CESJDS High School Faculty & Staff
High School Administration
Mitchel Malkus

Head of School
B.A., Political Science and Government
M.A., Judaic Studies
Rabbinic Ordination
Ed.D., Curriculum and Teaching
M.A., Judaic Studies
Rabbinic Ordination
Ed.D., Curriculum and Teaching
Lisa Vardi

High School Principal, Campus Head
B.S., Political Science and Government
M.A., International Affairs
M.Ed., Education
E.d.D., Educational Leadership and Policy
M.A., International Affairs
M.Ed., Education
E.d.D., Educational Leadership and Policy
Cassandra Batson

Upper School STEM Coordinator and Middle School Math and Science Chair
B.A., Biochemistry and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
Becky Silberman

Director of Athletics, Upper School Health and Exercise Science Chair
B.S. Kinesiology
M.Ed.
M.Ed.
David Solomon

Debra Herman Berger Director of Arts Education
B.A., Literature
M.A., English
Ph.D., English
M.A., English
Ph.D., English
Ginger Thornton

Director of Instructional Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
High School Administrative Support Staff
High School Arts Department
Gary Prince

Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher
M.M., Music Education
B.F.A., Jazz & Contemplative Studies
BA, Psychology
B.F.A., Jazz & Contemplative Studies
BA, Psychology
David Solomon

Debra Herman Berger Director of Arts Education
B.A., Literature
M.A., English
Ph.D., English
M.A., English
Ph.D., English
Benjamin Tellie

Upper School Art and Graphic Design Teacher
B.A., Studio Art with a Minor in Art History
M.A., Art Education
Psychoanalytic Studies Program (PSP), Psychoanalytic Studies Certificate
M.A., Art Education
Psychoanalytic Studies Program (PSP), Psychoanalytic Studies Certificate
Debra White-Dilworth

Upper School Photography Teacher
B.A., Photography and Film
M.F.A., Photography and Film
M.F.A., Photography and Film
College Counseling
Geri Sliffman

Assistant Director of College Guidance
B.S., Business Administration, Concentration: Marketing
M.Ed., Student Personnel Services in Higher Education
M.Ed., Student Personnel Services in Higher Education
High School STEM Department
Cassandra Batson

Upper School STEM Coordinator and Middle School Math and Science Chair
B.A., Biochemistry and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
Rustom Meyer

Upper School STEM Teacher
B.S., Biological and Environmental Engineering
Masters of Engineering, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Professional Engineering License
Masters of Engineering, Biological and Environmental Engineering
Professional Engineering License
Jennifer Newfeld

Middle School Jewish Text Teacher, Digital Animation Teacher, and Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Psychology
M.Ed., International Education
M.A., Jewish Education
Ed.D, Curriculum, Teaching, Leading and Learning
M.Ed., International Education
M.A., Jewish Education
Ed.D, Curriculum, Teaching, Leading and Learning
Ginger Thornton

Director of Instructional Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
High School English Department
Melissa Fisanich

High School English Teacher and High School Lead Mentor
B.A., Language and Literature
M.A.T., Secondary English
M.A.T., Secondary English
Dory Fox

High School English Teacher
A.B., English and Jewish Studies
M.A., English Language and Literature
Ph.D., English Language and Literature
M.A., English Language and Literature
Ph.D., English Language and Literature
Grace McMillan

High School Jewish Text Chair
B.A., Comparative Religion
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.
Thomas Worden

David Bruce Smith English Department Chair
B.A, English Literature
Ph.D., British Literature (1609-1640)
Ph.D., British Literature (1609-1640)
High School Health & Exercise Science Department
Alexander Kirsch

Health and Exercise Science Teacher
B.S., Sport Management
M.S., Sport and Recreation Administration
M.S., Sport and Recreation Administration
Becky Silberman

Director of Athletics, Upper School Health and Exercise Science Chair
B.S. Kinesiology
M.Ed.
M.Ed.
Levitt Family Media Center Staff
Cheryl Fox Strausberg

