The Jewish Leadership Academy

We're #hiring a new Head of Middle School in Miami, Florida. Apply today or share this post with your network.

Beautiful winter weather in Miami means…outdoor art classes 🎉 Our students are taking inspiration from our campus by working on architectural sketches and drawings, both by hand and digitally. From the delicate blooms of our garden to the sharp lines of our buildings, it's incredible to see how various viewpoints and angles inspire their work.

Two brothers, two incredible achievements! Ari P. has been selected for the prestigious The Solomon Leadership Program, a college-accredited initiative for 11th and 12th graders to refine their leadership skills through world-class mentorship and challenging experiences. Eitan P. has been selected for the Menachem Begin Scholars Program, where he’ll engage with the foundational texts of Jewish and Western Civilization alongside top-tier educators and fellow 9th and 10th graders. We admire our students’ dedication to leadership inside and outside of the classroom!

Parents Appreciation Post! Being a part of the JLA community extends far beyond our students. Parents are an integral and dynamic part of what makes our school so special. Here, they are not only partners in their kids’ education; they give lectures, mentor, take classes, attend events, and volunteer together. We are so blessed to have more than 17 countries of origin represented among our parent body and this diversity enriches our campus and programs every single day! Thank you JLA parents!!

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

Can you guess what food dyes are hiding in your favorite snacks? Our 10th grade chemists are using paper chromatography to uncover just that. By comparing their results to FDA-approved standards and separating and identifying the components of food dyes, they're gaining valuable insights into the chemical composition of our food. Want to learn more about STEM at JLA? Join us at our last Open House of the year on Sunday, December 15th. Register at www.jlamiami.org/apply

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

As part of our Service Entrepreneurship Program (SEP), our students work with Michael Neuman, founder of Ji4Life and an American Ninja Warrior, about his work supporting children with developmental disabilities in sports. Through his inspiring work, students learn about Ji4Life’s mission to provide opportunities for children with disabilities to compete and thrive in sports and athletic competitions. During last month’s session, in an effort to deepen their empathy and understanding, students completed obstacles while blindfolded, gaining a small glimpse into the unique challenges that individuals with disabilities may face in athletic activities. It was a powerful lesson in teamwork, compassion, and showing one another the way! Our hope, is that through SEP, our students will one day use their gifts and talents to serve others, just as Mr. Neuman has done!

Our college counseling office has been busy providing our juniors and sophomores with important resources as they embark on their college applications process. Through intentional programs such as our college kickoff night, college tour trip, financial aid info session, and over 50 college rep visits to our campus, our students and families have been making the most of every opportunity that JLA has to offer. But perhaps the most critical piece of what differentiates the JLA college counseling office from other schools, is the hundreds of hours of one-on-one meetings the office has with our students throughout the year, where they work on their essays, narrow down list of schools, discuss scholarship opportunities, and more!

This morning our students had the privilege of hearing from Dr. Richard Silverman, a world renowned scientist who shared his incredible journey, which led to a 2023 induction into the National Academy of Sciences for his groundbreaking discovery of pregabalin (Lyrica™). He spoke about his life's work, which includes over 400 publications, 130 patents, and pioneering research in neurodegenerative diseases, epilepsy, and cancer; all of which has improved the quality of life for thousands of people worldwide. Students and faculty alike left the presentation feeling inspired to use their own talents to serve others, just as Dr. Silverman has!