CESJDS Lower School Faculty & Staff

Lower School Administration

Jonathan Levy

Head of School
B.A., History
MSW
Ph.D.

Rebecca Prigal

Interim Lower School Principal
B.A., Near Eastern and Judaic Studies
M.S., Social Work: Mental Health Specialization
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Certified (LCSW-C)

Jennifer Rittberg

Interim Lower School Assistant Principal, Math and Schedule Coordinator
B.S., Fiber Science
M.S., Education, Concentration: Middle and High School Mathematics Education

Daniella Friedman

Judaic Studies and Hebrew Language Coordinator
M.Sc., Organizational Behavior
MJEd, Jewish Education
Education Specialist

Lenore Layman

Director of Lower School Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant

Dorie Ravick

Director of Engagement & Lower School Admission
B.A., Political Science and Judaic Studies
M.A., Higher Education Administration

Natalie Selzer

Assistant Director of Lower School Admissions

Alexis Soffler

Science and STEM Coordinator
B.S., Environmental Biology
M.A.T., Secondary Science
PhD, Educational Leadership, Renewal and Change

Ginger Thornton

Director of Innovative Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English

Lower School Administrative Support Staff

Henry Aquino

Lower School Administrative Assistant
B.S., Fine Arts
Certification in Elementary Education

Ariela Greengart

Lower School Administration Assistant
B.A., Creative Writing

Edryce Rogers

Lower School Executive Assistant

Gurim Junior Kindergarten Teachers

Moran Azar

Gurim Judaic Studies Teacher

Rivka Bellas

Gurim General Studies Teacher
B.S., Family Science
B.A., Psychology

George Iweze

Gurim Assistant Teacher
BSc., Economics

Avital Levi

Gurim Judaic Studies Teacher
B.A, Criminology & Education
Certificate of Education
Certificate of Rhythmic and Music for early childhood development

Tatyana Pidgurskaya

Gurim General Studies Teacher
B.A., Elementary Education
M.A., Elementary Education

Sarah Stambler

Gurim Assistant Teacher
B.A., Jewish Studies

Kindergarten Teachers

Alison Cantwell

Kindergarten General Studies Teacher
B.A., Women and Gender Studies
B.A., Criminal Justice

Shoshana Eisenberg

Kindergarten General Studies Teacher
BA, JD
90 Hour Certification

Almog Herman

Kindergarten Judaic Studies Teacher

Rachel Kramer

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher
B.S., M.P.H.

Dahlia Levine

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Maya Schantz

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

Liat Shmerling Meir

Kindergarten Judaic Studies Teacher

Julie Steenberge

Kindergarten General Studies Teacher
B.A., Journalism with a Concentration in Advertising, Minor in Jewish Studies
90 Hour Certification

1st Grade Teachers

Anna Brunner-Bayer

1st Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
M.S., Economics
Certification, Preschool Eduation

Isabel Einzig

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher

Bethany Gertzog

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher

Marjorie Haas

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher
B.S., Education
Masters in Public Administration

Adrienne Hiatt

1st Grade General Studies Teacher
B.S., Elementary and Special Education
M.Ed., Deaf Education

Eve Margol

1st Grade General Studies Teacher
M. Ed., Special Education
B.A., Fine Arts
Advanced Professional Maryland Educator Certification- Early Childhood Special Education PreK-3 & Special Education Infant-3
Certified Trainer for Maryland State Department of Education

Marina Milbert

1st Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

Yael Uhr

1st Grade General Studies Teacher
B.A. Studio Art
M.A., Arts Administration
M.Ed., Early Childhood Education

2nd Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher
B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

Tamar Bar Ilan

Judaic Studies Teacher
B.Ed, English and Education

Mazal Birnstein

2nd Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
B.A Education

Michal Friedman

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher
B.A., Sociology and Elementary Education
M.Ed.,Reading Education
Stem Integration Certificate
Teacher Leadership Fellowship

Holly Goldberg

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher

Simone Nagelberg

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher
B.A., Psychology
Pre K-4 Teaching Certificate

3rd Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher
B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

Tamar Bar Ilan

Judaic Studies Teacher
B.Ed, English and Education

Jacqueline Baum

3rd and 4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher, 5th Grade Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.Ed., Primary and Secondary Art Education
Accreditation as a Senior Qualified Teacher, Oranim Academic Education College

China Crystal

3rd Grade Math Teacher
B.A, Psychology
M.A., Elementary Education

Limor Hartman

Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.A.
M.Ed.

