After a national, and international, search for a new head of school, the Tucson Hebrew Academy has found a new leader for its 2021-2022 school year. Johanna Shlomovich will be taking over leadership of THA from Dr. Larry Kutler, who came out of retirement to become the interim head of school in January 2019.
Johanna is an accomplished leader in the Jewish Day School world. Johanna has played a pivotal role in the successful operation of the Ramaz School, an elite coeducational Jewish Modern Orthodox day school in New York, for the past 20 years. During her tenure, she streamlined and professionalized the school’s operations, cut costs, managed multi-million dollar construction projects, and is the leader in crisis response for the school community. Her perspective on school operations is centered around the student, employee, and family experience to create welcoming and safe environments.
Johanna is looked upon as a role model and mentor. She strengthens her school community by celebrating diversity, promoting tolerance and recognizing the successes and accomplishments of her team members and investing in their professional development and growth. She skillfully manages institutional change, shifts in school culture, and invests herself fully in “friend” raising and networking to increase engagement and commitment in the community.
Johanna is committed to creating a meaningful and quality Jewish educational experience. Her approach is guided by the Jewish principle of “chanech la’naar al pi darko” (educate each child in the best way for him/her). She helps find the way each student shines and provides opportunities for learning and growing that builds their confidence and helps them become successful, life-long learners.
Johanna enjoys a collaborative work approach and has been a guest panelist for Magnus Health webinars geared toward helping schools all over the country re-open and operate during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is now working with a prominent New York architect firm, FXCollaborative and the American Institute of Architects on a project called “Learning Futures: On the Ground.” This project explores education in the post-pandemic world through the lenses of technology, school building facilities, curriculum and health.
Johanna earned her bachelor’s degree and MBA from Yeshiva University’s Sy Syms School of Business and an associate degree in Judaic Studies from Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women. As a life-long learner herself, Johanna recently completed the UJA sponsored Institute for Jewish Executive Leadership at Columbia Business School. This spring, she will begin the Day School Leadership Training Institute at the Jewish Theological Seminary. The institute supports new heads of Jewish day schools by providing engaging experiential learning opportunities, cutting-edge leadership development, ongoing mentoring, and the chance to problem-solve with cohort peers collaboratively.
Johanna, and her partner Rami Yadid, together have five children, each privileged to have received a Jewish day school education. Johanna, Rami, and Gavi (the youngest of the five and a rising high school junior) are excited to join the Tucson Jewish community.
For more information, visit thaaz.org.
