Laurence Fhima Appointed Head of School/CEO of JPPS-Bialik

The JPPS-Bialik Board of Directors announced that Laurence Fhima has been appointed Head of School/CEO of JPPS-Bialik, effective immediately. Since being appointed Chief Operating Officer this past year, and for many years before that, she has demonstrated superior management skills as well as dedication and commitment to ensuring that JPPS-Bialik continues to grow from strength to strength. In Ms. Fhima’s words, “I am honoured by this promotion and humbled by the confidence that the Board has shown in my ability to lead such an exceptional school as JPPS-Bialik.”

This important step has been taken as part of an ongoing strategic review of JPPS-Bialik’s governance and administration with a view to consistently improving the value of outstanding Jewish education in a student-centric and supportive environment. This process is being undertaken by the entire school system with the assistance of expert outside consultants from the Boston-based organization PEJE (Partnering for Excellence in Jewish Education) with the support of Federation CJA’s Gen J initiative and in conjunction with the process of becoming accredited by CESI (the Canadian Educational Standards Institute).  Coupled with the parent survey coming to completion this week, JPPS-Bialik is reaching out to its parents and other stakeholders with a view to ensuring that the school is always in line with “best practices” of independent schools, Jewish and non-Jewish alike. This includes adopting governance, administrative, and financial structures implemented successfully by independent schools across North America.

As a result, going forward, Laurence Fhima will be the sole school professional reporting directly to the Board. Arnold Cohen, President of the JPPS-Bialik Board of Directors, explained that “the Board will now be able to better focus the talents of its outstanding lay leaders’ energies on strategic direction and fundraising, leaving the administration of the school in the capable hands of Laurence Fhima, whose team of professionals including the principals and directors reporting to her, to continue to deliver a cutting edge education in a haimish setting that parents have come to expect from JPPS-Bialik.”