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
Aileen Goldstein
High School Assistant Principal
B.A., Jewish Studies
M.A., Educational Administration
M.A., Educational Administration
Victoria Ball
Dean of Experiential, Leadership, and Service Learning, High School Math Teacher
B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership
M.Ed., Educational Leadership
Alexandra Brown
Director of Upper School STEM
B.S., Science
M.S.Ed., Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
M.S.Ed., Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
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
Heather Udell
Upper School Administrative Assistant
B.A. Psychology/Religion
M.A. Kinesiology
Certificate in Gerontology
M.A. Kinesiology
Certificate in Gerontology
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 Visual Arts 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, High School DEIJ Coordinator
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 Counseling
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
Alexandra Brown
Director of Upper School STEM
B.S., Science
M.S.Ed., Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
M.S.Ed., Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment
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 Digital Animation STEM Teacher, Jewish Life Chair, and MS Israel Engagement Coordinator
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
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
Nancy Wassner
English Department Curriculum Coordinator and High School English Teacher
B.A., College of Letters
M.Ed., Secondary English
M.Ed., Secondary English
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
Mirele Kessous
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
Yaffa Dagony
High School Hebrew Teacher
B.A, Hebrew Language and Education, Concentration: Administration and Supervision
Talya Edery
High School Hebrew Teacher
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
Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky History Department Chair, High School History Teacher
B.A., History and Economics
MAT, Teaching
M.A.Ed, Teacher Leadership
MAT, Teaching
M.A.Ed, 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, High School Jewish History Teacher
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
Evonne and Elliot Schnitzer Family Jewish History Department Chair
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
Grace McMillan
Nancy and Paul Hamburger Jewish Text Chair, High School Jewish Text Teacher
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
Victoria Ball
Dean of Experiential, Leadership, and Service Learning, High School Math Teacher
B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership
M.Ed., Educational Leadership
Robert Shorr
High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies
MEd, Jewish Education
B.A., Jewish Studies
MEd, Jewish Education
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
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 Counseling
Melissa Gartner
Director of the Upper School Health and Wellness Center
B.A., Sociology and Communications
MSW
MSW
Marnie Lang
High School Counselor
B.S., Applied Developmental Psychology
M.S.Ed, School and Mental Health Counseling
M.S.Ed, School and Mental Health Counseling
High School Educational Support Services
Brett Kugler
10th Grade Dean, High School Learning Specialist
B.S., Studio Art
M.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education
Lenore Layman
Director, Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
Susan Zuckerman
Upper School Director of Educational Support Services
B.A., Speech and Hearing
M.A., Educational Psychology
M.A., Educational Psychology
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
Deborah Feigenson
Middle School English Language Arts and Social Studies Chair
B.A. English Language and Literature
M.A. Teaching of Secondary English
M.A. Teaching of Secondary English
Brett Kugler
10th Grade Dean, High School Learning Specialist
B.S., Studio Art
M.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education
Grace McMillan
Nancy and Paul Hamburger Jewish Text Chair, High School Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Comparative Religion
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.
Rachel Meytin
Middle School Experiential and Service Learning Chair, Middle School Math Teacher
B.A.,
BLit
MBA
MAEd
BLit
MBA
MAEd
Robert Shorr
High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies
MEd, Jewish Education
B.A., Jewish Studies
MEd, Jewish Education
Benjamin Tellie
Upper School Visual Arts 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
Nancy Wassner
English Department Curriculum Coordinator and High School English Teacher
B.A., College of Letters
M.Ed., Secondary English
M.Ed., Secondary English
Upper School Facilities, Maintenance & Security Staff
Arely Gallegos
Facilities Staff
Ebert Vera Bracamonte
US Facilities