Media Center Specialist
B.A., International Relations
M.A., Political Science
M.L.S, School Library Media
M.A., Political Science
M.L.S, School Library Media
Mirele Kessous

Assistant Library Media Specialist
B.A., Visual Art, Concentration: Children’s Illustration
M.L.S., Library Science
M.L.S., Library Science
Upper School Health Room
High School Hebrew Department
Hani Abo Awad

High School Arabic and Hebrew Teacher
B.A., Arabic and Comparative Literature
M.A., Arabic Language
M.Ed., Educational Systems Administration
Ed.D., Educational Leadership
M.A., Arabic Language
M.Ed., Educational Systems Administration
Ed.D., Educational Leadership
Yaffa Dagony

High School Hebrew Teacher
B.A, Hebrew Language and Education, Concentration: Administration and Supervision
Talya Edery

High School Hebrew Teacher and Upper School Liaison to Israeli Families
B.A., Bible and Jewish History
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language
Anat Kaufman

High School Hebrew Teacher, High School Liaison to Israeli Families, High School Israel Engagement Coordinator
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education and Judaic Studies
M.A., Special Education and Judaic Studies
Shelli Putterman-Kenett

Upper School Hebrew Language Chair
B.A., Building Elements and Architecture
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language
Doctor of Modern Languages Candidate
Certified Language Program Administrator
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language
Doctor of Modern Languages Candidate
Certified Language Program Administrator
High School History Department
Carl Atwood

High School History Teacher
B.A., History and Economics
MAT, Teaching
M.A.Ed, Teacher Leadership
MAT, Teaching
M.A.Ed, Teacher Leadership
Rachel Bergstein

Director of the CESJDS Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History
B.A., Jewish Studies and English
M.A., Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History
M.A., Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History
Matt Cohen

High School History and Psychology Teacher
B.S., Secondary Social Studies Education
M.A., Educational Technology
M.A., Teacher Leadership
M.A., Educational Technology
M.A., Teacher Leadership
Natalie Levitan

High School History Teacher
B.A., Law and Society
B.A., Secondary Education
M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction
M.A. credits in Gilder Lehrman US History Program
Certificate: Learning Differences and Neurodiversity
B.A., Secondary Education
M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction
M.A. credits in Gilder Lehrman US History Program
Certificate: Learning Differences and Neurodiversity
Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Jewish History Department Faculty
Anna Band

High School Jewish History Teacher
B.A., History and Jewish Studies
M.A., History
Ph.D., History
M.A., History
Ph.D., History
Rachel Bergstein

Director of the CESJDS Center for Excellence and Engagement in Jewish History
B.A., Jewish Studies and English
M.A., Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History
M.A., Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History
Sara Coxe

High School Jewish History Teacher
B.A., Religion
M.A., Jewish Studies
Ph.D., Religious Studies
M.A., Jewish Studies
Ph.D., Religious Studies
Dan Rosenthal

High School Jewish History Teacher
B.A. (Honors), History
M.A., History and Jewish Studies
Ph.D., History and Jewish Studies
M.A., History and Jewish Studies
Ph.D., History and Jewish Studies
High School Jewish Text Department
Benjamin Barer

High School Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Honors Philosophy
Masters of Jewish Education
Rabbinic Ordination
Masters of Jewish Education
Rabbinic Ordination
Grace McMillan

High School Jewish Text Chair
B.A., Comparative Religion
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.
Reuvane Slater

High School Jewish Text Teacher
B.S., Talmudic Studies
Rabbinical Ordination
M.S., Educational Administration
Rabbinical Ordination
M.S., Educational Administration
High School Mathematics Department
Robert Shorr

High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies
B.A., Jewish Studies
John Watkins-Chow

High School Math Teacher
B.S., Mathematics
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
M.S., Mechanical Engineering
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
M.S., Mechanical Engineering
Publications Department
High School Science Department
Melissa Andrew

9th Grade Dean, High School Biology and Ecology Teacher
B.S., Biology and General Science Education
Raymond Hodges

