Day School Leaders Pool Knowledge and Ideas as Part of YU School-Partnership’s Critical Friends Groups Fourteen principals, heads-of-school and assistant principals from Jewish day schools across the country came together to share experiences, reflect on their own practice and hone their leadership skills at a retreat organized by Yeshiva University’s Institute for University-School Partnership on November 13-15. The groups represent two of six YU School Partnership’s Critical Friends Groups that convene for annual in-person retreats and continue to meet virtually and at other conferences regularly. In contrast to traditional models, that bring in experts to train participants, the Critical Friends Group approach recognizes that school administrators are themselves experts in the field and taps into their inherent ability to create solutions and innovative progress by pooling their knowledge and talent. "These programs are pivotal for leaders, and in turn, for the schools and communities which they service," said Dr. Scott Goldberg, director of the YU School Partnership. "It is the school leaders who set the bar and that is why the YU School Partnership and supporters of Jewish education have a responsibility to provide an outlet for sharing new ideas and successful techniques." For the three-day retreat, each participant composed and presented a case study to their peers, presenting opportunities to brainstorm, receive feedback and expand their thinking on issues that confront many Jewish day schools on a regular basis. “School leaders are often isolated from their colleagues because of time constraints and politics,” said Dina Rabhan, director of recruitment, placement and induction at the YU School Partnership. “What emerges from the Critical Friends conferences is a deeper appreciation of the power of convening and, more importantly, a collective commitment to continue the learning as a cohort to further support and develop their leadership skills.”