Fundraising is (still) one of the most challenging parts of school leadership.

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I sit down with Amy Schiffman, Founder and CEO of Evolve Giving Group, to explore what makes fundraising work in Jewish day schools over time.

We explore the head of school’s role in donor relationships, how boards and leadership teams can partner more effectively, and why clarity and shared responsibility are essential for sustainable fundraising.

If fundraising has felt overwhelming, unclear, or disconnected from your leadership role, this conversation offers a grounded, practical perspective.

I can’t wait to hear what you take away from this conversation.

Get in touch with Amy:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amyschiffman

Learn more about Evolve Giving Group:  

Website: https://evolvegg.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/evolve-giving-group

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EvolveGG

Email:  [email protected]

Get in touch with us: 

Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com

Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, I sat down with Amihai Bannett, Director of Herzog Global, to explore how Jewish educators and school leaders can benefit from learning across borders.

Herzog Global works with teachers and heads of school in more than 18 countries, offering professional development, advanced degrees, and customized school-based programs that connect Israeli educational expertise with Jewish communities around the world.

We talk about:

✅ Why global perspective matters for local school leadership

✅ How professional development can strengthen Jewish identity and pedagogy

✅ What schools gain when educators learn from peers in different countries

✅ How Herzog Global partners with schools to offer accessible, high-quality training

This episode focuses on how school leaders can leverage global partnerships to support their schools!

🎧 Join the conversation.

Learn more about Herzog Global: https://global.herzog.ac.il

Get in touch with us:

Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com

Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Ben Gonsher, a veteran fundraiser with more than 25 years of experience helping Jewish schools and nonprofits build sustainable philanthropic support.

Rabbi Gonsher digs into why fundraising feels so uncomfortable and how the work gets easier when you stop treating fundraising like a necessary distraction, and start treating donors like partners. We talk about relationship-based fundraising, moves management, and simple systems that help leaders stay consistent, follow through, and build trust over time.

If fundraising has always felt awkward, stressful, or unclear, this conversation will help you reframe it and walk away with practical ways to start building stronger donor relationships.

Get in touch with Rabbi Gonsher:

Email: [email protected]

Get in touch with us:

Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com

Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Dan Hazony, a fractional Chief Information Officer who works with Jewish nonprofits and schools to help them use data and systems more intentionally.

Many schools collect enormous amounts of information about donors, families, students, and programs, yet struggle to turn that data into insight or action. Together, we explore what “using data well” actually looks like in real school settings, and why systems should support judgment, not replace it.

In our conversation, we dive into:

👉 What schools mean (and don’t mean) when they talk about “data”

👉 Why fundraising is often the easiest entry point and where schools leave value on the table

👉 How systems can help schools care for students and families at scale

👉 The difference between intuition and structure and why leaders need both

👉 Why starting simple often matters more than choosing the “right” platform

👉 How data systems can help strategic plans actually get implemented

This is a grounded conversation for heads of school, principals, and senior leaders who want systems that extend their leadership, not complicate it.

I can’t wait for you to dive in.

ABOUT OUR GUEST:

Dan Hazony is a fractional Chief Information Officer who helps nonprofits and schools develop practical, human-centered data strategies. His work focuses on aligning technology, people, and processes so organizations can act on what they already know.

Website: https://dzhconsulting.com

Email: [email protected]

GET IN TOUCH WITH US:

Website: https://kislowiczconsulting.com

Weekly Blog: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkislowicz/

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Dr. Ben Levy, a London-based school psychologist and the founder of Magic Lessons, to unpack the five ingredients behind truly engaging lessons.Drawing on decades of experience in classrooms, Ben explains how the most effective lessons consistently strengthen five elements: ability, belief, clarity, motivation, and environment. We explore what this looks like in practice, including a simple, repeatable way teachers can start lessons that draw students in and set them up for success.We also examine how school leaders can think more clearly about AI in lesson planning, what’s gained by using general tools like ChatGPT, and what changes when an AI platform is built on a clear pedagogical framework and structured thinking.This conversation is for heads of school and principals who want to improve teaching and learning without chasing trends and who are looking for practical ways to support teachers while raising the quality of classroom instruction.Substack: https://kislowiczconsulting.substack.com/Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/leadership-lenses-with-barry-kislowicz/id1813728680Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5Qhxhn8NO5OFjFevyQdrEE?si=796d4440524d47a5Leadership Lenses on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leadershiplenses/ABOUT OUR GUEST Dr. Ben Levy is a school psychologist and former teacher based in London. After years of observing classroom instruction, he identified five consistent ingredients behind highly engaging lessons: Ability, Belief, Clarity, Motivation, and Environment (ABCME). He is the founder of Magic Lessons, a platform that helps educators apply this framework through structured, practical lesson planning support.Magic Lessons: https://magiclessons.co.uk/Contact Ben: [email protected]

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with curriculum consultant Malki Feuer to unpack one of the most complex and consequential elements of Jewish day school education: curriculum design and implementation.

