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

High School Administration

Ryan Aqui

Director of Technology

MCSE, MCSA, CCNA, Security +

Victoria Ball

Assistant Dean

B.A.
M.Ed., Educational Leadership

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

Aileen Goldstein

Academic Dean

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

Emma Hart

Director of Upper School Admission

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

Roslyn Landy

Dean of Students

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

Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services

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

Mitchel Malkus

Head of School

B.A., Political Science and Government
M.A., Judaic Studies
Rabbinic Ordination
Ed.D., Curriculum and Teaching

Becky Silberman

Director of Athletics

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

Lisa Vardi

High School Principal

B.S., Political Science and Government
M.A., International Affairs
M.Ed., Education
E.d.D., Educational Leadership and Policy

High School Administrative Support Staff

Staci Koester

Registrar and College Guidance Associate

B.A., Secondary Education

Jillian Pedone

Senior Administrative Assistant

A.A., General Studies

Heather Udell

Administrative Assistant

High School Arts Department

Sherry Benedek

Upper School Vocal Music Teacher

Jessie Nathans

Upper School Visual Arts Teacher

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

Gary Prince

Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher

David Solomon

Debra Herman Berger Director of Arts Education

B.A., Literature
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

Debra White-Dilworth

Upper School Photography Teacher

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

College Counseling

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

Kimberly Wilkins

Associate Director of College Guidance

B.A., English, Concentration: High School Teaching
M.Ed., English Education
M.Ed., School Counseling

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

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

Melissa Fisanich

High School English Teacher

B.A., Language and Literature
M.A.T., Secondary English

Dory Fox

High School English Teacher

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

Steven Forestieri

Upper School Human Exercise Science Department Chair

B.S., Exercise and Sport Science, Concentration: Management
Health and Safety Certificate

Brian Westerman

Upper School Health and Exercise Science Teacher

B.S., Physical Education

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

Heather Greenblum

Upper School Nurse

B.S.N.
M.S.N.
Registered Nurse (R.N.), Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (C.P.N.P.), American Heart Association Basic Life Support (CPR and First Aid) Certification

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

Shelli Putterman-Kenett

Upper School Hebrew Language Chair

B.A., Building Elements and Architecture
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language

High School History Department

Carl Atwood

High School History Teacher

B.A., History and Economics
MAT, Teaching
M.A.Ed, Teacher Leadership

Rachel Bergstein

High School Jewish History and History Teacher

B.A., Jewish Studies and English
M.A., Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History

Mark Buckley

Isadore and Bertha Gudelsky History Department Chair

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

Matt Cohen

High School History Teacher

B.S., Secondary Social Studies Education
M.A., Educational Technology

Natalie Levitan

High School History Teacher

B.A., Law and Society
B.A., Secondary Education
M.Ed, Curriculum and Instruction

Israeli Shlicha

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Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Jewish History Department Faculty

Rachel Bergstein

High School Jewish History and History Teacher

B.A., Jewish Studies and English
M.A., Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History
Master of Philosophy in Jewish History

Aaron Bregman

Evonne and Elliot Schnitzer Family Jewish History Department Chair

B.A., History, Concentration: American Foreign Policy & Jewish Studies
M.A.T., Secondary Education, Concentration: Social Studies

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

Robert Shorr

High School Math Teacher

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

Study Hall

Daniel Gabel

High School Study Hall

Upper School ESOL

Rebecca Reiser

Upper School ESOL Teacher

B.A., International Studies/French
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education

CESJDS High School Faculty & Staff