achdus, pride, warmth, and professional growth throughout the school community.
• Build relationships with current and prospective families.
• Represent the Yeshiva at community events.
• Strengthen relationships with shuls, Rabbonim, community organizations, and philanthropic supporters.
• Assist the Board and Director of Development in capital campaigns and other major development initiatives by communicating the educational vision of the Yeshiva.

When the Director of Development determines that the Head of School’s participation would be beneficial, the Head of School is expected to accompany the Director of Development periodically on selected donor meetings and fundraising visits. The Head of School’s role in those meetings is to present the Yeshiva’s educational mission, accomplishments, priorities, and vision; responsibility for planning, cultivation, solicitation strategy, follow-up, and stewardship remains with the Director of Development.

Qualifications

Personal Characteristics

• A serious Ben Torah who models Torah, Yiras Shamayim, and Middos Tovos.
• Exceptional integrity and professionalism.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills.
• Emotional intelligence and sound judgment.
• A collaborative but decisive leadership style.
• Strong organizational ability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A high level of discretion and confidentiality.
• The ability to maintain appropriate boundaries between educational leadership and the Yeshiva’s business and fundraising functions.

Professional Experience

• Significant senior educational leadership experience in a Yeshiva elementary school serving boys and girls.
• Experience supervising principals, educational administrators, and faculty.
• Demonstrated success in educational strategy, curriculum oversight, and organizational leadership.
• Proven ability to build and lead effective educational teams.
• Experience working effectively with a Board of Directors and Vaad HaChinuch.
• Sufficient financial literacy to evaluate the educational implications of budgets and major institutional decisions, while respecting the Executive Director’s authority over business and operational administration.

Key Performance Indicators

• Student achievement and educational excellence.
• Faculty recruitment, retention, evaluation, and professional growth.
• Parent confidence and satisfaction regarding educational leadership.
• Enrollment strength and retention.
• Effective implementation of the Yeshiva’s Torah Hashkofo and educational mission.
• A positive and accountable school culture.
• Strong collaboration with the Board and Vaad HaChinuch.
• Effective coordination with the Executive Director and Director of Development while maintaining clear areas of responsibility.
• Strengthened relationships with Rabbonim and the broader community.
• Educational programs and staffing that are thoughtfully aligned with available institutional resources.

Reporting Relationships

Reports To: Board of Directors

Works Closely With:

• Elementary and Middle School Principals
• Vaad HaChinuch
• Executive Director
• Director of Development
• Admissions personnel
• Board Committees, as appropriate

Supervises:

• Principals
• Educational administrators and department heads
• Rabbeim and teachers through the appropriate supervisory structure
• Admissions personnel, to the extent admissions is assigned within the educational structure

About the Los Angeles Community

The Los Angeles Orthodox Jewish community is one of the largest, most vibrant, and fastest-growing Torah communities in North America. Home to thousands of Orthodox Jewish families representing a broad spectrum of Torah life, the city offers a unique combination of serious Torah learning, thriving Yeshivos, warm Kehillos, and exceptional quality of life.

Neighborhoods such as Beverly-La Brea, Hancock Park, Pico-Robertson, and Valley Village each offer flourishing communities with abundant shuls, kosher restaurants, Mikvaos, and Jewish organizations. Families enjoy the convenience of living within walking distance of vibrant Torah institutions and active communal life.

Beyond the classroom, the community is distinguished by an extraordinary spirit of volunteerism and Chessed. Organizations supporting healthcare, crisis assistance, food distribution, Bikur Cholim, and family services are woven into the fabric of community life, providing countless opportunities for meaningful involvement and leadership.

The Los Angeles community supports more than 30 Kollelim, Yeshivos, Mesiftos, and Bais Yaakovs, reflecting a mature and thriving Torah infrastructure. These institutions provide abundant opportunities for serious Torah learning, professional development, and lifelong growth for Rabbonim, educators, and Bnei Torah.

For more information or to apply for this position, please contact Rabbi Heshy Glass at hglass@cojds.org or 516.368.3333

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