Academics » Meet Our Staff

Meet Our Staff

Meytal AmenuMeytal Amenu
Nursery 2 Hebrew
 
 
 

Morah Meytal has been a teacher for the last 8 years. She has become a mom for the first time this past summer. She has worked in HAFTR and joined our Brandeis Family in 2019. Morah Meytal is working with our youngest children in school and is so delighted to be a part of their early growth. 

 
 
Orly Amenu
Nursery 3 Hebrew
 
 
Morah Orly has been a teacher for the last 13 years.  She has worked at Ganoni Day Care and HAFTR.  Morah Orly as been a member of the Brandeis mishpacha for the past five years in our nursery program.  Morah Orly delights in watching her students grow and develop throughout the year.
 
Dana AtiasDana Atias
3rd & 4th Grade, Judaic Studies & 2nd Grade Ivrit
 
 
 
Mrs. Atias joins us from Eretz Yisrael through the World Zionist Organization. She has been teaching lower and middle school students in Israel for more than 10 years. She has mastered teaching the Hebrew Language as well as various Judaic Studies subjects across grade levels. Classes will be held Ivrit B’ivrit while integrating all five senses to reach every child and their learning abilities. Mrs. Atias is looking forward to collaborating with her parents, students, colleagues and administrators and believes teamwork leads to student success.
 
Gabriel BergerGabriel Berger
STEAM/Science/Technology
 
Mr. Berger is the new STEAM Coordinator here at Brandies. He has a Masters in Biology and has years of experience teaching at all grade levels. In addition to running our STEAM program, he will be teaching 3rd grade technology, as well as teaching science for 4th through 8th grade. Mr. Berger believes that science doesn’t have to be a daunting subject and can be fun for all ages. He tries to cater to all learning styles in order to provide the students with the best possible means of success.  The focus of our STEAM curriculum will be to integrate all aspects of science, technology, engineering, art, and math in a fun but educational way that goes beyond the scope of what they will cover in the NYS curriculum. In technology class, students begin the year learning about the structure of computers and the typing process.  Keyboard skills are expanded through various word-processing projects and assignments.  The year culminates with learning how to create animated presentations and slideshows.  Topics for both word processing and presentations are based on personal interests as well as content from their 3rd grade language arts and social studies curriculum. The goal of the science curriculum for all grades is to engage students in discussion that encourages them to ask questions and seek the knowledge to develop their understanding of the natural world. In addition, the 8th grade science curriculum is designed to prepare students for the NYS Living Environment Regents Exam. 
 
 
Heidi Beyer
IEP/504 Coordinator
 
 

Mrs. Beyer is a reading specialist and has been a part of the Brandeis family for five years.  Students in the second through eighth grades who need reading enrichment meet with Mrs. Beyer.  Prior to joining Brandeis, Mrs. Beyer was a reading teacher in the Port Washington School District.

 
Audrey Bieber
Middle School English, Literacy Coordinator Grades 1-4
 

As the new literacy instructor for the 6th, 7th and 8th grades, Mrs. Bieber brings over 20 years of experience teaching English. In accordance with Common Core/Next Generation State Standards, Mrs. Bieber’s students read grade-appropriate informational and literary texts to further develop and improve English Language skills including: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Students learn to utilize text-based evidence to determine central ideas, specify the author’s use of literary techniques, and analyze the author’s craft.  A variety of writing assessments and activities are used to demonstrate these skills.

Students build upon their knowledge of the world and relationship within it through class discussion of texts, gathering information, evaluating nonfiction sources, and a variety of both teacher-directed and student-centered activities.  The small teacher/student ratio allows for special attention and differentiated instruction towards individual student needs.

Mrs. Bieber’s goal for her students is to become independent readers and writers, and to facilitate a lifelong passion for the written word.  By graduation, our students are well prepared for the demands of high school English and have experience with advanced texts as well.

 
Braunstein, TalyaTalya Braunstein
Psychologist
 
Talya, a New York State Certified School Psychologist, meets with students three days each week.  Talya joined The Brandeis School in September 2018.
 

 

Tali Dahari
Front Office Administrator
 
 
Tali has worked in the front office at Brandeis for almost 20 years.  Daily, Tali focuses on the needs of the students, teachers and parents.  Tali greets callers on the telephone, responds and disseminates emails, and assists Mr. Levin. Tali is also a former Brandeis parent, proud mother of Naama and Liav.

    Kim Duchow
    Art
 

     

Ms. Duchow has taught at Brandeis for the past five tears. She started teaching Pre-Kindergarten, followed by Kindergarten. She will now take on the position of Art Teacher. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Art Education K-12. Ms. Duchow has taught art at various schools and Art Studios, including her own Studio for several years.  The Art Curriculum is geared towards helping students become creative critical thinkers. It touches upon different artists and art styles throughout History. It works on experiencing with art tools and using them properly. Most of all, it encourages students to express themselves in a unique way.

 

 
Leslie Gang
Director of Admissions & Communications, Executive Administrative Assistant
 
Leslie is thrilled to join the Brandeis family.  She has most recently worked as Executive Assistant in the Yeshivah of Flatbush, assisting the Executive Director and lay leaders of the institution.  Prior to her position in Flatbush, Leslie served as the Director of Admissions, Communications and Alumni Relations at HAFTR for seven years.  Alongside Mr. Reuben Maron and the lay leadership, Leslie helped increase student enrollment, develop and expand several fundraising campaigns, and foster relationships with HAFTR Graduates.  From 2009-2011, Leslie served as the Director of Public Relations and Marketing at Westchester Day School.  Leslie is a HAFTR High School Graduate (Class of 2003) and Boston University Graduate (COM' 07).
 
