The Tucson Hebrew Academy board of trustees has appointed Jonathan Ben-Asher as interim head of school. To establish a strong transition, Ben-Asher started last week and will assume full leadership of the school in July.
Arthur Yavelberg, the current head of school, is leaving to take a position in Singapore.
Ben-Asher is a native Tucsonan and the Academy’s first alumnus head of school. He attended THA for five years as a child, and went on to public high school and the University of Arizona. While working as a classroom teacher in the public sector, he earned his master’s degree in educational administration from the University of Phoenix.
Ben-Asher is a career educator and father of two daughters. He has taught Hebrew school for nearly 20 years and served in various volunteer capacities at Congregation Anshei Israel. During his 22 years of service in the Tucson Unified School District, in addition to other schools he was a classroom teacher at Blenman and Fruchthendler elementary schools, and principal at Lawrence and Henry elementary schools.
“I’m eager to get to know the children, families, teachers and staff here at the Academy,” says Ben-Asher. “It’s also a priority for me to connect and work closely with all areas of the Tucson Jewish community, and community at large, to support the ongoing success of our school and students. My door is open and I’m excited to get to work with everyone.”
Ben-Asher brings a strong teaching and leadership background and an inclusive style to the THA community, says Steve Kippur, THA board of trustees president.
“The board and I are thrilled to bring onboard a new generation of leadership, and one of our own graduates coming home to THA makes this moment very special. We believe this is the dawn of a new era at THA and are excited to share this energy with the community,” says Kippur.
Ben-Asher may be reached at THA at 529-3888 or jba@thaaz.org.
