CESJDS High School Faculty & Staff

High School Administration

Mitchel Malkus

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

Lisa Vardi

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

Aileen Goldstein

Aileen Goldstein
High School Assistant Principal
B.A., Jewish Studies
M.A., Educational Administration

Victoria Ball

Victoria Ball
Dean of Experiential, Leadership, and Service Learning, High School Math Teacher
B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership

Alexandra Brown

Alexandra Brown
Director of Upper School STEM
B.S., Science
M.S.Ed., Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Wendi Kaplan

Wendi Kaplan
Director of Upper School Admission
B.S., Journalism

Roslyn Landy

Roslyn Landy
Dean of Students
B.A.
M.A., Education
School Counseling

Susan Rexford

Susan Rexford
Director of College Counseling
B.A., History
M.A., Political Science

Becky Silberman

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

David Solomon

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

Ginger Thornton

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

Staci Koester
Registrar and College Guidance Associate
B.A., Secondary Education

Robin Shapiro

Robin Shapiro
Administrative Assistant
B.A., Judaic Studies
M.S., Forensic Science

Heather Udell

Heather Udell
Upper School Administrative Assistant
B.A. Psychology/Religion
M.A. Kinesiology
Certificate in Gerontology

High School Arts Department

Samuel Grob

Samuel Grob
Middle School Music Teacher
B.A., Psychology and English

Erin Holmes

Erin Holmes
Upper School Ceramics Teacher
B.F.A
M.F.A

Jessie Nathans

Jessie Nathans
Middle School Visual Arts Teacher
B.A., History
M.A., Communication Design

Gary Prince

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

David Solomon

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

Benjamin Tellie

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

Debra White-Dilworth

Debra White-Dilworth
Upper School Photography Teacher, High School DEIJ Coordinator
B.A., Photography and Film
M.F.A., Photography and Film

College Counseling

Rachel Jacobs

Rachel Jacobs
Associate Director of College Counseling
B.A., History
M.Ed., Counselor Education

Staci Koester

Staci Koester
Registrar and College Guidance Associate
B.A., Secondary Education

Susan Rexford

Susan Rexford
Director of College Counseling
B.A., History
M.A., Political Science

Geri Sliffman

Geri Sliffman
Assistant Director of College Counseling
B.S., Business Administration, Concentration: Marketing
M.Ed., Student Personnel Services in Higher Education

High School STEM Department

Alexandra Brown

Alexandra Brown
Director of Upper School STEM
B.S., Science
M.S.Ed., Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment

Rustom Meyer

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

Jennifer Newfeld

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

Terrilynn Platt

Terrilynn Platt
Upper School STEM Teacher
B.A., English
JD

Hadley Steelman

Hadley Steelman
Upper School STEM Teacher

Ginger Thornton

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

Alexandra Coleman

Alexandra Coleman
High School English Teacher

Melissa Fisanich

Melissa Fisanich
High School English Teacher
B.A., Language and Literature
M.A.T., Secondary English

Dory Fox

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

Nancy Wassner

Nancy Wassner
English Department Curriculum Coordinator and High School English Teacher
B.A., College of Letters
M.Ed., Secondary English

Thomas Worden

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

Alexander Kirsch
Health and Exercise Science Teacher
B.S., Sport Management
M.S., Sport and Recreation Administration

Matthew Landy

Matthew Landy
Assistant Director of Athletics, Social Entrepeneurship Program Coordinator

Romi Nachman

Romi Nachman
Athletic Trainer

Becky Silberman

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

Levitt Family Media Center Staff

Mirele Kessous

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

Upper School Health Room

Jillian Pedone

Jillian Pedone
Upper School Nurse
A.A., General Studies

High School Hebrew Department

Yaffa Dagony

Yaffa Dagony
High School Hebrew Teacher
B.A, Hebrew Language and Education, Concentration: Administration and Supervision

Talya Edery

Talya Edery
High School Hebrew Teacher
B.A., Bible and Jewish History
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language

Anat Kaufman

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

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

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

Mark Buckley

Mark Buckley
High School History Teacher
B.A., History
M.A., Early American History

Dana Foster

Dana Foster
High School History Teacher

Natalie Levitan

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

Anna Band
High School Jewish History Teacher
B.A., History and Jewish Studies
M.A., History
Ph.D., History

Rachel Bergstein

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

Sara Coxe

Sara Coxe
High School Jewish History Teacher
B.A., Religion
M.A., Jewish Studies
Ph.D., Religious Studies

Dan Rosenthal

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

High School Jewish Text Department

Ruth Balinsky Friedman

Ruth Balinsky Friedman
High School Jewish Text Teacher

Paul Blank

Paul Blank
High School Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Psychology
M.A., Rabbinic Literature

Grace McMillan

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.

