Dr. Bernice Tabak Kirzner

Dr. Bernice Tabak Kirzner joined Austin Jewish Academy as Head of School in the spring of 2007. She hails from Orange County, California, and has worked for the last 15 years as the founding principal of the much acclaimed Tarbut V'Torah Community Day School. Under Ms. Kirzner's leadership, the school grew from a Lower/Middle School student body of 72 to nearly 400 students. In addition, the school received recognition as a U.S. Department of Education Blue Ribbon School of Excellence. Furthermore, Tarbut V'Torah has become a center of Jewish life in Orange County. Ms. Kirzner aspires for Austin Jewish Academy to become a focal point of Jewish life in Austin as well. She holds a Bachelor of Science, Psychology degree, a Master's of Education from the University of Pittsburgh, and a Doctorate from the University of California as well as certifications in administration and several learning specialist areas. The immediate connection Ms. Kirzner felt with AJA was a determining factor in her decision to make the move from sunny Orange County, California to even sunnier Austin, Texas. Ms. Kirzner said about the school after her initial visit, "Upon crossing the threshold of AJA, one immediately feels a sense of warmth. Teachers and administrators genuinely care about the students, the classrooms are alive with active learning, people smile at one another and have a friendly word, or story to share...it simply "feels" good." But the deciding factor in getting AJA'S new Head of School to relocate to 7300 Hart Lane was her adorable grandchild who is now a Texan.