interview with jacob doft ‘87 ראיון
ramaz chairman of the board, alumnus & parent
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Q A “I am astonished that my children are learning material years earlier than I did at Ramaz. Their work in writing and humanities is significantly more advanced than I remember mine being as a student. The emphasis on public speaking and delivering presentations is both new and appreciated. And the recently-instituted Hebrew immersion program in the Early Childhood Center has provided a significant boost to my children’s grasp of Ivrit.”
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What experiences at Ramaz do you hope your children also enjoy? My favorite part of Ramaz was tuna sandwiches and potato chips each Friday for lunch. Seriously! In high school, being Chairman of the business investment club was a blast and very well may have been the start of my career as a money manager. And being part of a championship team (I played hockey) was an experience in teamwork that I would love my children to also enjoy....Did I mention that I met my wife at Ramaz? How did Ramaz prepare you personally and professionally? Ramaz taught me leadership and courage. We protested outside of the Soviet embassy every morning for years. And, amazingly, it worked. That was my first lesson in determination. Watching Rabbi Lookstein rally on behalf of Jews around the world was eye-opening. This activism also taught me to never sit back and expect things to happen on their own. That is why I got involved in Ramaz and its governance. At work, I lead by doing, just like I did as Chairman of the business investment club or representing Ramaz on the hockey team. What are your priorities as Board Chairman? To find a new head of school to continue Mrs. Fagin’s great work, enhance the school’s transparency and communication in regards to both parents and faculty, inspire and develop a new generation of lay leadership, and constantly encourage the school to improve its already-strong program. What are the biggest challenges in ensuring a financially sustainable Ramaz? Simply put, the challenge is to balance the tension between investing in fabulous teachers and keeping tuition affordable for families. Tuition need not be rock bottom, but a Ramaz education certainly needs to be a good investment. Two development initiatives that will help us accomplish this are growing the endowment and broadening our donor base. what other challenges do you anticipate during your tenure? Helping a new head of school acclimate to the position will be the most important task in the near future. In its 75-year history, the institution has had only three heads. What budget trends have you seen over the last 5 years and what do you expect to see in the coming 5 years? The most alarming trend is the significant rise in financial aid needs. Over the past six years, financial aid requirements have grown at a compounded growth rate of over 20%. And while some of this growth is clearly cyclical, and therefore temporary, it concerns us that much of it may be secular. Tuitions are higher now, and with rent control diminished, it is much harder for our typical hard-working family to make ends meet.
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