In her eight and a half years as a science teacher and four years as Upper School STEM Coordinator at CESJDS, Middle School Principal Cassandra Batson has worked face-to-face with students to inform, educate and help them grow. This year, Batson will begin her new position as the middle school principal and will become the first non-Jewish principal in JDS history.

After former Middle School Principal Dr. Eliana Lispky announced her resignation, a committee of JDS faculty including Middle School Assistant Principal Rabbi Janet Ozur Bass and High School Principal, Campus Head Dr. Lisa Vardi convened to review candidates for a replacement.

“We wanted somebody who believed in what we’re already doing as a middle school and had a vision of where to take it next,” Ozur Bass said. “The fact that Ms. Batson is so beloved by the students, faculty and families helped a lot because it means that she can hit the ground running.”

Once the Principal Search Committee assembled a group of finalists, JDS students, parents and teachers met the candidates and shared their opinions on the candidates with Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus. Taking community surveys and a final recommendation from the Principal Search Committee into account, Malkus made the final decision to appoint Batson as middle school principal.

Batson first became a science teacher at JDS eight and a half years ago and she has a total of 13 years of experience in middle school education. Four years ago, Batson became the Upper School STEM Coordinator. According to Ozur Bass, the strong reputation that Batson has built through her previous roles at JDS engendered a positive response to her appointment as middle school principal.

Though Batson is the first non-Jewish principal at JDS, her years of experience at JDS and her commitment to pluralistic education made her an ideal candidate.

“Even though I’m not Jewish, I am a JDS-er through and through,” Batson said. “And because I’m not Jewish, I am very mindful and very thoughtful about what I don’t know, so I’m not afraid to ask questions.”

Seventh-grader Ryder Chesman, who had Batson as a science teacher during his second semester of sixth grade, had a positive experience in Batson’s class, making him enthusiastic about her new role as principal.

“I think that she’s going to be a great middle school principal…” Chesman said. “She was a great teacher and she knows what she’s doing very well.”

Though Batson will miss teaching, she is excited to take a more prominent role in shaping the middle school’s culture. After she acclimates to her responsibilities as principal, Batson hopes to return to teaching a small amount of classes. Former JDS science teacher Alexandra Brown returned to campus to replace Batson as Upper School STEM Coordinator.

Batson hopes to use her experience as a STEM Coordinator and educator to create a nurturing environment at the middle school.

“My biggest hope,” Batson said, “as I think every principal would want, is to create a warm, loving, welcoming environment where students are challenged, pushed and held accountable. I hope that they come out of our middle school better prepared for the world.”