06/25/2025
School Leaders Unite to Address Antisemitism, Build Inclusive Communities
In response to the historic rise in hatred targeting Jews, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland hosted its inaugural Education Leaders Summit—a gathering designed to educate and empower school leaders to better support the Jewish students in their schools. Held at the Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, the summit convened more than 100 participants, including superintendents, principals, heads of school, school board members and diversity professionals from over 50 public, private, and parochial schools across Northeast Ohio.
“Keeping our children safe – both physically and emotionally – is of paramount importance to Federation,” said Alan Rosskamm, Federation’s vice chair of the Community Relations Committee. “In today’s climate, it is critical that school leaders across Northeast Ohio have a deeper understanding of the issues Jewish students are facing, as well as the partnerships needed to combat hate.”
The summit was co-chaired by Rosskamm, along with Dr. Robert Hardis, superintendent of Beachwood City Schools; Dr. Fran Bisselle, head of school at Hathaway Brown; and Mark Swaim-Fox, president and CEO of the Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio.
Participants engaged in a full day of learning focused on Jewish identity, rising antisemitism, and creating inclusive school environments. The program began with a compelling overview of Jewish history and Zionism from Professor Noah Bickart of John Carroll University, which received enthusiastic feedback from educators, many of whom were encountering this material for the first time.
That foundation set the stage for a session with Facing History & Ourselves on how antisemitism manifests in schools today, followed by real-world case studies exploring scenarios such as antisemitic harassment and controversial speech online. In the afternoon, breakout sessions allowed leaders to dive deeper into topics including Holocaust education, legal considerations, strategies for fostering civil discourse, and more. Many found the chance to learn from peers across different school systems as impactful as the sessions themselves.
“The strong turnout to this Summit clearly shows both the significance of these issues in schools today and the commitment of our region’s educators to address them,” said Dr. Fran Bisselle. “Throughout the day—both during the formal sessions and informal conversations—participants were deeply engaged. It was truly inspiring.”
That commitment was echoed by Dr. Hardis, who shared that the summit was deeply meaningful to him both personally and professionally. “As a Jew 25 years into my public education career, I wanted to take responsibility with my peers,” he said. “I was surprised how many attendees were unfamiliar with antisemitic imagery and tropes … now school leaders’ radar will be up.”
For others, the summit offered an eye-opening look into a reality they hadn’t fully considered. Dr. Frances Webb, a Painesville Schools board member and Lake County NAACP leader, said, “The number of hate crimes targeting Jews has increased, and I was taken aback. We need to teach empathy, regardless of culture. Ignorance is not bliss in this situation.”
Reflecting on the day, Rosskamm said the experience affirmed what his father, a Holocaust survivor, always believed: “Only in America could we so successfully convene such a diverse group of education leaders to invest an entire day to learn how to combat antisemitism and other forms of hate in their school communities.”
Plans are already underway to make the Education Leaders Summit a recurring event. In the meantime, Federation and its partners are following up with attendees to provide school-specific resources, share classroom-ready materials, and explore opportunities for continued engagement, ensuring the momentum continues.
This event was made possible by the Laura and Alvin Siegal College of Judaic Studies Educational Foundation.
