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Jewish Federation of Greater Houston

Beren Academy

11333 Cliffwood Drive
Houston, TX 77035
(713) 723-7170
(713) 723-8343

Robert M. Beren Academy

Faculty and Staff Contact Page

   

Aviva Abitbol ECE-3

                B.A. Early Childhood Education, Stern College for Women, NY

avivaabitbol@berenacademy.org   

 

 

Emma Abraham aide - ECE 18mos.

ebramyan@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Carolyn Alterman, Upper School Instructional Support

M.Ed.,Special Education, St. John's University

B.A., Sociology, University of California, CA

Association Montessori International Training

Primary, Middle School and Secondary Teaching Certificate- Life time degrees- University of Houston, TX

calterman@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Nicole Andrews, Math and Science

M.Ed, Leadership, Troy State, AL

B.S, Math Education

nandrews@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Einat Bahat, Lower School Judaics

B.A., History, Sociology and Anthropology, Hebrew University, Israel

B.Ed, Teaching Diploma, Upper School History, Hebrew University, Israel

ebahat@berenacademy.org  

 

 

 

Randee Barasch, Upper School English

M.S., Administrative Leadership, University of Houston, Clear Lake, TX

B.S., Communications and English, University of Miami, FL

rbarasch@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Ornit Baruch, Lower School Judaics

B.A., Hebrew Literature and Bible, Ben Gurion University, Israel

Teaching Diploma, Ben Gurion University, Israel

obaruch@berenacademy.org  

 

Maria Teresa Bethlen, Spanish Teacher

M.A., University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain

B.A., University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Argentina

tbethlen@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Merle Bloch, ECE 18 mos.

merlebloch@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Bonnie Blumberg, Early Childhood Director, Kindergarten Teacher

B.A., Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Barkly House College, 
                Cape Town, South Africa

bonnieblumberg@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Rav Aharoni Carmel, Lower School Judaic Principal, 

M.A., Tanach, Bar Ilan University, Israel

Teaching Certificate, Herzog College, Israel

B.A., Education, Herzog College, Israel,

Advanced Yeshiva Studies, Yeshivat Har Etzion Hesder Program and
                Merkaz Harav, Israel

aharonicarmel@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Emuna Carmel, Graphic Designer

M.A, Jewish Art, The Schechter institute, Israel

B.Ed, Judaic Studies, learning resources, Michlala, Jerusalem College for
                Women, Israel

Visual Communication, Emuna College, Israel

emunacarmel@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Chris Cole, Athletic Director

B.S., Kinesiology, University of Houston, TX

chriscole@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Ariela Davis, Upper School Judaic Studies

M.S., Secondary Jewish Education, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, NY

B.A., Journalism, Stern College for Women, NY

adavis@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Rina Erlichman, Hebrew Language

B.A.,Teachers’ Seminar, Echad Haham, Israel

Master Teacher of the Tal-Am curriculum

rinaerlichman@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Bobbi Frank, Lower School General Studies, Coordinator of Success Maker Program

B.S., Early Childhood Education, CCNY

bobbifrank@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Vered Gadot, Hebrew Language

M.A., Education

B.A., Jewish History and Jewish Philosophy

Teaching Diploma, Ben Gurion University, Israel

veredgadot@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Gabrielle Gelman, Judaic Studies

M.A., Occupational Therapy, New York University, NY

M.A., Judaic Studies, Siegal College of Jewish Studies, OH

B.A., Psychology/Judaic Studies, Stern College for Women, NY

gabigelman@sbcglobal.net  

 

 

Rachie Jacobson Gold, Development Coordinator

M.S.W. and Certificate of Jewish Communal Service, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University, NY

B.A., Jewish History, Stern College for Women, NY

rjacobson@berenacademy.org

 

 

Sarah Golubtchik, Lower School Judaic Studies

M.S., Jewish Education, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and
                Administration,NY

