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December 1, 2023
Dear VBSDS Parents and Community,
With tremendous excitement and pride, we are thrilled to share that the Valley Beth Shalom Day School Board of Trustees has appointed Dr. Kimberly Schwartz as our new Head of School effective July 1, 2024. Dr. Schwartz was selected after a thoughtful, thorough and expansive national search process facilitated by the search firm Carney, Sandoe & Associates.
Dr. Schwartz comes to VBSDS with an impressive background and decades worth of experience in the fields of both Jewish and secular education and is a nationally known and highly respected leader in the independent school community. Throughout Dr. Schwartz’s interview process, our Head of School Search Committee was incredibly impressed by her strategic mindset and vast knowledge of both the educational and operational sides of school leadership. Her extensive and positive experience working with VBSDS graduates who matriculated to Milken, as well as her ability to communicate the profound impact of a Jewish Day School education resonated deeply with our Board of Trustees. We believe that Dr. Schwartz’s appointment will be transformational in advancing the mission of Valley Beth Shalom Day School.
Dr. Schwartz received her B.A. in English with a minor in Jewish Studies from Stanford University and her Ed.D in the Educational Leadership Program from UCLA. She is currently the Chief Curriculum and Program Officer at Milken Community School and has served in a variety of leadership roles, including Upper School Principal and Dean of Students, throughout her 15 year tenure there. Dr. Schwartz is very familiar with working with elementary school aged children and their families, having served as the Religious School Principal for grades 4-7 at Temple Judea and as a grades 1-5 religious school teacher. Dr. Schwartz is also a sought after presenter and lecturer at conferences across the country. In addition to her professional work, she is a member of the current cohort of leaders in the prestigious Day School Leadership Training Institute for Aspiring Heads.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Dr. Larry Kutler for leading, advising and supporting VBSDS this year as we prepare our school for this transition of leadership. We are fortunate that Dr. Kutler will continue to serve as our Interim Head of School through June 30, 2024 to ensure a seamless transition as we plan for the 2024-2025 school year. We would also like to extend a tremendous amount of thanks to our Head of School Search Committee for their unwavering commitment to finding an exemplary candidate to lead VBSDS into the future.
As VBSDS celebrates our 45th year, we are acutely aware of the important role our school plays in the larger Jewish community and how critical it is for our institution to thrive. Under Dr. Schwartz’s leadership, we are confident that VBSDS will continue on as a leader in the field of Jewish elementary education and is positioned better than ever to educate future generations of VBSDS Lions.
This is an exciting time for our incredible school and there is so much to look forward to. We can't wait to formally introduce Dr. Schwartz as our permanent Head of School and will be in touch soon with opportunities for you to get to know her. Please join us in welcoming Dr. Kimberly Schwartz, her husband Victor, daughter Maddie (grade 11) and son Joey (grade 8) to our Valley Beth Shalom Day School community. Please see the personal note from Dr. Schwartz below.
Wishing you all a Shabbat Shalom.
Warmly,
Matthew Benbassat and Rebecca Steinberg
Head of School Search Committee Co-Chairs
Amanda Waterman
Valley Beth Shalom Day School Board President
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