Rabbi Pliner, as an educational leader, has guided a multitude of parents in raising their children. He has championed the home-school partnership as an integral element in educating children. As such, he has always promoted good parenting and has served as a resource to that end. He is well researched on the topic, both from a Torah based perspective and from leading scholars of the world at large.

Rabbi Isser Pliner

Rabbi Pliner is a member of the first cadre of principals of Torah Umesorah’s Yesud Ma’alah, Principals Program. He has attended numerous seminars over the years in a vast array of topics through Torah Umesorah , Yeshiva University, University of Virginia, ASCD, Educational Ministry of the State of Israel and various local universities and institutes. 

Rabbi Pliner is a talmid of HaRav Meir Belsky Z”L of Yerushalaim.  He holds a Masters degree in Public Administration from Georgia State University, a BA degree from the University of Georgia, completed the course work for Principal’s certification for elementary and secondary education at Temple University in Harrisburg Pennsylvania, and received certification in Elementary education from the State of Pennsylvania.

Rabbi Pliner has served as an educational leader in the Yeshiva and Jewish Day School Movement for 36 years. He is currently Headmaster of the Talmud Torah of Gibraltar and Principal of the Gibraltar Girls High School. Previously he was Dean of Yeshivas Eitz Chaim of Toronto and Senior Menahel of its Boys Division. Other positions include Head of School of Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh PA, and Principal of the Rabbi David L. Silver Yeshiva Academy of Harrisburg PA. Prior to this, he served as a classroom Rebbe for many years including elementary, middle and high school placements in all Jewish Study curricular areas.

  • Rabbi Pliner has led professional development sessions in:

  • Elements of Instruction

  • Leadership Workshops to Principals

  • Discipline with Dignity

  • Faculty Motivation

  • Student Motivation

  • Teaching with the Brain in Mind

  • Differentiated Instruction

  • Formative Assessment

  • Impactful Feedback 

  • Classroom Management

  • Growth Mindset vs. Fixed Mindset

  • Motivating Classroom

  • Rabbi Pliner has served as convention chairman of  the National Torah Umesorah Convention, chaired mid-winter principal conferences and co-chaired the first Canadian Torah Umesorah Convention.

Articles and Research: Rabbi Pliner has published several articles in North American, American and Canadian periodicals. He has researched topics in Instructional Leadership, Faculty Motivation, Whole Language, Decision Making, Differentiated Instruction, Formative Assessment, Growth Mindset, Time Management.