Leadership Lenses with Barry Kislowicz

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Dr. Maury Grebenau of the Jewish New Teacher Project to explore what new administrators truly need in their first years of leadership. Together, we look at why the transition from teacher to principal can feel overwhelming, from the fire hose of tasks to the sudden shift in relationships, expectations, and identity. We consider how coach...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Tikvah Wiener and Smadar Goldstein to explore how schools can create lasting change through effective instructional coaching. We consider how leaders can support teachers, overcome fear of change, and build a culture where every student has the opportunity to engage deeply with their learning. Together, we reflect on the ways that focused coac...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Dr. Jeffrey Kobrin to explore what it really means to lead a school community made up of families from profoundly different cultural backgrounds. Drawing on his experience at North Shore Hebrew Academy, we look at how differences in educational priorities, religious practice, and family expectations can create both tension and opportunit...

If you know Mark Shinar, you know this episode, which we're calling Finding Joy with Your Leadership Team, is worth a listen. We unpack what heads can do when they find themselves frustrated by a struggling administrator without truly understanding what is getting in the way. We talk about the power of regular meetings, shared agendas, and naming issues directly, as well as the importance of l...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Principal Yoel Trieger of the Kiryas Joel Public School to explore how creativity can transform even the most familiar school routines. We look at how a fresh approach to parent engagement turned a typical back-to-school night into a vibrant, expo-style event that celebrated student programs and strengthened trust between parents and staff. To...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with veteran leadership coaches Marcy Balogh ( https://consultba-lo.com/ )and Cheryl Finkel ( cherylfinkel@gmail.com ) to explore how heads of school and board presidents can build partnerships that truly strengthen their schools. Drawing on years of experience coaching educational leaders, we look at what makes these relationships work, from share...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Menachem Linzer, Principal at Hillel Torah Chicago, to explore how school leaders can build strong, effective partnerships with their boards. Together, we look at what it takes to move beyond routine board meetings toward genuine board relationships built on clarity, communication, and shared purpose. We examine how defining governance r...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses , we sit down with Rabbi Jeremy Stern of CauseMatch to explore how schools can transform their fundraising efforts into genuine community building. Together, we examine what separates campaigns that struggle from those that thrive, and why technology alone is never enough. We look at how strategy, segmentation, and empowering ambassadors can turn a fundraising...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses , we sit down with Rabbi Yoni Fein, Head of School at Brauser Maimonides Academy in Hollywood, Florida, to explore how a rapidly growing school can stay healthy, mission-driven, and sustainable. Under Rabbi Fein’s leadership, BMA has nearly doubled in size over the past decade, a transformation that brought both opportunity and strain. Searching for a way to ma...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with transformation and growth executive Dina Rabhan to reflect on the unique demands of school leadership and what it takes to build resilient teams. Dina shares insights from her work as a turnaround CEO, where she steps into struggling organizations to drive change from the inside out. Together, we explore the parallels between corporate and sch...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we talk with Rabbi Dr. Seth Grauer of Bnei Akiva Schools Toronto about the dual role of school heads as educational and communal leaders. Running a school is never just about classrooms and academics. It also means ensuring that shuls, camps, youth groups, and partner institutions are thriving, because the strength of the school depends on the strength of the...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses , we explore how school heads can actively transform their boards from oversight bodies into true partners in leadership. Rather than reacting to disengagement, micromanagement, or purely transactional interactions, heads can take intentional steps to engage their boards in meaningful, strategic work. Drawing on principles from choice theory, we discuss how hea...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we explore one of the most complex and defining relationships in Jewish day school leadership, the dynamic between a school head and their board. Too often, leaders get stuck in cycles of avoidance, frustration, or purely transactional exchanges with their boards, treating them as obstacles rather than as potential partners. Drawing on years of experience, we...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we continue our conversation with Cheryl Maayan, director of the Day School Leadership Training Institute at Prisma. This time, the focus shifts to one of the most essential yet daunting aspects of school leadership, fundraising. Together, we explore how new heads can approach development work with both strategy and authenticity, beginning with a clear, collab...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we explore with Cheryl Maayan how school leaders can approach one of the most important transitional moments of the year, the first day and first month as head of school. These opening weeks set the tone for relationships, trust, and culture in ways that can last for years. We discuss how being present, intentional, and genuinely connected from day one can cre...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we look at how school leaders can make the most of one of the most symbolic moments of the year, the first day back for teachers. While students may not arrive for another week or two, that first in-service day offers a powerful opportunity to set the tone for the entire school year. We explore how a small but intentional change, whether it's the physical...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we explore one of the most critical dynamics in school leadership: the relationship between the head of school and the board president. We share three foundational practices that can help transform this partnership. Through real-world examples and common missteps, we consider how school leaders can move from reactive to strategic by setting clear expectations,...

In this follow-up episode of Leadership Lenses, we continue our conversation with Rabbi Adam Englander, Head of School at HALB in Woodmere, NY. This candid and thought-provoking discussion dives into the weighty challenges of navigating the tension between school mission and shifting parental expectations around religious identity and community norms. Rabbi Englander reflects on the growing role s...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Adam Englander, Head of School at HALB in Woodmere, NY, for an honest and uplifting conversation about sustaining positivity and purpose in school leadership. Drawing from 25 years in Jewish education, Rabbi Englander shares how a deeply held belief in the goodness of people has shaped his leadership style—and why fostering a culture of...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we welcome back education leader Kim Marshall for a deeper dive into what it really means to lead a learning school. Drawing on decades of experience, Kim explores how principals and heads of school can shift from reactive management to proactive instructional leadership. He offers practical strategies—from co-observations and mini-evaluations to managing digi...

In this special episode of Leadership Lenses we are joined by renowned education expert Kim Marshall. Kim is best known for his innovative approach to teacher supervision—favoring short, frequent, low-stakes classroom observations over traditional formal evaluations. In this rich discussion, Kim shares how his experiences as a teacher and principal shaped his thinking, how independent schools can...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we explore a common leadership challenge: how to consistently make time to be present in hallways and classrooms despite the demands of a busy office. Drawing on research and real coaching experiences, we share a simple but powerful strategy for escaping the pull of meetings, emails, and to-do lists. Whether you're looking to build stronger relationships o...

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we explore how to stay grounded and effective when working with persistently negative colleagues, parents, or board members. Drawing on real-life coaching and leadership experiences, we share two practical strategies for managing emotional energy and staying in a productive mindset. Whether you're leading a team or navigating tough conversations, this epis...

In this follow-up conversation, with Jane Taubenfeld Cohen, we dive into one of the most nuanced relationships in school leadership: the one between the Head of School and the board chair. They explore the ways trust, training, and structured feedback can make or break that partnership—and how small changes in communication can have a big impact on a head’s success and well-being. More resources a...

In this special episode of Leadership Lenses , we sit down with coach and mentor Jane Taubenfeld Cohen to explore the unique challenges of leading a senior team in a fast-paced school environment. As leaders juggle endless to-do lists and mounting expectations, how can they create space for big-picture thinking and build a culture of shared responsibility? Together, we reflect on the importance of...