Emma Lahn

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

Michal Limonchik

3rd & 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
College of Management Academic Studies, Tel Aviv, Law School
M.A ., Jewish Education

Ronit Miller

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

Adi Moshkovitz

3rd & 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
B.Ed, Science
Certificate of Education
M.A, Second Language Acquisition Specializing in Hebrew

MollyBeth Rushfield

Judaic Studies Teacher
B.S., Elementary Education
B.HL.
M.A.Ed, Jewish Education

4th Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher
B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

Tamar Bar Ilan

Judaic Studies Teacher
B.Ed, English and Education

Jacqueline Baum

3rd and 4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher, 5th Grade Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.Ed., Primary and Secondary Art Education
Accreditation as a Senior Qualified Teacher, Oranim Academic Education College

Limor Hartman

Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.A.
M.Ed.

Hannah Margolis

4th Grade Math Teacher
B.S., Anthropology and Religious Studies
M.Ed., Special Education

Shalom Rosenberg

4th Grade General Studies Teacher
B.A., Film Studies
M.F.A., Film & Electornic Media
A.B.D., Comparative Literature

Rochelle Sobel

4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
B.A., English Literature
M.A., English Literature
B.S., Judaic Studies
M.A. Education/Judaic Studies

Erica Stein

4th Grade General Studies Teacher, B'yachad Coordinator
B.A., Religious Studies
M.S.Ed., Integrating Technology in the Classroom

5th Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher
B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

Jacqueline Baum

3rd and 4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher, 5th Grade Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.Ed., Primary and Secondary Art Education
Accreditation as a Senior Qualified Teacher, Oranim Academic Education College

Aaron Berner

5th Grade General Studies Teacher
B.A., History

Beth Gershman

5th Grade Math Teacher
B.S., Early Childhood Education
M.Ed

Hadas Heyman

Instructional Technology Specialist, 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
B.A., Education
M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language
M.S., Instructional Technology

Tovah Koplow

5th Grade General Studies Teacher
B.A., Psychology
M.A., Elementary Education
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction

Michal Limonchik

3rd & 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
College of Management Academic Studies, Tel Aviv, Law School
M.A ., Jewish Education

Adi Moshkovitz

3rd & 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
B.Ed, Science
Certificate of Education
M.A, Second Language Acquisition Specializing in Hebrew

MollyBeth Rushfield

Judaic Studies Teacher
B.S., Elementary Education
B.HL.
M.A.Ed, Jewish Education

Judaic Studies Teaching Assistants

Mercedes Aseraph

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Nitza Avrahami

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Dalia Azarnikov

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Elissa Golan

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher
B.A., Journalism and English
M.P.H., Community Health Education

Susan Schwartz

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Israeli Center

Einat Hileli

Israeli Center Teacher and Israeli Student Counseling Support Specialist
B.S., Education
iTalam Teaching Method Certification

Lower School Enrichment

Carin Gottlieb

Language Arts Enrichment Specialist
B.Ed, Elementary Education
M.A., Education

Mollie Wuor

Math Enrichment Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education
Masters in Education Learning and Technology

Lower School Science and STEM

Rogina Bolt

Science Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education
M.A., Natural Science

Caitlin Horwitz

Science Specialist
B.A., Early Childhood/Childhood Education and S.T.E.M.
Masters of Science in Educational Studies
Certification in Mind, Brain, and Teaching

Alexis Soffler

Science and STEM Coordinator
B.S., Environmental Biology
M.A.T., Secondary Science
PhD, Educational Leadership, Renewal and Change

Lower School Visual & Performing Arts

Adrin Akins

Lower School Music Teacher

Lisah Bernstein

T'filah Specialist, Israeli Dance Specialist
B.A., Psychology

Courtney Conner

Art Specialist
BA, Art History
Dance Masters of America Certified

Lower School Physical Education

Shayna Held

Physical Education Specialist
B.S., Business Administration
M.B.A.

