Schools

Hillel Day School in Farmington Hills Welcomes New Leaders

Melissa Michaelson and Dr. Jennifer Lerner Friedman take on new positions in the coming school year.

Students at Hillel Day School of Metropolitan Detroit, located in Farmington Hills, will notice some staff changes as the school year starts. 

Former kindergarten teacher and K-4 Division Head Melissa Michaelson will assume the position of K-8 Principal, and Dr. Jennifer Lerner Friedman will serve as Dean of Student Learning/Educational Psychologist.  

Prior to coming to Hillel three years ago, Michaelson taught in Bloomfield Hills schools for eight years. In 2002, she was named Sam’s Club Teacher of the Year.

Michaelson received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Education from Indiana University, and received a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership and a certificate in Administration from Oakland University. She has also received educational endorsements in Reader’s Workshop, Writer’s Workshop and Everyday Math.

A master teacher, her educational philosophy and approach to teaching and learning is aligned with Hillel Day School’s mission.

“When students walk into the doors of Hillel, no matter the age, I passionately feel that each child will learn to stand tall with confidence and have a feeling of self- identity and contentment," she said. "Through the dedication of our staff and commitment to our core values, I hope that when the students leave the doors of Hillel, they feel challenged critically and creatively and have a connection to Judaism and our community."

Michaelson and her husband, Jeremy, live in Farmington Hills with their children Merrick and Sydney, who are both Hillel students.

Friedman has been working as a school psychologist for 16 years in the Walled Lake Consolidated School District and has had a wide variety of work experiences at all levels. She has experience in intervention planning and implementation of differentiated curriculum for students.

Friedman has a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology, is a Licensed Psychologist and Certified School Psychologist. She will be working with the teachers and administration to maximize the benefits of Hillel’s new team teaching structure which will place two teachers in the grades 1-4 classrooms, as well as assisting other teachers with strategies to increase student success.  

An added bonus is Dr. Friedman’s background in Hebrew language and Judaic studies.

“I look very forward to transitioning towards individualizing student growth in a more progressive fashion in the academic and social-emotional domains,” Friedman said. “I am confident that in creatively reshaping our model that we will develop a wide range of strategies and programming that will meet the individual needs that each student brings to us.  This is an exciting time to be at Hillel, and I relish the opportunity to contribute to our growth as a school community.”

Friedman is married to Lowell and has two children, who both attend Hillel: Max, 4th grade, and Jacob, first grade. They live in Huntington Woods.   


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