The Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy Board of Directors has formed a Head of School Search Committee that is made up of AIMJA board members, parents and teachers. We take very seriously the task placed before us to name AIMJA’s next Head of School.

AIMJA desires to keep the AIMJA Family informed on the progress of the committee. Letters from the committee and the head of school profile are posted below along with a list of committee members.

Updates from the Head of School Search Committee

Update #1 - 3/24/09
Update #2 - 4/2/09
Update #3 - 4/23/09
Update #4 - 5/13/09
Update #5 - 6/9/09
Update #6 - 7/6/09
Update #7 - 8/21/09
Update #8 - 10/20/09
Update #9 - 1/14/10

Head of School Search Committee Biographies

Tami Baldinger – Tami was born and raised in West Palm Beach to a family with deep roots in this community.  Tami has three daughters, all of whom attended the Meyer Jewish Academy and currently has a 3rd grader at Meyer.  She has been a Meyer Academy parent for 10 years.  Tami has been very involved with Israel and our local Jewish community as a volunteer and as a professional. She was the director of the Jewish Women’s Foundation for three years and recently chaired the Israel Program Center and our community’s Israel @ 60 celebration.  Tami has been involved with Jewish Federation, the JCC, the CJE, and the Meyer Academy in various capacities over the years.  She is currently a member of the board of directors of the Meyer Academy and of the Jewish Federation.

Linda Cortell Benjamin – Linda presently serves as Women’s Division Campaign Chair for the Palm Beach Jewish Federation and is on the Meyer Jewish Academy Board of Directors. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, Linda and her husband moved to Palm Beach five years ago. In 1970, Linda was one of the founders of Agnon Jewish Day School in Cleveland. All four of Linda’s children attended the school and she remained closely involved with the school’s fundraising initiatives and participated in searches for directors.

Roslyn Leopold (Committee Chair) – Roslyn’s three children attended Meyer Jewish Academy and she and her husband continue to be active supporters of the school. She is immediate past president of Temple Israel which recently completed a search for their new Rabbi. Roslyn‘s career is in retail management and human resources.

Rachelle Litt – Rachelle and her husband’s involvement in the school began nearly 20 years ago when their daughter Amanda started at the Jewish Day School in 1989. Amanda was in the first graduating class from the Arthur I Meyer Jewish Academy. Rachelle’s son Brandon followed his sister two years later; and Austin is currently in 6th grade.  Rachelle is a Pharmacist at Jupiter Medical Center and a Pharmacist Consultant at the Northpoint Surgery and Laser Center on 45th Street. She is a past board member at Temple Emanu-El and currently sits on the membership committee.

Erin Mooallem – Erin has been a Meyer Jewish Academy parent for five years and a member of the board of directors for two. Two of Erin’s three children (ages 3, 8, 10) attend the school. She has been an active participant in many of the school’s fundraising initiatives including chairing the first Women’s Luncheon, now in its fourth year. Erin is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in private adoption and foster care.

Laura Pincus – Laura is the proud parent of two Meyer Academy students.  Laura has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education and is also a lawyer.  After 8 years practicing education law for public school districts, Laura currently serves as the Director of Exceptional Student Education for the School District of Palm Beach County.  In this position, Laura works on a daily basis with principals, school administrators, teachers and parents to help serve the needs of students in special education and gifted programs.

Rabbi Howard Shapiro – Rabbi Shapiro is the Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Israel. He has two grandchildren currently attending the school and regularly acts as a “class Rabbi.” He has taught many Meyer Jewish Academy students as Rabbi of his congregation and has been involved with the school since his career began in West Palm Beach more than 25 years ago. Rabbi Shapiro brings to the search committee a great appreciation of what the school has accomplished for our community and faith that it will continue to build itself into a school of Jewish excellence.

Norma Schulman Waltzer – Norma has been involved in the school for many years and has always been a supporter of Jewish education, believing that those educated in Jewish schools become leaders. She is a member of the school’s Board of Directors which benefits from her expertise and professional background in Education Psychology, and is a past chair of CJE.