PARENT YOU SHOULD KNOW
Jeffrey D. Katz
Celebrating ‘magic moments’ with family
INTERVIEW BY MICHAEL VYSKOCIL
big thing, a dot-com fin-tech to manage real
estate transactions, and my 13-year-old regales
me with the stories of tennis games gone awry
at Holton Arms.

I think the quality of the time we spend with
our kids is more important than the quantity of
time that we spend. I try to make each moment
meaningful, memorable and measurable.

I often have a hard time disassociating myself
from technology and the iPhone, but over
the years, I’ve learned that work emergencies
will still be there after dinner, and there’s
no way to replace a missed birthday party or
other experience.

I think disconnecting from the internet is a
great way to achieve balance and harmony in
the family. My greatest challenge isn’t turning
off my device but the kids’ devices and getting
them engaged in speaking and not texting.

They are only little for a short time, so I really
try to enjoy those magic moments when I can.

We recently enjoyed a daddy-daughter-dog
day consisting of a trip to the new dog park at
Park Potomac, followed by lunch at King Street
Oyster Bar and custard at Carmen’s. It was an
epic afternoon!
What’s the hardest part about
juggling parenthood and your
career? What’s something that
makes it easier to balance both?
The hardest part about raising four kids is
that there just aren’t enough hours in the
day. I am lucky to spend quality time with at
least one kid each morning as I drive one of
my daughters to school. Some days, I work
from home and get a bonus second drive
with a later arrival. I hear about all kinds
of goings-on while in the car. They run the
gamut from mixed sock days, wear your PJs
to school day, dress like a cowboy and cowgirl
and spirit days. Ironically, that’s the high
school experience!
My little one likes to read books to me each
day, and we take 15 minutes to catch up on the
efforts of Mo Willems and Gerald the Elephant
(her favorite). My son is working on his next
22 Washington FAMILY DECEMBER 2021
Holidays are always a special time for our
family, and we try to spend them together—
sleeping in, with a late breakfast or brunch
is a family favorite. We travel quite a bit for
our kids’ production schedules, and locally
for school activities, so having downtime is
a great time for our family. We like hiking
on the C&O Canal with our dogs—Cookie
Monster, a Newfoundland, and Tootsie, an
Australian shepherd.

How have you nurtured your
children’s interests in acting?
A favorite activity is watching movies in our
basement. Since the kids’ film and acting
career took off, we built them a little stage
and an in-home theater with lighted signs and
marquee where they can act out their favorite
film scenes or just lay back on the couch and
catch a film with their friends. n
LOIS COHODAS PHOTO/CHANTAL NASTIS-CN PHOTOGRAPHY
Y ou may have spotted one or more of Jeffrey D. Katz’s children in TV commercials,
shows or movies such as “Moonlight Suburbia,” “Who Killed Jane Doe?” the “Gypsy”
Netflix series and “The Ralph Friedman Series.” With professional mini-actors living in
his home, Katz has his hands full each day keeping up with his family’s busy schedule.

Katz is the founder and managing partner of JDKatz, P.C., an estate planning, elder law, tax
law, business law and litigation law firm in Bethesda. He and his wife, Heather, will celebrate
their 20th wedding anniversary in April 2022.

Washington FAMILY connected with Katz about how he maximizes the time spent with his
children Kyra (age 7), Lili (13), Carli (16) and Austin (17).

How do you celebrate the
holidays with your family?



PRIVATE SCHOOL DIRECTORY
ACCELERATOR SCHOOL
Ricky Duggal
Soccerplex 18031 Central Park Circle
Boyds, MD 20841​
(732) 731-9598
acceleratorschool.com info@acceleratorschool.com
The ACCELERATOR School (6th - 12th grade) is
proud to provide an exciting learning platform
where student athletes can be successful. As a
family of educators, we aim to provide individual
development platforms for our students to
become the best version of themselves.

curriculum, subject expert teachers and top
student outcomes.

and socially aware global thinkers ready to
navigate this changing world.

BROOKSFIELD SCHOOL
1830 Kirby Road
McLean, VA 22101
703-356-5437 brooksfieldschool.org
sarah@brooksfieldschool.org Ages Served: 3-10
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

Mindfulness, nutrition, Spanish, dance, music,
art, outdoor adventure program, extracurricular
activities and summer camp
BASIS INDEPENDENT MCLEAN
8000 Jones Branch Drive
McLean, VA 22102
703-854-1253 mclean.basisindependent.com
mclean-info@basisindependent.com Ages: Age 2-Grade 12
BASIS Independent McLean is an age 2–grade 12
private school educating tomorrow’s engineers,
artists, scientists and leaders. Extensive club and
sport offerings on the 11-acre campus include
a gymnasium, dedicated science labs and art
studios, playgrounds, basketball courts, a turf
area, four-square courts and a separate entrance
for Early Learning students. Attend the Open
House on Jan. 22, 2022, to learn about its global
BUTLER MONTESSORI
15951 Germantown Road
Darnestown, MD 20874
301-977-6600 butlerschool.org
admin@butlerschool.org Ages: 2-15
Nestled on 22 acres, our certified “Green
School” provides a “home away from home”
for preschool, elementary and middle school
students. Our students, under the guidance
of AMI-certified faculty, develop strong social,
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serve them now and into the future. Butler
Montessori’s mission is to guide children to
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(THE) CENTER FOR BALLET ARTS
3955 Pender Drive, Suite 103
Fairfax, VA 22030
703-273-5344 thecenterforballetarts.com
ctrbalarts@aol.com Ages: 3-adults
The Center for Ballet Arts provides a well-
rounded curriculum and pleasant encouraging
environment for dance training in many
different disciplines. Classes are designed
to promote flexibility, strength, artistry,
coordination and technique.

CITYDANCE Online and CityDance School &
Conservatory at Strathmore
5301 Tuckerman Lane
North Bethesda, MD 20852
301-581-5204 citydance.net
inquiry@citydance.net Ages: 3-adults
CityDance School & Conservatory provides
a curriculum of ballet training and
contemporary dance techniques including
modern, jazz, hip- hop and world dance
forms. CONGRESSIONAL SCHOOL
3229 Sleepy Hollow Road
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-533-9711 congressionalschool.org
gherbst@congressionalschool.org Discover this co-ed independent day school for
infants to eighth graders in Falls Church, Virginia.

Congressional School prepares young learners
for future success, inspiring them to question,
collaborate, create and lead.

ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO
4000 Lorcom Lane, Arlington, VA 22207
703-548-1154 encorestageva.org
info@encorestageva.org Encore offers a variety of virtual theater arts
programs. Students will build their skills in
acting, storytelling, and creative thinking through
this unique theatrical experience.

FEYNMAN SCHOOL
11810 Falls Road, Potomac, MD 20854
301-770-4370 feynmanschool.org
admissions@feynmanschool.org Grades: Preschool-Grade 8
Open House: Call to schedule a tour.

As the area’s leader in educating academically
gifted children, Feynman School features
Montessori School
of McLean
Exceptional Montessori
Education for Toddlers
through Upper Elementary:
Ages 2-12
Cultivating each child’s unique ability to flourish
in mind, body and spirit
ENRICHMENTS • Science • Technology • Spanish • Outdoor Classroom
• Library • Music • Drama • Art • Physical Education
Aftercare • Transportation • Summer Camp
1711 Kirby Road
McLean, VA 22101
703-790-1049 Accredited by
www.mcleanmontessori.org WashingtonFAMILY.com 23