MSC principal to retire
'I leave at a time when the college has record enrolments, has had the institutional resilience to navigate our way through the pandemic and when the bulk of the masterplan has been actualised'
Mount Sinai College’s Phil Roberts will leave at the end of term 2 next year after more than three decades at the school, the last 21 years as principal.
“You have to know within yourself when you’ve had enough and when it’s time to step down, and it is time,” he told The AJN.
“I have a wonderful leadership team and it will be great for someone else to come in and experience that culture.”
In a message to the community, Roberts reflected on his time at the school which saw significant growth and change in the community.
“The college has been unbelievably good to me in every imaginable way, and I will be forever grateful for the guidance and support I have received from my colleagues and staff, presidents and exemplary board members,” Roberts said.
“I will leave knowing that the school is in extremely competent hands with an impressive depth and breadth of leadership – within the education team and on the board.”
The much-loved educator, who plans to work in consulting and coaching following his departure, told The AJN that working at the school over three decades has had a “profound influence on who I am as a person”.
“The Mount Sinai community has always been a very supportive and precious community,” he added.
“There are too many people who mean so much to me there.”
On behalf of the college’s board, president Daryn Saretzki expressed “immense gratitude” for Roberts’ significant contribution to the school.
“He has truly become part of the fabric of our school, and his leadership has shaped the school in innumerable ways,” Saretzki said.
“We deeply thank Phil for all he has given to our college, and the impact he has made on thousands of students and parents.
“The outstanding reputation our school enjoys – of a warm, community school that genuinely ‘honours our Jewish tradition while embracing change’ is in no small part due to Phil’s thoughtful leadership.”
Leaving at a time when the school has record enrolments, Roberts will assist the board as they commence a formal search and will stay on in a support capacity “for as long as it takes” to ensure a smooth transition for the new principal in 2023.
“I leave at a time when the college has record enrolments, has had the institutional resilience to navigate our way through the pandemic and when the bulk of the masterplan has been actualised,” Roberts said.
“The future certainly looks bright.”
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