A lifetime commitment to education is something Cheryl Maayan made a long time ago. And while her title may be changing, her pledge to that decision remains stronger than ever.

In October 2021, Maayan, 53, the longtime head of school at Saul Mirowitz Jewish Community School, announced she is leaving at the end of the current school year. She explained that after 21 years at Mirowitz, 14 in her current position, she’s looking forward to new adventures, a less busy lifestyle, and new ways to be a blessing to others.

Cheryl Maayan’s Next Move

“Mirowitz will always be my baby, and I’ll support it in every way possible,” she said. “I’ll be loving and soaking up every moment of our magical school for the next 10 months.”

Since then, the school has found Maayan’s successor, announcing in January the appointment of Raquel Scharf-Anderson as Mirowitz’s next head of school beginning July 1. But little was known about Maayan’s next move, until now.

“I’ve been hired by the Day School Leadership Training Institute to be their program and outreach consultant,” said Maayan. “DSLTI is a fellowship for new and aspiring heads of Jewish day schools. I was a fellow and have worked part-time as a mentor for the institute for eight years.”

Located at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, the new position is half-time, which will allow Maayan, a 1986 Ladue Horton Watkins High School graduate and longtime member of Congregation Shaare Emeth (her father is its rabbi emeritus, Jeffrey Stiffman), to remain in St. Louis and work from home, offering her the less busy lifestyle she’s seeking.

“I plan to spend the other half pursuing dreams and hobbies — ceramics, writing children’s books, and riding my bike.”

“DSLTI has been a lifeline for me over my 14 years as a head. In it, I found a network of colleagues, a safe place to connect as a leader, and a forum for thinking deeply about leadership. It’s an honor to be able to give back to the Jewish day school field by ensuring there are leaders for the future,” said Maayan.

Other local DSLTI alumni include Rabbi Brad Horwitz of the Jewish Community Center and Rabbi Scott Slarskey, the director of Jewish life at Mirowitz.

Maayan says Mirowitz remains her first love.

“I’ll always support this magical place that helped me raise my own kids and so many others,” she said.

As part of the school’s send-off to Maayan, the school’s annual gala, “Show Me Mirowitz” on May 1, will honor her and her family with a community service award.