Ruth and Samuel Salzberg Science Department Chair, High School Physics Teacher
M.S., Physics
M.A., Mathematics
Certification in Physics, Mathematics, and Earth & Space Science: Grades 7-12, State of MD
M.A., Mathematics
Certification in Physics, Mathematics, and Earth & Space Science: Grades 7-12, State of MD
Daniela Munteanu

High School Chemistry Teacher
M.S., Chemistry and Physics Education
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction
IB Chemistry Teaching Certification, State of Maryland
M.Ed., Curriculum and Instruction
IB Chemistry Teaching Certification, State of Maryland
High School World Languages Department
Hani Abo Awad

High School Arabic and Hebrew Teacher
B.A., Arabic and Comparative Literature
M.A., Arabic Language
M.Ed., Educational Systems Administration
Ed.D., Educational Leadership
M.A., Arabic Language
M.Ed., Educational Systems Administration
Ed.D., Educational Leadership
Silvia Kurlat Ares

Upper School World Language Department Chair, Middle School DEIJ Coordinator
B.A., Philosophy
M.A., Argentine Literature
PhD, Latin American Literature and Culture
Pos-Doctorate, Latin American Literature and Culture
M.A., Argentine Literature
PhD, Latin American Literature and Culture
Pos-Doctorate, Latin American Literature and Culture
Upper School ESOL
Rebecca Reiser

Upper School ESOL Teacher
B.A., International Studies/French
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education
High School Guidance
Melissa Gartner

Co-Director of the US Health and Wellness Center
B.A., Sociology and Communications
MSW
MSW
Marnie Lang

High School Counselor, Grades 9 and 10
B.S., Applied Developmental Psychology
M.S.Ed, School and Mental Health Counseling
M.S.Ed, School and Mental Health Counseling
Rachel Soifer

Co-Director of the US Health and Wellness Center
B.A., Psychology and Journalism
M.A., Clinical Psychology
M.A., Clinical Psychology
High School Educational Support Services
Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
Upper School Technology
Hadas Heyman

Instructional Technology Specialist
B.A., Education
M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language
M.S., Instructional Technology
M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language
M.S., Instructional Technology
Beth Poston

Instructional Technology Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education
M.S., K-12 Instructional Technology
M.S., K-12 Instructional Technology
Ginger Thornton

Director of Instructional Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
High School Z'man Kodesh
Matt Cohen

High School History and Psychology Teacher
B.S., Secondary Social Studies Education
M.A., Educational Technology
M.A., Teacher Leadership
M.A., Educational Technology
M.A., Teacher Leadership
Cheryl Fox Strausberg

Media Center Specialist
B.A., International Relations
M.A., Political Science
M.L.S, School Library Media
M.A., Political Science
M.L.S, School Library Media
Ethan Merlin

Middle School Math Coordinator and Middle School Math Teacher
B.A., Comparative Religion
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction
Rebecca Reiser

Upper School ESOL Teacher
B.A., International Studies/French
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education
Robert Shorr

High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies
B.A., Jewish Studies
Reuvane Slater

High School Jewish Text Teacher
B.S., Talmudic Studies
Rabbinical Ordination
M.S., Educational Administration
Rabbinical Ordination
M.S., Educational Administration
Rachel Soifer

Co-Director of the US Health and Wellness Center
B.A., Psychology and Journalism
M.A., Clinical Psychology
M.A., Clinical Psychology
Benjamin Tellie

Upper School Art and Graphic Design Teacher
B.A., Studio Art with a Minor in Art History
M.A., Art Education
Psychoanalytic Studies Program (PSP), Psychoanalytic Studies Certificate
M.A., Art Education
Psychoanalytic Studies Program (PSP), Psychoanalytic Studies Certificate
Debra White-Dilworth

Upper School Photography Teacher
B.A., Photography and Film
M.F.A., Photography and Film
M.F.A., Photography and Film
Heidi Zansler

Middle School Social Studies Teacher
B.A., Political Science, Concentration: American Government and Developing Countries
M.S., Real Estate Finance
M.S., Real Estate Finance