B.A., Political Science, Barnard College, NY

sgolubtchik@berenacademy.org             

 

Jill Gomez  School Nurse

jillgomez@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Dorit Guttman, Director of Development

B.S. Psychology, University of Texas at Austin, TX

gutt2@aol.com  

 

 

Esther Hakakian, Aide ECE 4, Upper School  Hebrew Language

                ehakakian@berenacademy.org

 

 

Vicki Harari, Aide Montessori

                vharari@berenacademy.org      

 

 

Efrat Hazan, Hebrew Language ,Montessori, MS, HS

B.A., Theatrical and General Studies, The Hebrew University, Israel

                efrathazan@berenacademy.org

 

 

Dr. Eliezer Jones, Director of Student Life

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, CA

M.A., Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, CA

B.A., Psychology, Touro College, NY

ejones@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Lewis Kaufman, Business Manager

                lkaufman@berenacademy.org

 

 

Rabbi Ari Kellerman, Upper School Judaics

M.S., Jewish Education, Yeshiva University, NY

B.A., Psychology, Yeshiva University, NY

akellerman@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Rabbi Eliezer Kessler, Lower School Judaics

Smicha (Rabbinic Ordination), Rabbinical Seminary of America, Yeshiva
                Chofetz Chaim,  NY

Teaching Certification, Merkaz LHachsharot Morim, NY

eliezerkessler@berenacademy.org  

 

Debra Kira, Upper School English, Lower School Gifted Reading and Writing

M.Ed., Education Administration, Grand Canyon University, AZ

B.A., English Literature and Secondary Education, State University of NY

Secondary Education Credential in, NY,CA and TX.

debrakira@berenacademy.org  

 

Ruth Kisluk

rkisluk@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Ammani Krishnaswamy, Upper School Science

Ed.D., University of Houston, TX

M.S. Chemistry, Georgetown University, Washington DC

M.S Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology,India

B.S Chemistry, Stella Maris College, India

ammanikrishnaswamy@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Shelley Nunn Levine, Director of Resource

M.A., Special Education, Northeastern Illinois University,IL

B.S., Elementary, Special Education and English, Texas Tech University, TX

slevine@berenacademy.org

               

 

Carol Liberman, Upper School General Studies

M.S., Education, University of Houston, TX

B.S., Education, Phi Beta Kappa, University of Georgia, GA

carolliberman@berenacademy.org   

 

 

Helene Lubel, Lower School Principal, General Studies

B.S., Education, University of Texas at Austin, TX

Elementary Montessori Diploma, Association Montessori Internationale,
                Bergamo, Italy

helenelubel@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Matty Malca, Administrative Assistant

mattymalca@berenacademy.org   

 

 

Dave Martin, Upper School Science

Retired Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army

M. Ed., Springfield College, MA

M. Ed., Jacksonville University, FL

B.A., Zoology, University of Vermont, VT

dmartin@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Pamela Matthews

                pammatthews@berenacademy.org

 

 

Brian Munney, Upper School Math Teacher

B.S., Binghamton University, NY

brianmunney@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Rabbi Nimchinsky, Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Upper School Judaics

M. Ed. Instructional Technology, American Intercontinental University
                Hoffman Estates Ill.

B.A. Talmudic Texts and Law Talmudical Institute of Upstate NY

Smicha Talmudical Institute of Upstate NY

rabbinimchinsky@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Michel Ohana, Aide Montessori

mohana@berenacademy.org

               

 

Andrew Plummer, Montessori General Studies

B.A., English, Simpson University, CA

Teaching Credential, Simpson School of Education, Simpson University, CA

aplummer@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Judy Pollak, Lower School Judaic Studies

judypollack@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Rabbi Avi Pollak, Upper School Judaics Principal

Smicha (Rabbinic Ordination), Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of
                Yeshiva  University

MA, Secondary Jewish Education, Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration, NY

