AJA Welcomes New Head of School

With every season, turn…turn…turn…

The Atlanta Jewish Academy recently announced the appointment of its new head of school, Rabbi Avi Levitt, who joins the local Jewish institution after serving as head of school for Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton, Fla.

Rabbi Levitt’s appointment officially begins July 1, 2023. Outgoing head of school Franeen Sarif will continue to lead the academy through June 30, at which time she will transition back into her role as executive director.

“It is an honor to have been selected as AJA’s incoming head of school,” Levitt said in a recent school newsletter sent to the extended AJA community. “I am excited to join a team of thoughtful and compassionate educators who care about each and every individual child in the program. AJA’s lay leadership and the administrative team demonstrate dedication and love for the school, and the warmth with which everyone has greeted me is simply infectious.”

Rabbi Levitt brings a wealth of experience to his new position at AJA, having previously held several administrative positions in education, including: principal of Magen David Yeshiva High School, an EC-12th grade modern Orthodox day school in Brooklyn, N.Y.; and upper school principal of Berman Hebrew Academy, an EC-12th modern Orthodox day school in Rockville, Md.

Rabbi Avi Levitt (second from right) is pictured at a staff meeting at Katz Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton, Fla. Levitt has been hired as the Atlanta Jewish Academy’s head of school and will begin his tenure in July.

The new hire said he is most looking forward to “Being an optimistic and motivating school leader who quickly establishes solid relationships with staff, students, parents, and sponsors.” Levitt added that, during his recent visit to AJA, he experienced a positive vibe and a great energy that felt like “wind in the sails.”

Levitt is committed to developing young minds, ensuring his students receive both a proper secular and Jewish education, and preparing them for life.

“Our day schools bear the critical responsibility of fostering the growth of our Jewish future and AJA will continue to play exactly that role for the Atlanta community,” Rabbi Levitt said. “Ensuring that our children have the best environment in which to develop emotionally, religiously, socially, and academically will serve as a beacon for our decision-making in the upcoming years at AJA.”

Levitt cited his biggest challenge as AJA’s new head of school as learning the school culture and its history “quickly enough to make wise decisions in the early going.”

Our day schools bear the critical responsibility of fostering the growth of our Jewish future and AJA will continue to play exactly that role for the Atlanta community. Ensuring that our children have the best environment in which to develop emotionally, religiously, socially, and academically will serve as a beacon for our decision-making in the upcoming years at AJA.

He continued, ‘The bottom line is that trust takes time, and there is not yet a time dilation machine that helps new leaders condense the trust-building phase. What I am trying to do is use these months before the summer to begin relationship building and I am learning as much as I can quickly so that when the curtain opens, we aren’t first figuring out the nuances of the script.”

Leanna Kaplan, AJA Board of Trustees president, shared her excitement on the school’s new hire and some encouragement for the community.

“Hiring Rabbi Levitt is a momentous and exciting moment for our school,” she said. “We are confident that with all of our support and enthusiasm, Rabbi Levitt will help usher in a new era for our school that will bring us to even greater levels of success, achievement, and excellence.”

Rabbi Levitt earned a bachelor’s in mathematics from Harvard University, a master’s in mathematics education from Teachers’ College at Columbia University, a master’s in Bible studies from Yeshiva University, and Semicha from Rabbi Aharon Ziegler at Kollel Agudath Achim in Brooklyn.

Levitt and wife, Debby, have four children: Sammy, Saadya, Nesya and Yamin.