The Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School has appointed Raquel Scharf-Anderson as Mirowitz’s next Head of School beginning July 1.

According to a letter sent to parents, Scharf-Anderson has spent most of her career in the Jewish day school world. For many years, she was Assistant Head of School for Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale, Ariz., and later served as Head of the Martin J. Gottlieb Day School in Jacksonville, Fla. and the Seattle Waldorf School.

She says her roles as a school leader, as a cantorial soloist, as a teacher, as a volunteer and as a mother have been influenced by Jewish teachings, and that she believes the opportunity to lead Mirowitz will allow her to live her life’s purpose each day.

Scharf-Anderson  is passionate about supporting diverse learners, and ensuring a school culture  marked by kavod (respect) and chesed (kindness). As a school leader, she values communication and approachability, and understands that to lead a Jewish day school, one must model limud lishmah (learning for the sake of learning), gemilut hasadim (acts of loving-kindness), tikun olam (repairing the world) and derech eretz (involvement in worldly concerns).

Scharf-Anderson  will move to St. Louis with her husband Eric this summer. They are parents of two young-adult children, Samuel and Tzipporah, who are Jewish day school graduates themselves.

Scharf-Anderson will succeed Head of School Cheryl Maayan, who announced after 14 years, she would be leaving her position at the end of the academic year to pursue other professional and personal interests. Maayan was credited for leading Mirowitz to become a thriving and esteemed school that attracted several quality candidates.