by Tom Gallagher
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Washington Jewish Week has an unusual story about a former priest turned Washington, D.C., police officer turned educator turned executive director of a Hebrew Charter School. It's an interesting personal journey where each step prepared Jason Lody for the next part of his life.
According to Washington Jewish Week:
Lody, a priest and educator turned D.C. police officer, began his position as the executive director of Sela Public Charter School in July. One of five Hebrew Charter Schools in the nation, Sela received its approval by the D.C. Public Charter School Board in April, and is set to open in Fall 2013 with prekindergarten, kindergarten and first grade classes.
Originally from New Jersey, Lody became ordained as a Catholic priest before receiving his master's degree in education from Catholic University and a degree in theology from the Theological College in the District. After teaching and serving as the principal in two Catholic schools in Albany for five years, Lody took what he termed as a "radical sabbatical" and came to the area in 2004 to fulfill his dream of working for the D.C. police department.