CESJDS Middle School Faculty & Staff
Middle School Administration
Mitchel Malkus

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

Middle School Assistant Principal
B.A., English Literature
B.S., Biological Sciences, Concentration: Microbiology
Rabbinic Ordination
B.S., Biological Sciences, Concentration: Microbiology
Rabbinic Ordination
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
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
Becky Silberman

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

Debra Herman Berger Director of Arts Education
B.A., Literature
M.A., English
Ph.D., English
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
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
Middle School Administrative Support Staff
Middle School Arts Department
David Solomon

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

Upper School Instrumental Music Teacher
M.M., Music Education
B.F.A., Jazz & Contemplative Studies
BA, Psychology
B.F.A., Jazz & Contemplative Studies
BA, Psychology
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
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
M.F.A., Photography and Film
Middle 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
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
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
M.Ed., International Education
M.A., Jewish Education
Ed.D, Curriculum, Teaching, Leading and Learning
Ginger Thornton

Director of Instructional Technology
B.A., English, History/Philosophy
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
Middle School English Language and Social Studies
Deborah Feigenson

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

Middle School Social Studies Teacher
B.A., Government in Politics
M.Ed., Secondary Social Studies Education (7-12)
M.Ed., Secondary Social Studies Education (7-12)
Kimberly O'Donnell

Middle School Humanities Teacher
B.A., History and Sociology
M.A., Contemporary British History
Ph.D., History
M.A., Contemporary British History
Ph.D., History
Heidi Zansler

Middle School Social Studies Teacher
B.A., Political Science, Concentration: American Government and Developing Countries
M.S., Real Estate Finance
M.S., Real Estate Finance
Middle School Health & Exercise Science Department
Becky Silberman

Director of Athletics, Upper School Health and Exercise Science Chair
B.S. Kinesiology
M.Ed.
M.Ed.
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
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
M.L.S., Library Science
Upper School Health Room
Middle School Hebrew Department
Liat Arditi Zarouk

Middle School Hebrew Teacher, Middle School Israeli Liaison, and Middle School Israel Engagement Coordinator
B.A., Behavioral Sciences Management and Economics
M.A., Sociology of Education
M.A., Sociology of Education
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
M.A., Teaching Hebrew as a Second Language
Doctor of Modern Languages Candidate
Certified Language Program Administrator
Middle School Jewish Text Department
Aliza Libman Baronofsky

Middle School Math and Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Specialised Honors in Religious Studies
B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate History
ALM, Master's in Math for Teaching
Semikha, Yeshivat Maharat
B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate History
ALM, Master's in Math for Teaching
Semikha, Yeshivat Maharat
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
M.Ed., International Education
M.A., Jewish Education
Ed.D, Curriculum, Teaching, Leading and Learning
Derek Rosenbaum

Middle School Jewish Text Teacher and Department Chair
B.A., US History
B.A., Jewish History
M.A., Hebrew Letters & Title of Rabbi
B.A., Jewish History
M.A., Hebrew Letters & Title of Rabbi
Middle School Mathematics 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
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
Madelyn Dahl

Middle School Math Teacher
B.S., 7-12th Integrated Mathematics Education
B.S., Mathematics
B.S., Mathematics
Aliza Libman Baronofsky

Middle School Math and Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Specialised Honors in Religious Studies
B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate History
ALM, Master's in Math for Teaching
Semikha, Yeshivat Maharat
B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate History
ALM, Master's in Math for Teaching
Semikha, Yeshivat Maharat
Ethan Merlin

Middle School Math Coordinator and Middle School Math Teacher
B.A., Comparative Religion
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction
M.A., Curriculum and Instruction
Middle School Science 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
M.A., Science Curriculum and Instruction
Study Hall
Middle School World Languages Department
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
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
M.A., International Development
M.A., Education
Middle School Counselors
Middle School Educational Support Services
Marjorie Kane

Middle School Learning Specialist
B.S., Marketing
Masters in Special Education, John Hopkins University
Masters in Special Education, John Hopkins University
Lenore Layman

Director, Educational Support Services
B.A., Special Education
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
M.A., Special Education Learning Consultant
Susan Zuckerman

Feder Family Educational Support Services Chair
B.A., Speech and Hearing
M.A., Educational Psychology
M.A., Educational Psychology
Upper School Technology
Hadas Heyman

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

Instructional Technology Specialist
B.S., Elementary Education
M.S., K-12 Instructional Technology
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
M.A., English
M.A., History
A.B.D, English
Middle School Z'man Kodesh
Sara Coxe

High School Jewish History Teacher
B.A., Religion
M.A., Jewish Studies
Ph.D., Religious Studies
M.A., Jewish Studies
Ph.D., Religious Studies
Madelyn Dahl

Middle School Math Teacher
B.S., 7-12th Integrated Mathematics Education
B.S., Mathematics
B.S., Mathematics
Matthew Jacobson

Middle School Social Studies Teacher
B.A., Government in Politics
M.Ed., Secondary Social Studies Education (7-12)
M.Ed., Secondary Social Studies Education (7-12)
Aliza Libman Baronofsky

Middle School Math and Jewish Text Teacher
B.A., Specialised Honors in Religious Studies
B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate History
ALM, Master's in Math for Teaching
Semikha, Yeshivat Maharat
B.Ed., Junior/Intermediate History
ALM, Master's in Math for Teaching
Semikha, Yeshivat Maharat
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
M.Ed., International Education
M.A., Jewish Education
Ed.D, Curriculum, Teaching, Leading and Learning
Heidi Zansler

Middle School Social Studies Teacher
B.A., Political Science, Concentration: American Government and Developing Countries
M.S., Real Estate Finance
M.S., Real Estate Finance