Rabbi Jim Rogozen, Headmaster
Rabbi Jim Rogozen has been a Head of School for the past 24 years, the last 17 of which have been at the Gross Schechter Day School in Cleveland. A graduate of the Joint Program between UCLA and the University of Judaism, Jim earned his B.A. in Psychology, a B.Litt. in Rabbinic Literature, an M.A. in Teaching, an M.A. in Educational Administration, and an M.A. in Jewish Studies; he was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), and was in the first graduating class of the Solomon Schechter Day School Principal’s Training Program at JTS. Jim has continued his learning at Teacher’s College-Columbia, the Harvard Principal’s Center and the Mandel Leadership Institute in Jerusalem. He has, of course, learned the most from his daughters, who continue to remind him how little he really knows!
Jim was a founding board member of Ravsak (the community day school network), chaired the Northern California Day School Principals’ Council for 7 years, and served on the Mazkirut (planning group) for two CAJE Day School Conferences. In 2007 he was appointed to the Advisory Board, Davidson School of Education of the Jewish Theological Seminary. He served on the National Schechter Professional Council for nine years, two as Chair and is the incoming Board Chair, Solomon Schechter Day School Association (www.ssdsa.org). He also serves as a mentor in the Day School Leadership Training Institute, North America’s premier education management training program, jointly sponsored by the Avi Chai Foundation and the Jewish Theological Seminary..
Under Rabbi Rogozen’s leadership Gross Schechter Day School has grown from 170 to over 300 students in preschool through the 8th grade. A state-of-the-art 10 acre campus has been built. Co-ed soccer, girls basketball, boys basketball and girls tennis teams have been established. Student percentile scores on standardized achievement tests are consistently in the 90’s, and graduates are easily admitted into competitive private high schools and honor programs in local public high schools. The students have dominated in local, regional and statewide academic competitions. And, the school was the first Jewish Day School in America to win the USDA’s Team Nutrition Gold Award.
Most recently and probably the most impressive of his accomplishments is Rabbi Rogozen’s complete dedication to running a fiscally responsible organization that also makes a Jewish day school education financially possible for young families. Working closely with key staff and parents, the school’s Partnership Program is a ground-breaking initiative that drastically changes how the school is funded. Through tuition and philanthropic giving, this program allows us to provide an excellent and affordable Jewish education to all Schechter families. Today, because of the continued success of this cutting-edge program, tuition remains at about half of what it would be otherwise.
During his time in Cleveland, the school community has grown to include families from 17 different congregations, including families from all Reform, Reconstructionist and Orthodox synagogues.
Jim is married to Marci Rogozen, a Jewish educator. His two daughters, both Schechter alumnae, were graduated from Hathaway Brown’s high school. His eldest, a recent college graduate, will be leaving for Africa as a Peace Corps volunteer; his youngest is a college sophomore, concentrating on pre-med and Judaic Studies.
He is considered an expert on a wide range of educational, Judaic, management, community building and fundraising topics. To schedule an interview, please contact Kelly Millet, Director of Marketing, 216.763.1400 x420 or kmillet@grossschechter.org.