by Jill Huber
NJJN Bureau Chief/Monmouth

April 08, 2008

After 20 years at the helm of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Monmouth County, Chaya Friedmann is leaving at the end of the school year to pursue new career options.

Friedmann, who joined the staff as director of the Marlboro school in 1988, notified the school’s 15-member board of trustees of her intent last October.

An eight-member search committee consisting of past board members, parents, teachers, area rabbis, and other community leaders was created to find her replacement. The committee has narrowed the applicant list to several candidates who are now under consideration, and the group may be ready to announce its decision in several weeks, Friedmann said.

“Being the director of this school was my first day-school experience, and it has been such a rewarding one,” Friedmann told NJ Jewish News. “On my very first day, I realized that this school has the most wonderful, dedicated group of people associated with it. The staff, the board, and the parents of our students have been dedicated to the growth and success of the school, and that has never wavered. It’s been a privilege to work among them.”

But after 20 years at a job she loves, Friedmann said, she decided it was time to make a career change.

“I’m definitely not retiring, and I’m exploring possibilities and reviewing a broad range of options, and some of them are in the field of Jewish education,” said Friedmann, who will continue to live in Morganville. “I’m looking for a change, but it may be hard to make a career move that turns out to be as satisfying and fulfilling as this one. My criteria are: Will I be able to use everything I learned at Solomon Schechter Day School?”

When Friedmann became director, the school, which opened in 1979, was committed to expanding its student population and defining its place in the community, she said. In 1988, the school consisted of 129 students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Currently, there are 202 students in nursery through eighth grade.

In 1999, the school received a PEJE (Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education) grant that enabled it to establish a seventh- and eighth-grade middle school by 2000. A nursery-level grade was added in 2005.

“Solomon Schechter Day School has become a full-service Jewish day school,” Friedmann said. “I’ve always felt that Jewish education has a huge impact on the students and that it helps shape their lives in a positive way. At this day school, the focus is on excellence in academics and teaching the students about values, pride in their heritage, and the importance of being part of a community and giving back to that community. I’ve had the chance to see that many of our graduates are teaching these concepts to their own children.”

School board president Marc Epstein of Middletown said Friedmann has taken the school to new heights during her tenure.

“With steely determination, she has built an institution infused with ruach, the breath of Jewish life, and has worked assiduously to provide secular education second to none,” he said. “She has set a high bar for those who follow her. It will be a great challenge to build on her success. We will try to get the best possible head of school and hope that he or she measures up to Chaya’s high standards.”

The school will continue its involvement in community service, Friedmann said. Among other community projects, students have collected funds, food, and clothing for area charities and visit assisted-living facilities, where they sing and interact with the residents, Friedmann said.

“Our value-based education becomes part of the students — part of their identity and who they are,” she said. “They learn that mitzvas are part of the fabric of their lives, and that enables them to develop a sense of responsibility to the Jewish community and the community at large.”

Traditional Jewish texts refer to the importance of tzedaka, and the concept of sharing is grounded in Jewish values, Friedmann added.

“This adds to the pride of being Jewish and the pride of being part of a community.” she said. “The students and the staff have always understood how important it was that the school be a viable part of the community — that it have a real presence.”

The day school will continue its mission to offer Jewish and general education and community outreach, Friedmann said.

“The infrastructure of the school is solid now, so I feel a little more comfortable about leaving,” said Friedmann. “The school is prepared for a smooth transition and its reputation for excellence will continue. I’ve had tremendous job satisfaction here, but, on a personal level, it’s time for me to make a change. I hope to make a definite decision in the next few months. I’m proud of what our school has become, and I’m excited about the next phase of my life.”

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