OJCS is thrilled to welcome our new Head of School, Dr. Laura Segall
On behalf of the OJCS Board of Directors, we are delighted to announce that Dr. Laura Segall will be our next Head of School starting in the 2026-2027 academic year. Dr. Segall is an accomplished Jewish educational leader whose rigorous academic training includes a PhD and Post-Doctoral Fellowship from McGill University. Dr. Segall comes to OJCS with nearly two decades of impactful leadership at Montreal’s Hebrew Academy, a Modern Orthodox elementary and high school with approximately 500 students.
During her 18 years at Hebrew Academy, Dr. Segall led curriculum development, faculty evaluation initiatives, strengthened academic programming and was responsible for measurable improvements in student achievement including successes in General Studies, French and Jewish programming. She later became the school’s first female Head of School in its 60-year history, a position she held for the past 7 years. Dr. Segall’s leadership and professional influence extend beyond her school community including roles within the Quebec Association of Independent Schools and the Bronfman Jewish Education Council.
We are excited about the vision, energy, and strategic leadership Dr. Segall will bring to OJCS at this pivotal moment in our school’s growth. Her proven ability to strengthen academic excellence while nurturing a vibrant Jewish community aligns powerfully with our aspirations for the future. We are confident that her leadership will guide OJCS into its next phase of excellence and innovation, deepening our impact on students, families and the broader Ottawa Jewish community.
Dr. Segall’s appointment follows several months of stakeholder consultations, interviews, and extensive reference checks designed to ensure a robust and thoughtful search process. The Board of Directors expresses sincere thanks to Leslie Feldman, Chair of the Head of School Search Committee, to Kerry Siegel of the Executive Search Alliance and to the entire committee for their dedication and care over the past year.
I also want to express my deepest gratitude to Keren Gordon and Melissa Thompson, whose exceptional interim leadership has guided OJCS with steadiness and professionalism during this year of transition. Their ability to provide seamless continuity while supporting the faculty, caring for students, sustaining academic momentum, and preserving the warmth of our community has been invaluable.
Finally, thank you to our parents, faculty, staff, and community partners including the Jewish Federation of Ottawa for your support and engagement throughout this process.
We look forward to welcoming Dr. Segall to Ottawa when she joins us in July 2026 and begins this exciting new chapter in the life of our school.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to me at president@theojcs.ca
Miriam Peters,
President, OJCS Board of Directors
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