Ayeka Announces Michal Fox Smart as Director of Ayeka North America

Jerusalem, Israel, April 9, 2018 – Ayeka: The Center for Soulful Education today announced that Michal Fox Smart has been hired as its first Director of North America, effective August 2018.

Michal Fox Smart is currently Associate Principal of Judaic Studies at Bi-Cultural Day School in Stamford, CT. A recognized leader in innovation and curriculum design, Michal is the recipient of the Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, the JEIC Education Innovation Award, and was one of ten designers re-envisioning day school education on the Hakaveret design team. She is the editor of Kaddish: Women’s Voices (Urim, 2013), winner of the 2013 National Jewish Book Award. Michal is a pioneer in Jewish outdoor and environmental education, and a founder of the TEVA Learning Center. A Fulbright scholar in Jewish thought, Michal is also an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, the Melton Senior Educators Program, and Machon Pardes. Michal lives in Stamford, CT with her five children.

In her new position, Michal will initially direct the follow-up efforts of Ayeka’s Soulful Spiritual Development Program, supervising the team of Ayeka Senior Educators working with 12 Jewish Day Schools, sponsored by grants from the Avi Chai, Kohelet, Mayberg, and Jim Joseph Foundations. Ayeka plans to expand its North American operations to include, in addition to Becoming a Soulful Educator (BSE), its Becoming a Soulful Parent (BSP) program.  

“Ayeka has an extraordinary team of educators and staff, and I’m excited and privileged to work with them. I have seen the impact of Ayeka’s approach first-hand, and look forward to sharing it with other day schools across the country. Students, as well as adults, crave meaning, genuine connection, and spiritual experience. Ayeka makes that accessible within the day school classroom.”