TABC began the new school year by welcoming 310 students and a new Head of School, Rabbi Asher Yablok. While Rabbi Yablok officially assumed the position a few months ago, this was his first real opportunity to interact with the multitude of students now placed in his charge.
The vibe he felt on the first day was “unbelievable” as the students began that day with a combination of curiosity about the changes that come with a new school leader and also with tremendous energy and excitement to be back with their friends and teachers. He noted how the young men were not bashful in giving their input in a passionate yet respectful way as to their hopes and desires for where the school is headed. As he remarked, “I heard that was the case beforehand and now I see it in action.”
The feeling of the entire school davening together on the first day was, as Rabbi Yablok said, “all I was looking forward to.” Students passing him in the hall stopped to welcome him and he was struck by the immediate sense of warmth and eagerness on the part of the students to develop a relationship with their new Head of School. Rabbi Yablok was overwhelmed by the students’ enthusiasm and love for the school and the experience of being a part of TABC.
Senior Andrew Haberman was impressed by how “Rabbi Yablok was able to balance being nice and relaxed with us while also being serious, speaking in front of the school and keeping everything organized.”
Rabbi Yablok wasted no time in getting to know the students. He attended some of the team tryouts where the enthusiastic chants of “Let’s Go Storm” left him speechless. TABC Co- President Mark Zomick attended the Freshman BBQ and observed how Rabbi Yablok has already begun to establish relationships with the students. Rabbi Yablok has taken upon himself an official position within each grade so that he can interact with as many students as possible. He will be serving as the 12th-grade dean and is dedicated to making sure that the seniors have the amazing year that they are expecting. He will be teaching the extended Tzurbah D’rabbanan Gemara track for the 11th grade and will be davening with the 9th and 10th grades at their daily Shacharit minyan.
Before school even started, Rabbi Yablok embarked on a “listening tour” and has been busy cultivating relationships with TABC parents and the broader community. He also met both with principals of local yeshivot and area Rabbanim and has been very impressed by their view of TABC as an institution that prepares its students for life after high school together with a commitment and love for talmud Torah. They noted how successful TABC is at creating an environment of “fun while learning,” offering a high-level academic program that is so enjoyable. They shared with him that TABC alumni sing the praises of the school and are happy having made the choice to attend the school. Overall, Rabbi Yablok felt that the community consensus is that “students feel that the school gets them.”
Rabbi Yablok is the first to recognize the legacy and stellar reputation that the school has earned under the leadership of TABC’s Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Yosef Adler. He is proud to be a part of this legacy and noted that the tone of the conversation amongst the TABC faculty is “not just that this is what we have to offer our students, but that this is what we can do for our students. That standard will only get higher for TABC students as we push to raise the bar in many areas so that we will produce some of the best yeshiva high school graduates in the world.” Rabbi Yablok hopes to continue to cultivate the faculty as a “community of learners” who are never satisfied with where they are but always looking for new and innovative ways to produce the finest young men.
Rabbi Yablok was especially impressed with how much thought and consideration was put into correctly placing students, not only in the right class level and academic environment, but in a place where that student will have the best chemistry with a Rebbe or teacher. “At TABC,” he noted, “it’s about the whole experience.” To further foster this, one of the innovations he instituted this year at TABC is a grade-dean program so that students and parents have a specific go-to faculty member for any and all concerns.
As the school year has officially begun, Rabbi Yablok, together with the faculty, administration, students, parents and community leaders, have “reviewed, listened and processed all of the feedback we received and are now acting on it. I am excited about TABC’s mission of academic achievement in an exceptionally warm environment with a commitment to cultivating a passion for lifelong, independent learners who aim to achieve excellence in all aspects of their studies both inside and outside the classroom.” As he proudly noted, “This is who we are at TABC.”
