Following the announcement that High School Principal and Upper School Campus Head Lisa Vardi will be leaving JDS at the end of the school year, High School Assistant Principal Aileen Goldstein was named interim High School Principal. To fill Goldstein’s current position, High School English Department Chair Melissa Fisanich has been appointed interim Assistant High School Principal for the coming year.
Head of School Rabbi Mitchel Malkus shared the news with the community in an email announcement on Feb. 19. To support the interim leadership team, Middle School Principal Cassandra Batson will assume Upper School Campus Head responsibilities. Along with these new roles, the school is preparing for a broader transition of administration, marked by Malkus’ departure and the arrival of incoming Head of School Jonathan Levy this summer.
With several leadership changes ahead, the opportunity to guide the high school through this time of transition is something Goldstein said she is eager to embrace.
“I’m very excited for what the year will bring us,” Goldstein said. “I think that there is a real opportunity for us to continue the excellence that is the high school.”
The formal transition into the interim roles will begin over the summer. During the coming year, the temporary leadership team will focus on maintaining academic and extracurricular excellence, supporting students and faculty and fostering a strong sense of community.
Both Goldstein and Fisanich hold years of experience within the JDS community. In addition to having served as Assistant High School Principal for the past 12 years, Goldstein is an alumna and parent to a current student, and she previously held the role of Academic Dean as well. Fisanich has been teaching in the high school for 29 years and contributes to broader curricular planning as High School English Department Chair. Their experience will allow them to guide the high school with strength and stability, according to Vardi.
“I think the high school is in a really excellent place,” Vardi said. “I could not be happier to leave it in such great hands.”
In addition to managing day-to-day operations, the interim leadership team will help guide the school through a year of larger transition with Levy’s arrival. They will serve as a bridge between the outgoing administration and the new head of school, helping Levy understand the school’s culture and values so that the future permanent leadership can build on a strong foundation.
While leadership changes can sometimes bring uncertainty, students are approaching the news with optimism, according to junior Elana Ernst. She said that the interim leaders’ familiarity with students provides stability and expressed confidence that the coming year will continue smoothly and allow the high school community to thrive.
“I think being part of the community actually helps, instead of hindering your ability to lead,” Ernst said. “I feel like it makes it a lot more personal.”
According to Malkus’ email to the JDS community, Levy will begin the search process for the next permanent high school principal upon his arrival this summer. Malkus emphasized that this work will be approached with conscientiousness and care, and that the school community will be kept informed of any updates.
Although she is stepping into a temporary role, Goldstein highlighted that keeping students’ needs at the center of the decision-making process will guide the interim leadership team’s work, ensuring that student experiences remain a priority.
“I think there’s a lot of opportunity [with the leadership transition], and we’re in a really great spot to do that work,” Goldstein said. “I’m really excited about being a pivotal part in that. We want to maintain this excellent status that we have right now … making sure that we continue to achieve at that high level with the students at the center of that work.”
In the high school, leadership has always been collaborative, according to Vardi. She said the division’s success is a result of a broader team effort rather than any one individual.
As Goldstein and Fisanich prepare to take on their interim leadership roles, both will rely on the school’s established network of faculty and staff to guide decisions. This team-based approach, Vardi said, ensures continuity and allows new leaders to build on the school’s existing strengths with the constant support of the entire Upper School leadership team.
“It’s a lot of mentoring, a lot of teaching and learning, but you lead as a team,” Vardi said. “Whatever I’ve led here, the new leadership team will just take it and move forward.”
