New, Full-Time Education Director - April 1999

Dear Congregants,

We are delighted to announce the hiring of Leah Schaer as our new, full-time education director. Leah has been a member of the congregation since moving to Albuquerque and has served as family camp director for several years. She has completed Congregation Albert's Future Leadership Program and is continuing her own studies as a member of the Anshei Mitzvah class.

Leah comes to us with many years of experience as an educator and administrator. She currently is director of the preschool and kindergarten at Congregation B'nai Israel. Previously, she served as director of The Hillcrest Academy, a 180-student school in Dallas. She has served in other administrative and teaching positions as well. She also has taught Religious and Hebrew School for more than 20 years and served as synagogue curriculum coordinator at Temple Shalom in Dallas, Texas.

We are very fortunate and extremely excited to have Leah on board as our new educat ion director. As you may recall, our original plan was to to hire a part-time interim education director afier Glenda Orchant retires in June so that the long-range planning process could be completed before we filled the position permanently. However, since education was so clearly a top priority in the long-range planning meetings, we felt confident in hiring a full-time educator.

We look forward to welcoming Leah in her new position, which will start this summer. Leah comes to an excellent educational program, thanks to Glenda's 18 years of tireless dedication to the highest educational standards.

Glenda has shared her love of Torah and education with our children and with all of us during her tenure as our education director. She has passed that love on to us and inspired us, and we have much for which to thank her. We will have an opportunity to show Glenda our gratitude, respect and love with a special weekend of events honoring her.

We invite everyone to join with us in honoring Glenda on May 7 - 9. Our congregation and community will honor her at a special Shabbat service beginning at 7:30 p.m. May 7. Her family will participate in services Saturday morning, May 8. A special dessert and celebration is planned for that evening. On Sunday morning, May 9, there will be a special program in Religious School. A Glenda Orchant Scholarship Fund is being established in her honor as well. Look for additional details in the bulletin.

We are fortunate to have been blessed with an educational leader of Glenda Orchant's caliber, and we look forward to continuing our educational growth with Leah Schaer.

B' Shalom,

Rabbi Joseph Black Leslie Pivar, President Rebeca Zimmerman Religious Education Committee

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