Nationally renowned educator Rabbi Dov Emerson will be joining the Leadership Team at the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy/Yeshiva University High School for Boys (MTA) beginning on July 1. Rabbi Emerson will focus on faculty development and support, as well as nurturing our continued academic growth, in his role as director of teaching and learning. He will work with Head of School Rabbi Joshua Kahn, Principal for General Studies Dr. Seth Taylor, Associate Principal Rabbi Shimon Schenker, Rosh Yeshiva Rabbi Michael Taubes and the faculty to continue to develop innovative educational pedagogy, including educational technology, project-based learning, experiential education and personalized learning in our building. With the vast resources of Yeshiva University, RIETS and the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, Rabbi Emerson will explore ways to continue to utilize our partnerships to enhance educational opportunities for the yeshiva community.
“Rabbi Emerson’s role in our yeshiva represents a focus on the continued development of our educational vision at the Marsha Stern Talmudical Academy. The position of director of teaching and learning is a role that will provide us with an opportunity to ensure that we are offering support and guidance to our teachers so they can continue to grow as professional educators, as well as making sure that we are at the cutting edge of educational pedagogy,” explained Rabbi Joshua Kahn. “Rabbi Emerson’s strengths as a thoughtful educator who stays up to date with advances in education and knows how to collaborate with the faculty make him an ideal candidate.”
Rabbi Emerson joins the MTA administration with a wealth of prior leadership experience. Rabbi Emerson has served as head of school at YULA High School in Los Angeles and, prior to his move to the West Coast, served as the assistant principal at HALB’s DRS Yeshiva High School for Boys.
Rabbi Emerson holds master’s degrees in both education and social work, and is a doctoral student at YU’s Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. He has been honored for his work in Jewish education, receiving the 2011 Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for excellence in Jewish education as well as being named to the Jewish Week’s 36 Under 36 List for his work on educational technology.
“MTA has a rich and storied tradition of providing an outstanding Torah and general studies education to generations of Jewish leaders. It is truly an exciting time for the yeshiva, and I am eager to start getting to know all of the stakeholders and begin working together to build on the already outstanding program here,” noted Rabbi Emerson, who is looking forward to joining the MTA community.
Rabbi Emerson hails from Memphis, Tennessee, where the importance of leadership in the Jewish community was impressed upon him from a young age. He and his wife, Rina, have five children: Ezra and Yitz, both of whom will be attending MTA next year, as well as Yehuda, Yaakov, and Atara.
