Fostering an educational environment

Jason Bokor is HAFTR’s new president

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A graduate of the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway (HAFTR), Woodmere resident Jason Bokor is the school’s president of the Board of Trustees for the 2014-15 school year. Bokor replaces outgoing president Adam Lish, a Woodmere ophthalmologist who now serves as the vice president.
The term is one year, and presidents can serve up to four years. Lish completed his fourth year as president in June.
A lawyer, Bokor, 44, also lives in Woodmere. He earned his law degree from Fordham University and runs a firm, Goldberg & Bokor, LLP, and a consulting business, Metropolitan Refunds, both located in Cedarhurst.  
Bokor and his wife, Danielle, have four children. Three attend HAFTR and are in the first, eighth and 11 grades. Their oldest graduated from the high school this year and, is studying in Israel for a year.
When Lish learned that Bokor was named the president, he said he was thrilled to know he was taking the position. “He is kind, personable, thoughtful and a great listener,” he said. “I am very comfortable handing over my leadership to him. He really believes in and follows our mission statement closely.”

HAFTR’s Executive Director Reuben Maron describes Bokor as level-headed, which is why he is a great leader for the school. “He’s even-keeled and listens to everything before acting,” he said. “He evaluates situations and issues as they arise with thoughtful deliberation for all perspectives.”
Bokor’s involvement with HAFTR with his own education as he is an alumnus. “I became involved as a parent when my first child started attending school,” he said. “With each passing year I became more involved, eventually chairing the board of education and now as president.”
Running the school that has three levels, a lower, middle and a high school, is a collaborative effort. “Since this is a lay leader position as opposed to a full-time job, most days are devoted to my work as an attorney and consultant. However, I do speak with an administrator or the executive director on a daily basis. There are also many nights devoted to meetings to discuss finances, scholarships, development, security, and technology, among many other issues,” Bokor said.
A technology advocate, he is working toward helping students embrace the latest developments. “We are very careful to allow our administrators put in place new technology to enhance our robust curriculum,” Bokor said. “Our education dictates what technologies we look to put in place.”
Maron, too, is excited about the work being done on the school’s technology expansions. “We’re undertaking our iPad, tablet and laptop carts to make sure they are ready for use and their programs are updated,” he said. “We are also upgrading the computer labs in all our schools.”
Since he has been involved, Bokor has noticed a steady increase in student enrollment at all divisions of the school over the past few years. “It is a very exciting time to see this growth and help nurture it, along with the enhancements and improvements to educational offerings and facilities,” he said.
Lish’s advice to Bokor is to continue doing what he’s doing. “Just remember that as volunteers, we have to do what’s right for our children and educators,” Lish said. “Continue to foster an environment for professional educators so they can do their very best for our children.”