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Dr. Martin S. Karp is currently Dean of Academic Affairs and Community Engagement for the Talmudic University consortium of schools, which includes Yeshiva Elementary School, Yeshiva Middle School, Mechina High School, Yeshiva Bais Moshe Chaim and numerous adult and community education programs. Prior to joining Talmudic University, he served 4-terms and 16 consecutive years as an elected official and member of the Miami-Dade County School Board and was selected by his colleagues as the Board’s Vice-Chair during the 2006-2007, 2012-2013, 2017-2018, and 2018-2019 school years. While on the School Board, he worked as a teacher and as a consultant for a nonprofit foundation.
Dr. Karp began his service on the School Board when he was elected in 2004. In 2008, Dr. Karp along with four other School Board members voted to appoint Alberto Carvalho as Superintendent. During his tenure, Dr. Karp served as the School Board’s representative on The Children’s Trust from 2005-2013, and he was the School Board appointed representative for the Executive Board of the New World School of the Arts, Friends of WLRN, and WLRN’s Community Advisory Board.
A lifelong resident of Miami-Dade County, Dr. Karp attended the University of Miami, where he earned a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, a Master of Science in Education, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing. He also earned a master’s degree as part of a joint M.S. and M.B.A. program from the Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. Before becoming a full-time educator, Dr. Karp was the Business Manager for Southern Playbill Publishing, Inc., and Circulation Director for Miami Beach Magazine.
Dr. Karp has dedicated himself to championing a wide range of educational causes and programs for all children throughout Miami-Dade. He helped launch the gifted program at Biscayne Elementary School (now Biscayne Beach Elementary School) 30 years ago, establishing an unprecedented model partnering a private and public school to recruit student participants from both. Dr. Karp founded and produced a weekly children’s television show, WKDZ Kids’ World that aired on Cable TAP’s community access channels and WLRN channel 17. He guided and supported educational programming on WPBT channel 2 and appeared on the television program, Issues and the Media. He also spearheaded two radio talk shows, which he produced and hosted for local A.M. stations. The programs highlighted educational issues including school choice, dropout prevention, charter schools, overcrowding and bilingual education. Among the regularly featured guests were authors, adoption specialists and representatives from children advocacy groups, including organizations that addressed teen delinquency and support for the underprivileged.
Dr. Karp is a strong advocate for interest and needs-based learning which hones educational strategies to address each child as an individual learner. He has worked to ensure that students with disabilities receive appropriate services and support, and created board policy which led to greater access to hands-on science courses and dramatic increases in science fair participation. Dr. Karp has also committed himself to decreasing the number of high school dropouts and increasing graduation rates by introducing City Year, AVID and College Summit programs that have been embedded in schools across the district. He created a working group with support from the Education Fund that united college representatives and promoted the recruitment of students who would otherwise be overlooked for postsecondary educational opportunities.
Also, while serving on the Board, he proffered Board items for children with disabilities, gifted students, children in foster care and students whose families face foreclosure. He introduced numerous items addressing student health and safety. He founded a countywide initiative known as the H.O.P.E. (Help Overcome Pet Euthanasia) Contest, which provides a platform for students to engage in problem-solving activities addressing pet overpopulation in the community. More than 10,000 students have participated in the Contest since its inception 27 years ago.
In recognition of his dedication to advancing education for all children, Dr. Karp, who is an Eagle Scout, has received many awards including the “Cervantes Outstanding Educator Award.” In 2019, he was inducted into the Miami Beach Senior High School Hall of Fame. Last year, he received the Miami-Dade County Council PTA/PTSA Lifetime Legacy Award.
Dr. Karp and his wife, Danielle, are the proud parents of Herschel, Benjamin and Samson Raphael. Together, they enjoy Scouting, reading, attending Beit David Highland Lakes Shul, playing sports and volunteering.process.
He and his wife Devorah have seven beautiful daughters Bli ayin Hara.
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Rabbi Akiva Zweig, Rosh Yeshiva, rejoined the faculty in 2014 and gives Chaburas as well as teaching Mussar and other subjects to the students. One of the courses he currently give is the 7 Habits of Highly effective people. As a certified facilitator of the 7 habits Rabbi Zweig is able to mix the teachings of the 7 Habits with Torah teachings to help the students prepare for life. Rabbi Akiva also gives many classes weekly throughout South Florida and when the Rosh HaYeshiva is out of town will take over many of his classes. Rabbi Zweig graduated from Talmudic University with a Masters in Talmudic Law.
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