B.A., Finance, Sy Syms School of Business, Yeshiva University, NY

apollak@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Mindeleah Pollak, Upper School Judaics

M.Ed, Michlala, Jerusalem College for Women, Israel

B.Ed, Michlala, Jerusalem College for Women, Israel

B.A. Judaic Studies, Stern College for Women, NY

Hebrew Teaching Diploma, Jerusalem

mindeleahpollak@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Dr. Shulamis Pollak, Director of Guidance

Ph.D., Clinical Psychology, Derner Institute at Adelphi University, NY

M. A., Child and School Psychology, Derner Institute at Adelphi University, 
                NY

B.A., Psychology and Judaic Studies, Yeshiva University, NY

Teaching Degree, Michlalah Jerusalem College, Israel

spollak@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Elana Priesman, Early Childhood

B.A., Education, Florida Atlantic University, FL

epriesman@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Marla Reiner, Montessori Aide

mreiner@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Cynthia Reynolds Upper School Social Sciences, Yearbook

B.S., Secondary Social Studies Education, Oklahoma State University,OK

creynolds@berenacademy.org  

 

Jennifer Rosenzweig, Lower School General Studies

M.A., Teaching and Learning, Nova Southeastern University, Florida

B.S., Industrial Engineering, Military University, Columbia

jrosenzweig@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Patti Ross, Lower Elementary Montessori

M.Ed, Integration Montessori Studies, Endicott College, MA

B.A., English, University of Texas at Austin, TX

B.S. Elementary Education, University of Texas at Austin, TX

Certified by the American Montessori Society

pross@berenacademy.org  

 

Esther Saghian ECE 2

afsanehsaghian@berenacademy.org    

 

 

Misi Schlueter, Upper School Principal General Studies

M.Ed., University of Houston, TX

B.S., University of Houston, TX

mschlueter@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Mirit Schneider, Lower School General Studies

M.S., Curriculum and Instruction Reading, Grand Canyon University, AZ

B.A., Education, Stern College for Women, NY

mschneider@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Colleen Schultz, Librarian

M.Ed, Art Education, University of Houston TX

B.F.A., Photography, Art History, Pratt Institute, NY

cschultz@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Atara Segal, Upper School Judaics, Mathematics

M.A., Bible, Bernard Revel Graduate School, Yeshiva University, NY

Teaching Certification, Physical Science 8 – 12, University of Houston, TX

B.A., Pre-Engineering, Stern College for Women, NY

asegal@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Rabbi Ari Segal, Head of School

Smicha (Rabbinic Ordination), Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg, Israel

M.S., Social Work, Wurzweiler School of Social Work, NY

B.S., Arts (Honors), Yeshiva University, NY

ras@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Linda Shkedy,  Middle School Mathematics

lshkedy@yahoo.com   

 

 

Richard Stabell, Director of College Counseling

M.A.T, History, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

B.A., History,University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

rstabell@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Samantha Steinberg, Director of Admissions and Marketing

B.A., History, Touro College, NY

ssteinberg@berenacademy.org

 

 

Yocheved Stock, Director of Art

A.A.S., B.S. - Fashion Institute of Technology, NY

ystock@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Daniel. S. Wall, Upper School Social Studies

Doctoral candidate (AbD), Cultural Anthropology, University of Chicago, IL

M.A.,United States History, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

B.A., Philosophy and Linguistics, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, NV

dwall@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Chandra Yarber, Registrar, Assistant to Head of School

                chandrayarber@berenacademy.org

                               

 

Farin Zuckerman, Lower School General Studies

B.S., University of Arizona, AZ

fzuckerman@berenacademy.org  

 

Nicole Zuziak, Lower School General Studies

M.Ed candidate, Reading, Southern Methodist University, TX

Neuhaus Certification in Dyslexia

B.S. Interdisciplinary Studies, University of Houston, TX

nzuziak@berenacademy.org  

 

 

Robert M. Beren Academy