High School Faculty & Staff - Charles E Smith Jewish Day School

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

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

Victoria Ball

Assistant Dean

B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership

Aileen Goldstein

Academic Dean

B.A., Jewish Studies
M.A., Educational Administration

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

Emma Hart

Director of Upper School Admission

B.A., History and Secondary Education
M.Ed., Education

Roslyn Landy

Dean of Students

B.A.
M.A., Education
School Counseling

Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services

B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant

Susan Rexford

Director of College Guidance

B.A., History
M.A., Political Science

Becky Silberman

Director of Athletics, Upper School Health and Exercise Science Chair

B.S. Kinesiology
M.Ed.

David Solomon

Debra Herman Berger Director of Arts Education

B.A., Literature
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

High School Administrative Support Staff

Staci Koester

Registrar and College Guidance Associate

B.A., Secondary Education

Melanie Rosenthal

Executive Assistant

B.A., Ceramic Design
iPGCE

Robin Shapiro

Administrative Assistant

B.A., Judaic Studies
M.S., Forensic Science

Heather Udell

Upper School Administrative Assistant

High School Arts Department

Erin Holmes

Middle School Ceramics Teacher

B.F.A
M.F.A

Jessie Nathans

Middle School Visual Arts Teacher

B.A., History
M.A., Communication Design

Gary Prince

Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher

M.M., Music Education
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

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

Debra White-Dilworth

Upper School Photography Teacher

B.A., Photography and Film
M.F.A., Photography and Film

College Counseling

Rachel Jacobs

Associate Director of College Guidance

B.A., History
M.Ed., Counselor Education

Staci Koester

Registrar and College Guidance Associate

B.A., Secondary Education

Susan Rexford

Director of College Guidance

B.A., History
M.A., Political Science

Geri Sliffman

Assistant Director of College Guidance

B.S., Business Administration, Concentration: Marketing
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

Rustom Meyer

Upper School STEM Teacher

B.S., Biological and Environmental Engineering
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

Terrilynn Platt

Upper School STEM Teacher

B.A., English
JD

Hadley Steelman

Upper School STEM Teacher

Ginger Thornton

Director of Instructional Technology

B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English

High School English Department

Allison Davison

High School English Teacher

B.A., English and History
M.A., English
TESOL

Melissa Fisanich

High School English Teacher and High School Lead Mentor

B.A., Language and Literature
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

Grace McMillan

High School Jewish Text Chair

B.A., Comparative Religion
M.T.S., Comparative Religion
M.S.W.

Nancy Wassner

High School English Teacher

B.A., College of Letters
M.Ed., Secondary English

Thomas Worden

David Bruce Smith English Department Chair

B.A, English Literature
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

Becky Silberman

Director of Athletics, Upper School Health and Exercise Science Chair

B.S. Kinesiology
M.Ed.

Victoria Simonetti

Athletic Trainer and High School Science Teacher

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

Mirele Kessous

Assistant Library Media Specialist

B.A., Visual Art, Concentration: Children’s Illustration
M.L.S., Library Science

Upper School Health Room

Jillian Pedone

Upper School Nurse

A.A., General Studies

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

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

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

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

High School History Department

Carl Atwood

High School History Teacher

B.A., History and Economics
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

Mark Buckley

History Teacher

B.A., History
M.A., Early American History

Matt Cohen

High School History and Psychology Teacher

B.S., Secondary Social Studies Education
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

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

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

Sara Coxe

High School Jewish History Teacher

B.A., Religion
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

High School Jewish Text Department

Benjamin Barer

High School Jewish Text Teacher

B.A., Honors Philosophy
Masters of Jewish Education
Rabbinic Ordination

Paul Blank

High School Jewish Text Teacher

B.A., Psychology
M.A., Rabbinic Literature

Grace McMillan

High School Jewish Text Chair

B.A., Comparative Religion
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

High School Mathematics Department

Victoria Ball

Assistant Dean

B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership

Karen Pang

High School Math Teacher

B.S., Mathematics
B.A., Mathematics Education
Minor in Voice

Robert Shorr

High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair

B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies

Reuben Silberman

Math Department Chair

B.A., Mathematics
M.F.A., Creative Writing

John Watkins-Chow

High School Math Teacher

B.S., Mathematics
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
M.S., Mechanical Engineering

Publications Department

Jessica Nassau

Director of Publications

B.A., English
M.A., English
M.S., Education

High School Science Department

Kimberly Agzigian

Ruth and Samuel Salzberg Science Department Chair

B.A., Economics
M.S., Biology

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

Daniela Munteanu

High School Chemistry Teacher

M.S., Chemistry and Physics Education
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

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

Upper School ESOL

Rebecca Reiser

Upper School ESOL Teacher

B.A., International Studies/French
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

Roslyn Landy

Dean of Students

B.A.
M.A., Education
School Counseling

Marnie Lang

High School Counselor, Grades 9 and 10

B.S., Applied Developmental Psychology
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

High School Educational Support Services

Ricki Farber

Upper School Learning Specialist

B.A., English
M.S., Special Education

Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services

B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant

Ronitte Libedinsky

High School Educational Support Services

Upper School Technology

Ryan Aqui

Director of Information Technology

MCSE, MCSA, CCNA, Security +

Hadas Heyman

Instructional Technology Specialist

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

Samuel Itseghosime

Beth Poston

Instructional Technology Specialist

B.S., Elementary Education
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

Will Wilson

Upper School Help Desk Engineer

CESJDS High School Faculty & Staff