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