For Dorie Ravick ‘01, CESJDS is all about family. Dorie was so close with her classmates at CESJDS, she even married one (Jacob Ravick, ‘01)! Their siblings and many of their close friends are CESJDS alumni.

Dorie and Jacob’s wedding in 2009 was a CESJDS family affair with Jonathan Schilit ‘01 signing the ketubah and Nathan Bortnick ’01 serving as best man. Dorie and Jacob even had their former history teacher, Michelle Banaszak, at their wedding, highlighting the significance of the relationships created and continued all thanks to CESJDS.  Dorie believes that her teachers, such as Ms. Levitan and Ms. Oakes, in addition to Ms. Banaszak, were all integral in making her time at CESJDS so special. “These talented teachers helped guide me, and our class, into young adulthood.” 

After attending The George Washington University for Political Science and Judaic Studies, Dorie worked at Hillel at the University of North Carolina and the University of Maryland. She later returned to GWU, working in undergraduate admissions. In 2011, as Dorie was looking to make a career shift to college counseling, Dorie was fortunate enough to be hired at CESJDS as an Assistant Director of College Guidance. In this role, Dorie not only returned to the halls of CESJDS, but was now given the chance to work alongside her former teachers, such as Dr. Worden and Ms. Fisanich. Following a short departure from CESJDS, Dorie was at a crossroads and faced her biggest professional challenge. In August 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dorie came back to CESJDS to work closely with the entire school planning social and Jewish life programming for students JK-12, keeping the joy of school going during the difficult pandemic transition. When the opportunity arose to become the Director of Lower School Admissions, she knew she had found her calling. This is Dorie’s third year as the Director of Lower School Admissions and her eleventh year as faculty/staff.

The biggest influences in Dorie’s life include her husband Jacob, her parents, her sister, and her children, Judah (Grade 5) and Zoey (Grade 4). Her two children remind her not to take life too seriously, to always have fun, and to make the most of the life we are given. For Dorie and Jacob, one of their greatest personal accomplishments is their children attending CESJDS, which makes Dorie and her family a Hagshama/Second Generation CESJDS family. 

Today, Dorie spends her free time with her kids and husband as well as her whole extended family. She loves to stay active, working out, getting outside, and traveling as much as possible. She is also still a dedicated Washington Capitals fan. The Ravicks firmly believe in giving back to the school that’s given them so much and are a part of the Lion’s Den five-year giving society exclusively for CESJDS alumni.

Dorie encourages CESJDS students and young alumni to see CESJDS as more than just an education, “Lean into our amazing staff/faculty/administration at JDS. Ask questions, set up meetings, and take advantage of the relationships that you have created during your time at JDS! We are here for you.”