The Jewish Leadership Academy

The month of Adar is here, and with it comes creativity, fun, and celebration! In collaboration with artist and author Shira Hecht-Koller, students in our Soul Center got hands-on in designing scenes from the Megillah using a variety of materials—Legos, crayons, CD's, zippers, buttons, and more! Each group created their own unique 3D depiction, which will be photographed and printed to form physical Megillot that our school community will cherish for years to come. 💫

Join us in giving a warm welcome to our new librarian and media specialist, Ms. Kimberly Hughes! Ms. Hughes is an educator with a diverse background in library science and teaching. After 13 years teaching Art History, European History, and World History at the Honors and AP levels, she transitioned to a career in libraries. She served as a Senior Librarian with the Broward County Public Library system and later as an Instructional Librarian at Miami-Dade College, blending her love of reading with a focus on student success. Kimberly holds a Bachelor's in History from the University of Florida, a Master's in Library Science from Florida State University, and a Master’s in American History from Pace University. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Instructional Design. In her free time, Kimberly enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family, including her two children and dog.

Algebra 2 students apply math to the real world by searching for parabolas in everyday life! From the curve of a rope fence to the path of a pickleball, they used Vertex and Standard form to work backwards and uncover the equations behind these real-world curves. 🧮🔍 With Desmos to confirm their findings, they traced the quadratic functions and highlighted key concepts. This project wasn’t just about math—it sparked creativity and critical thinking!

We're #hiring a new Associate Director of College Guidance in Miami, Florida. Apply today or share this post with your network.

We're #hiring a new Substitute Teacher in Miami, Florida. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Jonathan Salmeron joins the Jewish Leadership Academy from the Miami-Dade Public School system where he spent the last eight years teaching high school Engineering and Physics.  With a Bachelor of Science degree in Structural Engineering from the University of California, San Diego, a Masters degree in education from the University of Miami, and a Masters in Mechanical Engineering from Florida International University, Mr. Salmeron began his career as a designer and drafter in the solar energy industry before making the move to education.  At the SEED School of Miami and then at North Miami Senior High, Mr. Salmeron developed and implemented college level engineering curricula, while certifying the students in design programs such as AutoCAD and Solidworks. A passionate and innovative educator, he received “Highly Effective” recognition for placing amongst the top 8% in Miami-Dade County for teaching practices and results. Inside the classroom, Mr. Salmeron is dedicated to creating a dynamic, hands-on learning environment that fosters critical and creative thinking. Outside of the classroom, he enjoys competitive sports like pickleball, padel, and soccer, as well as board games.

We were pleased to welcome COYO, the Council for Youth Organizations, who visited JLA yesterday for a meaningful and impactful learning experience. COYO is the umbrella organization that officially represents all major youth movements in Israel, from Haredi (ultra-orthodox) to secular, Arab to Druze. This carefully curated day provided participants with a deeper understanding of how the Jewish community in South Florida operates, fosters new relationships, and strengthens partnerships. By exploring both the opportunities and challenges faced by Jewish youth in the region, we aim to further reinforce the bond between Israel and the U.S.

On the courts or on the fields, our Jaguars demonstrate their grit, discipline and teamwork! A big thank you to our incredible coaches for their guidance and support. We are so lucky to have such a talented and inspiring group of student-athletes representing our school. LET’S GO JAGUARS!

Round of applause for our remarkable student performers who gave it their all at our Open Mic Night! We were blown away by the energy in the room — so many talented students stepping up to share their creativity. From pop hits to Edgar Allan Poe (from memory!), trivia fun to renaissance stories, political satire to deep dives into AI, this year’s lineup had something for everyone. Give it up for our incredible performers! 👏👏👏👏

🏆 Congratulations to our JLA Mathcounts team for receiving 4th place during last week’s District Mathcounts Competition at MDC Kendall! This is the first time that a Jewish day school placed in the top 4 and we are very proud of their achievement. A special shoutout to Miley S. for placing 10th in the individual competition, out of nearly 200 contestants!