We explore how schools often operate without a true learning continuum, regardless of whether they rely on purchased materials or homegrown teacher-created units. We examine why schools struggle when curricula are not aligned with mission, outcomes, or assessments and show how thoughtful processes like backward design, stakeholder collaboration, and benchmark assessments can shift schools from fragmented instruction to intentional learning trajectories.

When we invest in clarity around what students should know and be able to do and support teachers with practical tools instead of binders that collect dust, we strengthen learning, supervision, morale, and parent trust. By treating curriculum as a long-term leadership responsibility rather than a quick purchase, we can build programs that are coherent, mission-driven, and built to last.

More Resources at - ⁠https://kislowiczconsulting.com/resources/

Contact Malki Feuer - [email protected]

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we speak with Dr. Alex Pomson of Rosov Consulting, a world-renowned scholar of Jewish educational leadership and professional development, about one of the field’s most pressing challenges: determining what actually works in professional growth.

Drawing on the early stages of Alex’s current research, we explore the crucial distinction between capacities and dispositions, as well as what the evidence suggests can realistically change through leadership and teacher development. Skills, practices, and professional contributions tend to shift with the right conditions and support, while deeper traits such as grit, curiosity, and mindset prove far more resistant to direct intervention.

For heads of school and principals, this raises urgent questions about where to invest time, energy, and resources. Our conversation focuses on how leaders can move beyond fashionable ideas and toward more disciplined, evidence-informed decisions about adult learning. By centering the conditions, relationships, and concrete skills educators need right now, schools can create environments where genuine growth is more likely to take root and where teachers are better equipped to make a lasting difference for their students.

More Resources at - ⁠https://kislowiczconsulting.com/resources/

See Alex's contact information at - https://www.rosovconsulting.com/

Check out the Prizmah report - The Learning Leadership Landscape: https://www.rosovconsulting.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Prizmah-Rosov-Report-2018.pdf

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Jeff Riley, former Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, to explore what the rise of artificial intelligence means for schools and for educational leadership. Together, we examine why AI should not be viewed as a passing trend or a threat to be avoided, but as a powerful tool that can free educators from administrative burdens and refocus schools on meaningful teaching and learning. We discuss how thoughtful integration of AI can support differentiation, personalize instruction, and restore joy to the work of teaching, while also confronting real concerns around safety, integrity, and student development. By approaching AI with curiosity, caution, and purpose, we can begin to shape learning environments that are more human, more engaging, and better equipped for the future.More Resources at - ⁠https://kislowiczconsulting.com/resources/Reach Jeff Riley at - [email protected]Check out Day of AI resources at - https://dayofai.org/

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Miriam Stein of Saddlerock Strategies to explore how heads of school can move from feeling reactive and unprepared to becoming thoughtful, data-informed partners in the school growth and admissions processes. We look at why strong communication with admissions professionals, investment in training, and developing a clear enrollment strategy are essential to a school’s mission and financial health. When admissions is aligned with leadership, values, and honest storytelling, it becomes not just a pathway to filling seats, but a powerful lever for building the school community we are trying to create.

More Resources at - ⁠https://kislowiczconsulting.com/resources/

Reach Miriam Stein at - https://www.saddlerockstrategies.com/

In this episode of Leadership Lenses, we sit down with Rabbi Dr. Maury Grebenau of the Jewish New Teacher Project to explore what new administrators truly need in their first years of leadership. Together, we look at why the transition from teacher to principal can feel overwhelming, from the fire hose of tasks to the sudden shift in relationships, expectations, and identity. We consider how coaching, trust building, and clear role definition can help leaders move from reactive survival mode to a place of clarity and confidence. When we recognize the emotional and psychological weight that comes with the role and create structures that support growth, we give new administrators the space to become thoughtful, grounded leaders who can guide their communities with purpose and presence.

More Resources at - ⁠https://kislowiczconsulting.com/resources/