With excitement, I warmly welcome you to Bernard Zell!

At Bernard Zell, our mission is clear and compelling: to develop exceptional young people who put Jewish values into action. Every day, we see this mission come to life as our students inspire curiosity in themselves and others, live with integrity and compassion, cultivate a strong sense of community, and celebrate Jewish identity.

We are committed to educational excellence and to nurturing the whole child—intellectually, emotionally, spiritually, and socially. Just as we care for our students, we strive to care for and partner with their families. We believe that learning is most powerful when it’s rooted in deep relationships and a shared purpose.

I am honored to serve as Interim Head of School and to help care for this extraordinary community during this moment in our school’s journey, in anticipation of our next permanent Head of School, Mitch Daar, for the 2026-27 school year. Below you will find a letter of introduction and a bio from Mr. Daar.  

It is a privilege to walk with our students as they grow into thoughtful, joyful, and engaged human beings—young people who not only ask big questions but seek meaningful answers and take action guided by Jewish values.

Thank you for being part of our community.

Warmly,
Karen Leavitt, Interim Head of School

Dear Bernard Zell Community,

I am joyful, humbled, and honored to return to Bernard Zell as Head of School beginning in the 2026–27 school year.

My roots in this incredible school community run deep. My journey began here as a student from Nursery through 8th Grade and continued later as I started my career in education as a middle school math teacher. During those years, I had the privilege of not only teaching, but also working with middle school students outside the classroom as their coach in basketball, soccer, and softball, and as one of the teachers who led students on their transformative eighth grade Tiyul, their annual trip to Israel.

Those years cemented a deep conviction that the best possible education a child can receive is a Bernard Zell education, one that offers academic excellence deeply grounded in Jewish values.

Following my time as both a teacher and an administrator at Bernard Zell, my professional path led me to New York City, where I served at two Jewish day schools on the Upper West Side. I currently serve as Head of School at Perelman Jewish Day School in Greater Philadelphia, continuing my commitment to outstanding independent Jewish day school education.

Returning to Bernard Zell as Head of School is an extraordinary opportunity for me and my family. There is no more special place I can imagine for a child to grow, learn, and discover how to put Jewish values into action through a rich and meaningful academic experience.

I look forward to seeing you all in the fall and beginning this exciting next chapter together.

Sincerely,

Mitchell Daar, 2026-27 Incoming Head of School

Read Mitch's full bio below to learn more about his professional journey.

Education
Mitch earned an MBA from Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management with a focus on Management and Organizations, Finance, and Entrepreneurship, and a BA from the University of Michigan in Economics and Psychology.

Mitch later completed the Day School Leadership Training Institute (DSLTI) through the Jewish Theological Seminary, a comprehensive 16-month leadership program for new and aspiring heads of Jewish day schools. He also obtained National Board Certification in teaching early adolescent mathematics.

Philadelphia & New York City
Since 2022, Mitch has been serving as Head of School at Perelman Jewish Day School in Greater Philadelphia, leading the school’s mission of delivering an outstanding educational experience fueled by Jewish values and wisdom. Overseeing the operations of two parallel campuses with a total of 325 Pre-K to 5th Grade students, Mitch has focused on establishing and differentiating Perelman’s academic excellence within a competitive independent and public school environment.

During his tenure at Perelman, Mitch has successfully increased enrollment, launched a new STEAM Center for Innovation and Imagination, and helped foster an educational environment rooted in “hard fun”, where students joyfully engage in project-based learning, building dynamic skills and resilience.

Before his current Headship, Mitch was the Director of Enrollment Management and Strategic Initiatives at Rodeph Sholom School in New York City where he created and implemented data-based strategies for recruitment and retention, led the transformation of the school’s marketing and branding efforts, and managed the school's admissions amid the challenges presented by the COVID pandemic.

When Mitch first relocated to New York City from Chicago, he served as Associate Head of Middle School at Abraham Joshua Heschel School, where he focused on building a strong culture rooted in meaningful relationships, ensuring students were safe and challenged, faculty were supported for growth, and parents were partners in learning.

Bernard Zell
At Bernard Zell, Mitch held the senior administrative role of Director of Educational Operations and High School Counseling, where he positioned the school for sustained success by helping develop plans for our new building that broke ground in 2018 and by developing and executing a strategic plan for our High School Counseling office.

For over a decade, Mitch also served as a member of our exceptional middle school mathematics department, where he constructed and piloted an 8th grade, technology-based, geometry and statistics curriculum that developed students’ abilities to construct mathematical arguments. He later revamped that curriculum to be rooted in his personal MBA experience, enriching students through real world math applications in business.

Across his tenure at Bernard Zell, Mitch led multiple 8th grade trips to Israel and served as head coach of the varsity co-ed soccer, boys’ basketball, and girls’ softball teams.

More About Mitch
Mitch, a proud graduate of Bernard Zell, will be returning to Chicago with his wife Gillian and daughter Gemma. As a native Chicagoan, he is passionate about everything in this city including the professional sports teams. Mitch also enjoys books, movies, and board games and plays pick-up basketball regularly. He is excited to re-start the weekly BZ pick-up basketball game he started with Bernard Zell parents almost 20 years ago!