About
Mission Statement:
The Association’s mission is to strengthen the capacity of its member schools for assuring a meaning-filled Jewish present and future for their students, their families, and the Jewish community. Primarily a service organization, the Association provides tools and resources to increase the knowledge and skill base of lay leaders and professionals in Solomon Schechter Day Schools. SSDSA strives to promote collaboration among its member schools and to foster the development of curriculum, materials, and methods for acquiring knowledge of the spiritual and ethical values of Judaism, the traditions of Judaism, the skills of Jewish living, and the performance of mitzvot.
About the SSDSA Association:
The Solomon Schechter Day School Association (SSDSA) is a voluntary association of Jewish day schools in the Schechter network, spanning 19 states in the USA and 2 provinces in Canada. The Association operates under the umbrella of The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The member schools are independent and each has its own board of directors or board of trustees. However, they share an affiliation and identification with the religious philosophy, principles, beliefs and practices of the Conservative movement.
The SSDSA provides services, resources, professional development, leadership training and support to its affiliated schools and their professional and lay leaders throughout North America. We strive to promote collaboration among member schools and to foster the development of curriculum, materials, and methods for acquiring knowledge of the spiritual and ethical values of Judaism, the traditions of Judaism, the skills of Jewish living, and the performance of mitzvoth. Through networking and sharing resources, SSDSA builds relationships among schools and offers opportunities for lay leaders and professionals to enhance their abilities to work as collaborative and successful partners.
Solomon Schechter Day Schools are open to Jewish children whether or not their parents are affiliated with the Conservative Movement and do not discriminate on the basis of sex, race, age, national origin, ancestry, creed, marital or parental status or sexual orientation.
Portrait of the Organization:
The Solomon Schechter Day School Association (SSDSA) is a voluntary association of all the 49 schools in the Schechter network, spanning 18 states in the USA and 2 provinces in Canada.
Professional support to principals and heads of schools is provided through the SSDS Association’s Executive whose office is located at the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. The support includes ongoing telephone and e-mail communication with member schools on a wide range of topics and issues, coordination of activities of the Solomon Schechter Board of Directors, collaborative planning of conferences, and regional seminars, as well as special projects and individual consultations. Policies are reviewed by sub-committees of the Board of Directors on a periodic basis. Placement referrals assist member schools in their search process for a new heard of school. Currently, there are seven listservs for Schechter leadership, management professionals and school presidents, that serve as an open highway of discussion about school policies and practices, ideas, opinions, concerns, and perspectives relating to Jewish education, leadership, management and governance in Schechter schools.
The Association also helps schools strengthen governance and increase the ability of lay leadership to meet their various responsibilities. Through networking and sharing resources, SSDSA broadens and promotes professional development and Board development, builds relationships among schools, and develops skill sets in lay leaders and professionals which will enhance their abilities to work as collaborative and successful partners.
Jan 2010: Crossroads for SSDSA at conference
