GOA’s New Leaders, New Plans

By Mimi Lebeau ‘24
Since last school year ended, Golda Och Academy has experienced major changes- namely, a new Principal and Head of School. These shifts in personnel bring many new policies and improvements to the school, changes previously unseen by the student body.

“It’s always hard being the new person. I haven’t been the new person in a long time but I think that’s humbling because it lets me understand a little bit what it’s like to walk into a place new,” said new principal Dr. Eytan Apter.  
As a social studies teacher, as well as a Tefillah and Israel programming coordinator, Dr. Apter has had twenty years of teaching experience prior to GOA. This is his first experience as a principal. Although he is not working as closely with students as he used to, he is excited to get to know the student body over time.
Prior to becoming the Head of School at GOA, Rabbi Danny Nevins was dean of the rabbinical school at the Jewish Theological Seminary. 
“I’m really enjoying it,” Rabbi Nevins said about his new position at GOA. “The people here are really smart and kind, and I’m enjoying my chances to daven with students and teach a little bit.”
This school year has brought many changes to improve the students’ general experiences. The administration introduced morning meetings for middle school students and brain breaks for the entire upper school. Dr. Apter said, “We’re really acknowledging that students need four minutes if not more during the day to just stop and [take a] break.”
These brain breaks have been well-received by the students thus far. 
“Overall, I appreciate brain breaks being included in the schedule,” sophomore Agam Rejwam said.
Sophomore Doron Finkel added, “I believe that brain breaks are a really good addition to the school day this year. Sometimes school gets very stressful and I need a break, even if that break is only a few minutes. Although I wish that brain breaks were longer and happened more often during the day, I still think that the administration made a great decision implementing them.” 
Throughout the year, Rabbi Nevins and Dr. Apter hope to enact more improvements to Tefillah, social and emotional learning skills, race and equity and Jewish studies. Dr. Apter’s philosophy is that “things change all the time,” and the faculty always needs to keep asking itself: “How can we make this program or curriculum better meet the needs of students? Because [the students] are changing.” 
In other words, the administration will adapt to the students’ needs in order to best accommodate any changes - especially in the midst of COVID-19. 
Despite the major challenge COVID-19 poses, the administration is working to help the school function like it did before the pandemic. 
“We’re trying very hard to stay safe and stay in school.  A lot of our focus has been on vaccination, testing and trying to use these tools to get closer to normal operation,” Rabbi Nevins said.
In particular, the administration and student life team are doing their best to give students their much-missed Shabbatons. Although overnight trips are difficult to plan, GOA has made it a top priority to provide the students with a much needed break from their studies, along with more bonding opportunities.
The administration is also trying to give students an outlet to express and practice their unique talents, and to enhance the school’s productive learning environment. 
Rabbi Nevins said, “I’d love to see more music in the school. I’m a drummer, and I know we have some really gifted musicians in the building.  I’d like to hear some more student music being made.”
“I think everyone comes here wanting to love where they are; we spend the majority of the day here… I think everyone needs to feel that they are productive wherever they are. I want people to walk out of this building thinking: ‘I’m a better person than I was when I walked in,’” Dr. Apter said. 
Expect to see many improvements to the overall student experience in the coming school year, thanks to GOA’s new administration and their big plans for the school.