Ida Crown Jewish Academy - Partnership for Excellence in Jewish ...

our mission.Ida Crown Jewish Academy, a coeducational Modern Orthodox Jewish high school,prepares students for a lifetime of Jewish commitment, community leadership and personal and professional growth. We inspire ourstudents to strive for academic excellence—in both Judaic and in general studies—and to be committed to Israel and the Jewishpeople.Academy students participate in the Jewish community, grow in their Jewish commitment, identify with the State of Israel andfaculty.Take a course from a published author, a research mathematician, a former Wall Street businessman or a rabbinicscholar. At the Academy, our oustanding educators have diverse backgrounds and are experts in their respective fields. More than 60outstanding educators make up the Ida Crown Jewish Academy faculty, most of whom have advanced academic degrees.Most importantly, the relationship between our students and staff extends far beyond the classroom. Teachers and rabbis are rolemodels who become an integral part of students’ lives. Students and teachers interact during school retreats, Shabbatonim, communityvolunteering and athletic events. Even after graduating high school, alumni return to the Academy to visit their former teachers, rabbisand role models.student body.Each year, approximately 300 students from all different backgrounds attend Ida Crown JewishAcademy, including some from out of state. Whether students come from any one of the Jewish day schools in the Chicago area, or fromprivate or public school, Academy students are united by their commitment to develop their character and deepen their knowledge andobservance.Rabbi Dr. Leonard MatankyDeanRabbi Matanky, an Academyalum, began teaching at ICJA in1981 and became dean in 1996.As dean, he continues to teacha daily honors Talmud course.Rabbi Matanky received rabbinicordination and a masters degreein Religious Education from theHebrew Theological College, aMasters degree in EducationalAdministration from LoyolaUniversity, and a Ph.D. from theGraduate School of Arts andSciences, New York University.Mr. Daniel HarrisAssociate PrincipalMr. Harris is a graduate of theAcademy and received a mastersdegree in education from TempleUniversity. He has been a partof the Academy staff since 1979.Beginning in 1990 he was directorof student activities, creatingseveral prominent programsincluding the chesed programand several annual Shabbatonim.Since 1992 he has been associateprincipal, managing daily schooloperations and attending tostudent needs.Dr. Jeremy KahanAssistant PrincipalDr. Kahan is responsible forthe Judaic and general studiescurricula. Prior to joining theAcademy in 2005, he servedas director of the TeachingFellowship Program at the RabbiJoseph B. Soloveitchik Institute.Dr. Kahan is a graduate of HarvardUniversity, where he also earneda master’s degree in education.He went on to receive a doctoratein mathematics education fromthe University of Maryland andwas an assistant professor inthe University of Minnesota’sDepartment of Curriculum andInstruction.