Meisha Leibson - Assistant Head of School & Director of Judaic Studies

From Pirkei Avot (the Sayings of Our Fathers), the Anshei Knesset Hagedolah (the Men of the Great Assembly) taught three important lessons: 1) Think very carefully before judging; 2) Teach as many students as possible; and 3) Make a fence to protect the Torah. As a Jewish educator, I strive to do all three. I work at refraining from judging. Instead, I seek to wait for a situation to settle before hastily moving to resolve a situation. I teach as many and as much as possible while learning from those who are around me. I share Torah and Jewish values with others. I, myself, have been well schooled by some wonderful teachers at various schools. After receiving my BA from Denison University, an MAT from the University of Judaism, and an Educational Specialist Degree from Nova Southeastern University, I pursued my doctorate in educational leadership at Nova Southeastern University. My teachers at all of these places reminded me that, while learning is necessary, experience is crucial. My experience runs from owning and operating my own pre-school (Prairie Hill Pre School) to teaching at a vocational college (Waterson Vocational College). It also encompasses several years teaching both general and Judaic studies at different Jewish Day Schools in various grade levels, from Temple Beth Am Day School in Los Angeles (the current Rabbi Pressman Academy) to the Pinellas County Day School in Clearwater, Florida. These years were complemented by working in administration at Temple Beth El in St. Petersburg, Florida and at Brevard Jewish Community School in Melbourne, Florida. Most recently, and prior to my move to Madison, I was the principal of the lower school at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Nassau County where 240 students from kindergarten to fifth grade received excellence in both secular and Judaic/Hebrew studies. Now, I am pleased and honored to be engaging in developing a new Jewish day school in Madison, Wisconsin. At the Madison Jewish Community Day School I will be working to help our next generation grow. With your support, we will succeed and from dor la dor, generation to generation, we will prevail and keep Judaism alive and prospering.