Amy Strong

Physical Education Specialist
B.S., Physical Education

Lower School T'filah

Lisah Bernstein

T'filah Specialist, Israeli Dance Specialist
B.A., Psychology

Sarah Roark

Head Media Specialist and T'filah Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education and Philosophy
M.A., Education and Human Development
M.S., School Library Media
Certification in Jewish Family Life Education

Lower School Educational Support Services

Dvora Bulman

Learning Specialist
B.S., Computer Science
M.S., General and Special Education
Orton Gillingham Certified Educator

Oshri Drori

Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.Ed., English and Education

Danna Gelles

Learning Specialist
B.A., Classical Studies
M.A., Elementary Education

Limor Hartman

Hebrew Learning Specialist
B.A.
M.Ed.

Dafna Levi Adini

Hebrew Learning Specialist

Rebecca Lipscomb

Learning Specialist
B.A, Psychology
M.Ed, Early Childhood Special Education

Jessamyn Schindel

4th Grade Learning Specialist
B.A., Art History
M.A., History of Decorative Arts
M.A. Education and Human Development

Carol Urbach Herson

Learning Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education & Special Education
M.Ed, Early Childhood and Special Education K-12
Administration and Supervision Certificate K-12
ESOL Certificate

Lower School ESOL

Tobi Bassin

ESOL Specialist
B.A.
M.S.c.

Shira Oz-Sinai

ESOL Specialist
B.A., Spanish
M.A., Jewish Studies

Jane Shaughnessy

ESOL Specialist
B.A., English
MSc, Education
Professional Development Program, Elementary Education
Previously certified in Elementary Education by the British Columbia College of Teacher and the State of Oregon

Lower School Media Center

Ilyssa Beebe

Lower School Assistant Media Center Specialist

Sarah Roark

Head Media Specialist and T'filah Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education and Philosophy
M.A., Education and Human Development
M.S., School Library Media
Certification in Jewish Family Life Education

Lower School Health Room

Natasha Oksenhendler

Head Nurse, Lower School Nurse
B.A., Journalism
A.S., Nursing
Certifications in BLS (Basic Life Support), ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support)

Lower School Counseling

Jennifer Ackerman

1st, 2nd, & 3rd Grade Counselor
B.A., Psychology
M.P.H.
M.S., Social Work
LCSW-C

Wendy Cohen

4th and 5th Grade Counselor
B.S., Psychology
M.S.W.
Licensed Certified Social Worker - Clinical

Gayle Elster

Parenting Resource Center Director, Gurim, Kindergarten, 1st and 4th Grade Counselor and Counseling Support Specialist
B.S., Special Education
M.S.W.

Einat Hileli

Israeli Center Teacher and Israeli Student Counseling Support Specialist
B.S., Education
iTalam Teaching Method Certification

Facilities, Maintenance & Security

William Belke

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

Maria Cineros

Facilities Staff

Freddy Garrett

Facilities Administrator
Carpentry Degree
Certification in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning

Lare Kinnasoh

Facilities Staff

Technology

Ryan Aqui

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

Hadas Heyman

Instructional Technology Specialist, 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher
B.A., Education
M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language
M.S., Instructional Technology

Cesar Hidalgo

Help Desk Analyst

Beth Poston

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

Ginger Thornton

Director of Innovative Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English

Flex Teachers

Cindy Shuman

Flex Teacher
B.A., Child and Family Studies with ECE concentration

Casey Topol

Flex Teacher