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September 4, 2026
Dear PJA Community,
As you know, Merrill Hendin has announced that she will retire at the end of this school year, after more than three decades as a school parent, teacher, board member, and leader. It is impossible to put into words how much she has meant to our school and community over her many years of service. We know that we will miss her greatly, and we look forward to celebrating her career at PJA later this year.
I am writing to let you know about the search process for Merrill’s successor. We have chosen to re-title the position, Co-Head of School, as this more accurately reflects the scope of responsibilities. The Co-Head will be responsible for all student-facing aspects of our school while Steve Albert will serve as the other Co-Head, continuing to oversee business operations, fundraising, marketing, etc. as well as the functions we share with the JCC, such as facilities and human resources.
The search for our new Co-head will be led by a search committee with Steve Albert serving as chair. The other committee members are: Kate Dickinson–Villaseñor (Director of Learning and Teaching), Sarah Glass (Director of Admission, Retention, and Engagement, and alumni parent), Chris Hathaway (Board member, and past EC parent), Naomi Harwin (Board Secretary, and current parent), Erika Saiers (Director of Early Childhood Education, and alumni parent), and Miriam Stroud (Director of Human Resources, and past EC parent).
We have retained the services of Carney, Sandoe & Associates (CS&A), a leading search firm in the independent school world. While CS&A is a national and even international firm, our lead consultant will be Skip Kotkins. Skip lives in Seattle, has worked with dozens of Jewish day schools, and has worked with a number of schools in the Portland area.
Importantly, the extended PJA community will have the opportunity to be actively involved in the search, with key roles at two times. First, Skip will be visiting PJA on September 15th and 16th to meet with members of our community. There will also be an online survey where anyone who has thoughts about the Co-Head position and the skills and characteristics desirable in that individual, can share them. Second, toward the end of the process later this fall, finalist candidates will visit PJA and members of the school community will have the opportunity to meet them, ask questions, and share their impressions with the Search Committee.
During Skip’s visit, he will be meeting in the MJCC Ballroom with interested parents and guardians from 2:30 -3:30 pm on Tuesday, September 15 and from 8:30 – 9:30 am on Wednesday, September 16. For any PJA community member who is unable to meet with Skip during his visit, you can answer the same questions in an online survey found here. Each survey respondent is anonymous as are the comments that Skip will hear on campus. Survey responses go directly to Carney, Sandoe, and the Search Committee will only receive summary information. The survey will close at noon on Friday, September 18. Thank you, in advance, for your active participation in the search process.
Warm regards,
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