Awards and Honors

Good evening. I am Karyn Samdperil Rosenfield. On behalf of my mom, Ruth Samdperil, my brother and sisters Stephen, Deb, and Terry, and our families, I am very proud to stand before you to announce this year’s recipients of the Charles Samdperil Award for Outstanding Dedication to Jewish Education.

The Charles Samdperil Award for Outstanding Dedication to Jewish Education was established in 2007 to recognize an individual or individuals for leadership in the arena of Jewish Education.

Each year, the Jewish Community Day School will receive a portion of this fund to be used to support the integration of technology into teaching and learning.

Our dad, Charlie Samdperil, served on the first Board of Directors of the Schechter School, helping to guide the school in its infancy. He was always a supporter of day school education in its various forms. I know that our father would be thrilled to see what has become of our school today.

JCDS has experienced a considerable amount of change over these past few years. Change is difficult. Change can make people feel uncomfortable. It can cause a sense of disequilibrium. There are three people who, together, supported and facilitated many changes. Together, this triumvirate, worked collaboratively with the school community and the RI community, to restore our school and our confidence. Together, they demonstrate their art of leadership.

The three recipients of the Charles Samdperil Award, individually and together, have made a powerful and positive impact upon our school. Although the 3 are strong and notable leaders in their own rights, it is as leaders united in a mission of heart and soul that we honor them today, 3 individuals who worked tirelessly toward a common goal of the school’s survival and revival that has brought the school to this point of renewal. This year’s recipients are Bruce Wolpert , Rabbi Alvin Kaunfer, and Bob Sarkisian.

Bruce Wolpert

Bruce has been a member of the Schecter/JCDS Board of Directors for a total of 12 years. He served as President of the Alperin Schechter Day School for 3 years, and as the first and third President of the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island. Throughout this time, Bruce has demonstrated his commitment, leadership and passion for our community. Among his accomplishments are:

• Member of the American Bar Association and the Rhode Island Bar Association

• Named a Rhode Island “Super Lawyer” in 2008 and 2009

• Served on the Judicial Nominating Commission for the State of Rhode Island from 1999 to 2003

• Has been a very active member of both the Jewish Federation of RI and Jewish Community Center. Bruce is a member of Temple Emanu-El.

• Also serves in many capacities on the Classical High School and URI Alumni Associations

• A lifelong resident of Providence, Rhode Island, Bruce and his wife Marlene, have two children, Both are graduates of our school.
  Michael (Class of 2000) and Jonathan (class of 2003).

Bruce, please join us to receive your award.

Rabbi Alvin Kaunfer:

• Founding Director of our school from 1978-1991 (when it was a Schechter School)

• He is dedicated to the idea of a “day school education” as an intensive rich Jewish education. Most recently, Rabbi Kaunfer, volunteered to be the head of Judaic Studies at JCDS last year

• He was Rabbi @ Temple Emanu-El for over 25 yrs

• Led a community process to transform the school into a Community Day School

• Teaches Jewish Education at the Davidson School of the Jewish Theological Seminary, and at Hebrew College in Boston and consults on curriculum and teacher professional development projects

• Wife, Marcia is a long-time teacher at the school

• Two sons Elie and Oren are graduates of the school--and the Kaunfers now have 4 grandchildren

Rabbi, Please join us to receive your award.

Bob Sarkisian:

Mr. S, as the children fondly call him, has helped to bring a sense of spirit and pride back to our school. His dedication to both the children and our school can be seen as he is observing and engaging with the kids at recess. He enjoys getting to know our children in and out if the classroom.

Before joining JCDS, Bob was the Headmaster of The Meadowbrook School in Philadelphia, serving the longest tenure as Head of School in the school’s history (28 years)

Some highlights of the important work Bob has accomplished at JCDS are:


• Hired 12 staff to fill the vacancies

• Reduced the deficit

• Stabilized the school by eliminating staff turnover and reducing student
  Attrition

• Rebuilt bridges to the community and rebuilt morale

• Professionalized the Board of Directors and the Parent Association
  

• Received grants for enrollment building, establishing a development office, creating a technology lab, and upgrading the school website.

• Hired an Assistant Head of School who will now be the Head of School

• Bob has truly reinvigorated and strengthened the School

• Bob has two children—Aram and Caitlin and two grandchildren—Robby and Reilly.
  

Bob ~ please join us to receive your award