Jewish National Fund-USA is pleased to introduce Dr. Steve Kutno as the new head of the organization’s Alexander Muss High School in Israel (Muss). A seasoned educator with more than 30 years of experience and a deep personal connection to Muss, Kutno is a welcome addition as the school continues to reach new heights.
Kutno started his career as a classroom teacher before transitioning to senior roles in publishing and educational technologies. For nearly 20 years, he has been consulting directly with school systems and NGOs on developing and implementing growth plans. Prior to making aliyah (immigration to Israel) and opening his own consulting practice, Kutno held senior leadership roles with Public Consulting Group, Pearson, Kaplan, Scholastic and The Princeton Review. In addition, he was a founding board member of a private egalitarian Jewish day school and served as a chairperson for his synagogue’s teen engagement committee.
“I am humbled and honored to collaborate with the dedicated team that embodies the heart and values of Alexander Muss High School in Israel,” said Kutno. “I am excited to focus on Muss’ core mission of building bridges between Diaspora teens and Israel, helping to shape each participant’s identity and connection to their Judaism, and creating meaningful experiences for our participants.”
In addition to his robust professional experience, Kutno has a personal connection to Muss. His son attended the school in 2005; Kutno was impressed at the positive impact Muss had on him. Now, 17 years later, he looks forward to ensuring that the next generation of students continues to enjoy the same life-changing experience his son had.
“I am excited to extend the successes of the past into the future as I work with the dedicated staff at Muss,” he said. “I hope to evolve existing programs and add new ones. I want to diversify our programs within the framework of our mission and Jewish National Fund-USA’s guidance so that we grow and remain relevant for generations to come.”
“A dedicated and insightful educator with over 30 years of educational experience, we are confident that Kutno will continue the work of transforming the lives of young adults,” added Muss president Ron Werner. “The wind is truly in our sales as we celebrate our first 50 years and embark on the next 50 years and beyond.”
Alexander Muss High School in Israel, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is Jewish National Fund-USA’s flagship college-prep study abroad in Israel program. With its unique program that seamlessly blends traditional classroom studies with an immersive experiential learning program that uses the land of Israel as a living and breathing classroom, Muss expertly prepares students for Jewish life in college and beyond.
To learn more, visit: amhsi.org.
