December in Boston is gray and chilly, making it the perfect time to escape to St. Petersburg, Florida for the EDS (Executive Directors Share) Conference, organized by the Torah Educators Network. There, under sunny skies, the Hilton conference center was charged with energy as representatives from yeshivas and day schools across North America converged to network and exchange ideas.
Among the attendees was Torah Academy’s Executive Director, Rabbi Binyomin Mermelstein, eager to engage with colleagues and gain insights from industry leaders. One such notable expert present was Dr. Noam Wasserman, Torah Academy’s former board chairman and the current Dean of the Sy Syms School of Business at Yeshiva University.
Dr. Wasserman played a pivotal role during his tenure on the TA board, spearheading a reorganization of its structure and formulating a set of board norms aimed at fortifying cohesion and effectiveness. When the time came to pass the chairmanship to Mr. Mark Bressler, the board comprised passionate and skilled individuals who worked together effectively.
Board Norms
A set of guidelines that outline how a board is expected to conduct discussions, resolve disagreements, and reach consensus. These norms create a positive board culture and ensure effective governance.
During Dr. Wasserman’s well-attended EDS lecture, he showcased a slide featuring TA’s board norms. To Rabbi Mermelstein’s surprise, attendees across the packed room quickly pulled out their phones to capture a shot of this document. The buzz continued throughout the day. Participants suggested organizers share TA’s board norms with the entire conference.
Explaining the significance of well-defined board norms, Rabbi Mermelstein noted, “Schools everywhere struggle to maintain a board capable of leading in harmony.” He attributed the positive interest to TA’s board norms to its clarity, written using familiar “Yeshivish” terms.
Thanks to the foundational work of Dr. Wasserman, continuing with the inspired leadership of Mr. Bressler, TA’s board has quietly achieved significant milestones over the past four years. Accustomed to operating quietly behind the scenes, it was a gratifying sight to witness TA’s board take the spotlight as an exemplar of excellence.
Rabbi Mermelstein is happy to share TA’s board norms. Feel free to reach out to him via email at rabbimermelstein@torahacademy.us.