A Journey Through the Upper School: An Opportunity for a Transformational Experience

I firmly believe in the education and experience LJCDS provides its students and families. I will never forget my interview in December 2018 with a group of insightful students. They asked contemplative questions, responded to my answers with additional questions, and refused to be satisfied with anything but authentic and thoughtful answers. I left that meeting thinking to myself: if these are the students LJCDS is shaping, I want to be part of it.

As the end of my tenure as head of Upper School approaches, I reflect on the profound impact this journey has had on me and the tremendous growth I’ve witnessed in those around me. My career has been built on serving students, supporting families, and collaborating with dedicated educators. It is the people in our community that I will miss the most at this wonderful place.

Several of the LJCDS memories I am most proud of involve the many critical partnerships that have developed between students, parents, faculty and administration. These partnerships are the foundation of our ability to help develop young leaders ready to make a positive impact on our world. When we work together towards that goal, the students benefit in obvious and visible ways, but also in ways that may not be immediately evident. 

Attending LJCDS is a significant commitment, both personally and financially. I hope that families join our community not for immediate outcomes but for the transformative experiences it offers. I have sometimes found myself in conversations that have felt transactional and with a focus on short-term results. During these conversations, I find myself shifting the focus to long-term character and skill development. My observation is that this transactional focus is a growing trend, and I fear its consequences for students. A transactional mindset can undermine valuable lessons and prevent the development of tenacity gained through meeting challenges head-on. Focusing on short-term outcomes lessens the opportunities for students to develop resilience, character and integrity.

We strive to make the LJCDS experience a transformative one and to inspire and challenge students to take risks, learn from mistakes and explore their passions. Our ultimate goal is to foster personal growth and deliver on our promise to inspire greatness for a better world.

Over my five years here, I have found a community willing to create a safe place where challenging conversations can be had and different points of view can be heard and addressed in a dignified, thoughtful and compassionate manner. I’m proud of what we have accomplished and fully acknowledge that the work may never be done, but we commit the time and resources to move us forward.

Community support—from peers, a caring and dedicated faculty, and parents—encourages our students to become the best they can be and provides a unique environment of guidance and care. As a result, our students have an opportunity to become part of something greater than themselves. They find their voices, discover and develop their passions, and learn skills that will serve them and others for a lifetime. The LJCDS journey is about developing great leaders who are inspired and capable of confronting future challenges with empathy, resilience and compassion.