Lower School Faculty - Charles E Smith Jewish Day School

Lower School Administration

Matthew Bellas

Lower School Principal

B.A., Jewish Studies
M.A., Education
M.A., Judaic Studies
Rabbinic Ordination

Daniella Friedman

Judaic Studies and Hebrew Language Coordinator

M.Sc., Organizational Behavior
MJEd, Jewish Education
Education Specialist

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

Rebecca Prigal

Assistant Principal

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

Jennifer Rittberg

Math and Schedule Coordinator

B.S., Fiber Science
M.S., Education, Concentration: Middle and High School Mathematics Education

Kimberly Sherk

Language Arts and Social Studies and DEIJ Coordinator

B.A., Elementary Education
M.A., Reading Instruction and Remediation
Ed.D TeacherLeadership

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 Instructional 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

Benjamin Shedlo

Lower School Administrative Assistant

B.A., Sociology

Gurim Junior Kindergarten Teachers

Rebecca Meron

Gurim Assistant Teacher

B.A., Psychology
M.Ed.
Maryland Teaching Certifications in Elementary Education (1-6) and Early Childhood Education (PreK-3)

Kindergarten Teachers

Anna Brunner-Bayer

Kindergarten Judaic Studies Teacher

M.S., Economics
Certification, Preschool Eduation

Josephine Edery

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

B.S., Sports and Exercise Psychology and Human Services

Rivka Magier

Kindergarten Assistant Teacher

B.S., Family Science
B.A., Psychology

1st Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

1st Grade Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher

B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

Alison Cantwell

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher

Ety Edery

1st Grade Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Nursing Associate Degree

Bethany Gertzog

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher

Patricia Gradel

1st Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

M.A., Jewish Education
M.A., Psychology

Adrienne Hiatt

1st Grade General Studies Teacher

B.S., Elementary and Special Education
M.S., Deaf Education

Cheryl Levitt

1st Grade General Studies Teacher

B.S., Occupational Therapy
M.S., Education

Tali Libedinsky

1st Grade Judaic Studies Assistant 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 and Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Jeniffer O'Brien

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher and 3rd Grade Co-Teacher

Elizabeth Rich

1st Grade General Studies Teacher

2nd Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

1st Grade Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher

B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

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

Karyn Tauber

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher and 4th Grade Co-Teacher

B.S., Government and Politics
M.Ed., Elementary Education

3rd Grade Teachers

Moran Assaf-Blutstein

1st Grade Judaic Studies and Ulpan Teacher

B.S., Social Work
M.S., Social Work

Tamar Bar Ilan

3rd Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

B.Ed, English and Education

Julie Bayer

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

B.A., Psychology
B.A., Dance
M.A., Teaching English as a Second Language

Limor Hartman

Hebrew Learning Specialist

B.A.
M.Ed.

Pamela Lewton

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

Michal Limonchik

3rd & 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

College of Management Academic Studies, Tel Aviv, Law School

Jeniffer O'Brien

1st Grade General Studies Assistant Teacher and 3rd Grade Co-Teacher

Jane Prigal

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

B.S. in Hospital Administration and Planning

MollyBeth Rushfield

3rd-5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

B.S., Elementary Education
B.HL.
M.A.Ed, Jewish Education

4th Grade Teachers

Lia Bass

4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

Jacqueline Baum

4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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 General Studies Teacher

B.S., Anthropology and Religious Studies
M.Ed., Special Education

Ronit Miller

4th Grade General Studies Teacher

MollyBeth Rushfield

3rd-5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

B.S., Elementary Education
B.HL.
M.A.Ed, Jewish Education

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.A., Religious Studies
M.S.Ed., Integrating Technology in the Classroom

5th Grade Teachers

Beth Gershman

5th Grade Math Teacher

B.S., Early Childhood Education
M.Ed

Hillary Gruber

5th Grade General Studies Teacher

B.F.A.
M.Ed.
Licensed to teach in Maryland

Michal Limonchik

3rd & 5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

College of Management Academic Studies, Tel Aviv, Law School

Michelle Marquardt

5th Grade General Studies Teacher

B.S., Elementary Education
M.Ed., Administration and Supervision
Certification in Administration and Supervision

Adi Moshkovitz

5th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

B.Ed, Science
Certificate of Education

MollyBeth Rushfield

3rd-5th Grade 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

Jacob Bellas

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Meital Chookrun

Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher

Israeli Center

Einat Hileli

Israeli Center Teacher and Guidance Support Specialist

B.S., Education
iTalam Teaching Method Certification

Lower School Mathematics

Jennifer Rittberg

Math and Schedule Coordinator

B.S., Fiber Science
M.S., Education, Concentration: Middle and High School Mathematics 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.

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

Lisah Bernstein

T'filah and Israeli Dance Specialist

B.A., Psychology

Sarah Fradkin

School Library Media Specialist, Gurim ESOL Teacher, and 1st Grade Music Teacher

B.A., College Scholar
M.L.I.S., Social Media

Kirsten Kirimlis

General Music, Strings Orchestra, and CESJDS Singers Specialist

Coursework in Elementary Education, Montgomery College
Coursework in Music Education

Emma Whitaker

Art Specialist

B.F.A, Studio Art
B.A., Art History

Lower School Physical Education

Kimeka Johnson

Physical Education Specialist

B.S., Interdisciplinary Studies (Early Childhood Education/Psychology)

Amy Strong

Physical Education Specialist

B.S., Physical Education

Lower School Educational Support Services

Dvora Bulman

Learning Specialist

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

Danna Gelles

Learning Specialist

Limor Hartman

Hebrew Learning Specialist

B.A.
M.Ed.

Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services

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

Rebecca Lipscomb

Learning Specialist

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

Heidi Tacktill

Learning Specialist

B.A., Theological Studies
M.S., Mental Health and School Guidance
Florida Teaching Certification: Elementary Ed-K-6, Reading K-6, ESS

Yael Uhr

Learning Specialist

B.A. Studio Art
M.A., Arts Administration
M.Ed., Early Childhood Education

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.

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

Rachel Uram

ESOL Assistant Teacher

Victoria Wagner

ESOL Specialist

CELTA certification
M.A.
B.A.

Jessica Welch

ESOL Specialist

Lower School Language Arts

Tovah Koplow

Language Arts Enrichment Specialist

B.A., Psychology
M.A., Elementary Education
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction

Kimberly Sherk

Language Arts and Social Studies and DEIJ Coordinator

B.A., Elementary Education
M.A., Reading Instruction and Remediation
Ed.D TeacherLeadership

Lower School Media Center

Sarah Fradkin

School Library Media Specialist, Gurim ESOL Teacher, and 1st Grade Music Teacher

B.A., College Scholar
M.L.I.S., Social Media

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)