Pardes Board of Directors Announces New Head of School

The Pardes Jewish Day School’s Board of Directors is excited to announce that Dr. Michelle Bernat has been named the next Head of School, effective July 1, 2023.

In a letter to the Pardes community, Board of Directors President Aviva Gorny shared that “The Board of Directors and the Search Committee believe that Michelle will bring positivity, passion, wisdom and vision to Pardes, as well as elevate our commitment to excellent secular and Jewish education. Michelle emerged as the best fit to carry on the success of Pardes into its 30th year and beyond, aligning well with our needs, mission and values.”

Dr. Bernat currently holds the role of Lower School Division Head of Tarbut v’Torah (TVT), a large Jewish day school in Irvine, California. Prior to TVT, Dr. Bernat served as Assistant Superintendent of Education, Senior Director and Director of school districts in California. She began her career in education teaching general studies, Hebrew, and Judaics at Jewish day schools in Tucson and California.

“I am excited and deeply honored to serve as the next Head of School of Pardes. I was attracted to the school as it deeply aligns and embodies what I believe about education, Jewish learning, and community. Having graduated from U of A, I feel like returning to Arizona is coming home,” shared Dr. Bernat in a letter to the Pardes community.

We look forward to welcoming Dr. Bernat and her family to Pardes and Arizona this summer.