West Orange, NJ – Golda Och Academy, an independent Jewish school for students from Pre-K through 12th grade, has completed its search for a Principal of its Upper School. Dr. Eytan Apter has been named to the position.
Dr. Apter comes to Golda Och Academy from the distinguished Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School (CESJDS) in the Washington D.C. area. During his 10 years at CESJDS, Dr. Apter served as a middle and high school educator, a mentor for teachers, and the coordinator of the school’s Israel Engagement Program.
CESJDS, like Golda Och Academy (GOA), is one of the leading Jewish Day Schools in the country. The schools have a history of collaboration and share core values and mission. The search committee felt confident that Dr. Apter’s decade at CESJDS will ensure a smooth transition to GOA’s culture and curriculum.
"I am excited to be joining the Golda Och Academy family,” said Dr. Apter. “Jewish education has always been an integral part of my life, and as the field continues to grow, I look forward to working with a team of educators who are focused on the school's mission to nurture the unique potential of each student."
Dr. Apter is an accomplished educator with strong credentials. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania where he majored in History and English. After working as an investment banker and in the entertainment industry, he was drawn to the profession he had originally envisioned for himself: teaching. He went back to school, earning a Master’s Degree in Teaching and a PhD in Education from Fordham University.
GOA’s Lower School Principal, Mrs. Carrie Z. Siegel, who served as head of the search committee that selected Dr. Apter, said: “It has been a pleasure getting to know Dr. Apter during the interview process. His passion for Jewish education is palpable, and I look forward to working with him as he assumes his new role at GOA.”
Dr. Apter begins the role of Upper School Principal on July 1, 2021. He succeeds Mr. Jordan Herskowitz, a veteran GOA educator, who served as Interim Upper School Principal for the past two years.
“Our Upper School is the culmination of our students’ GOA experience,” said GOA Board of Trustees Chair Keith Biebelberg. “From celebrating B’nei Mitzvah together in the Middle School, to competing together on athletic fields and traveling together to Israel on our Na’ale and Neshama trips, GOA students’ Upper School journeys are filled with important life cycle moments, intellectual curiosity, and the foundation of enduring friendships. We are excited about the future of our Upper School and all that it offers our families, and with Dr. Apter stepping into this important role, we look forward to going from strength to strength.”
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