Title: Educator (Retired)
Company: Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Location: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Lawrence M. Katz, PedD Honoris Causa, Retired Educator at Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Educators for dedication, achievements, and leadership in academic administration and theological education.
An esteemed educator with 45 years of experience to his credit, Dr. Katz has made significant contributions to the field of education administration and teacher resources. His expertise in professional development has been instrumental in supporting schools and teachers by providing resources, consulting services, and organizing professional development opportunities. Dr. Katz’s dedication to advancing Jewish education and communities is evident through his effective management of diverse responsibilities, including facilitating meetings for the principal’s council and collaborating with various educational institutions to create scholarship opportunities for children from low-income families.
Having retired in 2023, Dr. Katz previously excelled as an educator at the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island for more than 25 years. During his impressive tenure, he supervised an Israeli emissary on an annual basis and assisted with community activities related to Israel in various educational settings. Prior to this position, he was active as the assistant director at the Cincinnati Bureau of Jewish Education in 1985, where he further honed his skills in educational leadership. From 1982 to 1985, he served as the educational director at the Joint Religious School in Vineland, New Jersey. Earlier in his career, Dr. Katz worked as a fellow in Jewish educational leadership from 1978 to 1980 and the director of community services at the Cleveland Bureau of Jewish Education from 1980 to 1982.
Dr. Katz initially supported his professional ambitions by earning a Bachelor of Arts from Columbia University in 1976. He subsequently continued his academic efforts with a Master of Arts from the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1978. He ultimately pursued and completed postgraduate coursework at John Carroll University in 1981. In recognition of his stellar contributions to Jewish education, he was presented with an honorary doctorate by the Jewish Geological Seminary in 2010. Dr. Katz was driven to his field by his parents, whose involvement as leaders in the local Jewish community influenced him greatly and inspired him to bypass becoming a bible professor at rabbinical schools in favor of a more traditional path in education.
Throughout his career, Dr. Katz has been involved with several industry-related organizations, including the Judaica Historical Philatelic Society, the Coalition for Alternatives in Jewish Education, the American Association of Instructional Media Specialists, the Jewish Educators Assembly, and the Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. He has also contributed articles to professional journals, newsletters, newspapers, and the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes published by the Rhode Island Jewish Historical Association in 2023. Additionally, Dr. Katz has been appointed as a statewide board member for a local organization for two decades.
In recognition of his lifelong dedication to education, Dr. Katz received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Jewish Educators Assembly in 2024. Outside of his professional responsibilities, he has remained devoted to his loving family, including his wife of more than 40 years, Marilyn, and their two wonderful children, Jacob and Daniel. In his retirement, he is currently assisting a family service organization by creating a survey to assess client satisfaction.
Dr. Katz’s strong listening skills and unwavering persistence in the wake of setbacks and adversity have been pivotal to his success, allowing him to effectively communicate and assist others in understanding complex situations. Among the highlights of his storied career, he is incredibly proud of being by the Israeli consulate for his contributions to educating people about Israel. Looking toward the future, Dr. Katz plans to travel more extensively and pursue further studies while continuing his involvement with the Jewish community and other endeavors
For more information, please visit:
The Rhode Island-Israel Collaborative
Jewish Rhode Island
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
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