Reuvane Slater

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

High School Mathematics Department

Victoria Ball

Victoria Ball
Dean of Experiential, Leadership, and Service Learning, High School Math Teacher
B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership

Karen Pang

Karen Pang
High School Math Teacher
B.S., Mathematics
B.A., Mathematics Education
Minor in Voice

Robert Shorr

Robert Shorr
High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies
MEd, Jewish Education

Reuben Silberman

Reuben Silberman
High School Math Department Chair
B.A., Mathematics
M.F.A., Creative Writing

John Watkins-Chow

John Watkins-Chow
High School Math Teacher
B.S., Mathematics
B.S., Mechanical Engineering
M.S., Mechanical Engineering

Publications Department

Jessica Nassau

Jessica Nassau
Director of Publications
B.A., English
M.A., English
M.S., Education

High School Science Department

Kimberly Agzigian

Kimberly Agzigian
High School Science Teacher
B.A., Economics
M.S., Biology

Melissa Andrew

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

Raymond Hodges

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

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

Silvia Kurlat Ares

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

Loren Salkin-Monzon

Loren Salkin-Monzon
Uppser School Spanish Teacher

Upper School ESOL

Rebecca Reiser

Rebecca Reiser
Upper School ESOL Teacher
B.A., International Studies/French
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education

High School Counseling

Melissa Gartner

Melissa Gartner
Director of the Upper School Health and Wellness Center
B.A., Sociology and Communications
MSW

Roslyn Landy

Roslyn Landy
Dean of Students
B.A.
M.A., Education
School Counseling

Marnie Lang

Marnie Lang
High School Counselor
B.S., Applied Developmental Psychology
M.S.Ed, School and Mental Health Counseling

High School Educational Support Services

Brett Kugler

Brett Kugler
10th Grade Dean, High School Learning Specialist
B.S., Studio Art
M.A., Special Education

Lenore Layman

Lenore Layman
Director, Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant

Ronitte Libedinsky

Ronitte Libedinsky
High School Educational Support Services

Susan Zuckerman

Susan Zuckerman
Upper School Director of Educational Support Services
B.A., Speech and Hearing
M.A., Educational Psychology

Upper School Technology

Arsen Amirov

Arsen Amirov
Database Manager

Ryan Aqui

Ryan Aqui
Director of Information Technology
MCSE, MCSA, CCNA, Security +

Hadas Heyman

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

Samuel Itseghosime

Samuel Itseghosime
Lower School Help Desk Technician
Associates
Comp TIA A+

Beth Poston

Beth Poston
Instructional Technology Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education
M.S., K-12 Instructional Technology

Ginger Thornton

Ginger Thornton
Director of Instructional Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English

High School Z'man Kodesh

Paul Blank

Paul Blank
High School Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Psychology
M.A., Rabbinic Literature

Deborah Feigenson

Deborah Feigenson
Middle School English Language Arts and Social Studies Chair
B.A. English Language and Literature
M.A. Teaching of Secondary English

Erin Holmes

Erin Holmes
Upper School Ceramics Teacher
B.F.A
M.F.A

Brett Kugler

Brett Kugler
10th Grade Dean, High School Learning Specialist
B.S., Studio Art
M.A., Special Education

Grace McMillan

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.

Rachel Meytin

Rachel Meytin
Middle School Experiential and Service Learning Chair, Middle School Math Teacher
B.A.,
BLit
MBA
MAEd

Nick Miller

Nick Miller
Middle School Science Teacher
B.S., Biology
M.A., Biblical Studies

Jessie Nathans

Jessie Nathans
Middle School Visual Arts Teacher
B.A., History
M.A., Communication Design

Robert Shorr

Robert Shorr
High School Math Teacher, High School Jewish Life Chair
B.A., Chemistry
B.A., Jewish Studies
MEd, Jewish Education

Benjamin Tellie

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

Nancy Wassner

Nancy Wassner
English Department Curriculum Coordinator and High School English Teacher
B.A., College of Letters
M.Ed., Secondary English

Upper School Facilities, Maintenance & Security Staff

William Belke

William Belke
Facilities Administrator -Upper School
B.S., Engineering & Management

Arely Gallegos

Arely Gallegos
Facilities Staff

Guadalupe Mejia

Guadalupe Mejia
Facilities Staff

Jesus Portillo

Jesus Portillo

Ebert Vera Bracamonte

Ebert Vera Bracamonte
US Facilities

Upper School Food Services Staff

Michal Cepler

Michal Cepler
Upper School Mashgicha
B.A., English
Baking and Pastry Arts Degree

Mark Glauser

Mark Glauser
Director of Food Services, Director of Food Services

Maria Lizama

Maria Lizama
Food Services Staff

Elmer Vega

Elmer Vega
Food Services Staff