Leah Einhorn
Early Childhood Director
 
OdeliaOdelia Eliahu
Nursery 2, Judaic Studies
 
Odelia Eliahu has been a part of the Brandeis Hebrew Academy for several years and is excited to take on the role of Nursery 2 teacher again, after having been a toddler floater for the last year.
 
 
Hagit Genosar
Judaic Studies Curriculum Coordinator, Middle School Hebrew
 

Mrs. Genosar has been a core member of the Brandeis family for the past 17 years.  She teaches Hebrew language, Tanach and Dinim.  She began teaching fifth and sixth grade, and later moved to seventh grade.  Mrs. Genosar now teaches eighth grade and prepares students for the Hebrew Regents exam.

In the Middle School, students are grouped based on their proficiency in the Hebrew language.  This allows students to benefit from learning at their own pace and level.  Mrs.Genosar gains great pleasure in seeing students' enthusiasm and excitement when they are introduced to Hebrew literature.

In Tanach studies, the main goal is to make students identify with Eretz Israel and deepen their connection to the land of our ancestors.

Celebrating holidays and commemorating special days in the Hebrew calendar defines the Brandeis Hebrew Academy experience. Mrs. Genosar is proud to direct and lead the middle school students in the presentations of Yom Yerushalayim (5th grade), Pesach Model Seder (6th grade), Yom Hazikaron (7th grade) and Yom Hashoah (8th grade).

Mrs. Genosar teaches by "דרך ארץ קדמה לתורה" – Proper (ethical) behavior precedes the Torah – before one can learn and receive an education, he or she must pave the path with Derech Eretz, decent behavior and good character traits

 
R. GoldbergRabbi Nissan Goldberg
School Rabbi
 
Rabbi Goldberg brings more than 30 years of leadership experience to our Brandeis students and is very much looking forward to implementing various programs at Brandeis Hebrew Academy that will strengthen our students’ connection to Torah, the love of Judaism, and the foundations of Yiddishkeit. Rabbi Goldberg hopes to incorporate various chesed opportunities into the curriculum to remind students the importance of kindness, gratitude and giving back to our community. He will also be working closely with the staff and administration to implement programs highlighting those who showcase their Middot Tovot and encourage students to always be mindful of the attributes we hope to embody as members of Klal Yisrael. He hopes to instill a love of Torah in all of our Brandeis students by introducing them to various biblical and Jewish concepts through unique and creative ways, both in and out of the classroom.
 
GubermanMrs. Rivki Guberman 
Grades 1, 2 Judaic Studies
 
Mrs. Guberman, born in Israel,  has taught Lower School Judaic Studies in Israel and also holds a degree in special education. Rivki has also taught at Brandeis in years past and is excited to be back. 
 
 
Erica JosephErica Joseph
PreK, Kindergarten General Studies
 
Ms. Joseph is excited to be joining the Brandeis family. She comes to the school with experience teaching pre-k through twelfth grade in various school settings. With backgrounds in general education and special education, Ms. Joseph enthusiastically works to meet the diverse needs of each of her students. In her free time, Ms. Joseph enjoys crocheting. 
 
 
Kayli JosephKayli Joseph
Early Childhood Music
 
 
 
Kayli Joseph has been teaching children aged 2-5 for over twenty years, incorporating music, movement, and vibrant puppetry into her lessons to make learning fun and engaging. She has composed and released a wealth of children’s songs and albums that cover both academic and Judaic topics and is still creating new content to this day.
Prior to this, Kayli majored in Music Composition and Classical Piano at Tel Aviv University and studied at The Rimon School of Jazz and Contemporary Music. Kayli is thrilled to join the Brandeis family and put a special emphasis on Jewish and Israeli music inside the classroom.
 
 
Zelda Kastin
Middle School, Social Studies
 

Mrs. Kastin has had the pleasure of educating Middle School children in Brandeis for almost three decades.  Currently, Mrs. Kastin teaches 5th and 8th grade Social Studies.  Mrs. Kastin has always strived to ignite each student's love of history and the world around them.

The Middle School social studies curriculum is based on New York State standards.  In 5th grade, students use a variety of their learned skills to understand major ideas, themes and turning points in history, both in North and South America.  Eighth grade students delve deeper into the history of our country.  There is a greater understanding of different historical periods, particularly Reconstruction, Progressive Movement, WWI, The Great Depression-New Deal, WWII, Civil Right Era, Vietnam War, Kennedy-Johnson Years, and 1988 to the present.

 

Koprowski
 
Kelly Koprowski
1st Grade General Studies
 
Mrs. Koprowski is so excited to join the Brandeis school family! This will be her 9th year teaching and she is thrilled to be teaching 1st grade this year. For the past 3 years she has taught 1st grade at Yeshiva of South Shore. She obtained a Master of Science degree from Hofstra University in Elementary Education in 2005. Mrs. Koprowski finds great joy in watching her students grow throughout the year.
 
 
KosofkyNaami Kosofsky
School Social Worker
 
Naami is a licensed social worker. She has experience working clinically with children and their families in both individual and group settings. Naami received her MSW from Yeshiva University. She feels privileged to begin the 2020 school year with The Brandies School. She is excited to work with students and watch them grow.
 
Jennifer Kredlik
Nursery 2, General Studies
 
 
Helen Liebman
2nd Grade General Studies
 

The 2nd Grade curriculum is aligned with the New York State Common Core Standards.  In the area of reading, Mrs. Liebman uses Scott Foresman Reading Street Common Core.  This reading series consists of stories of many genres with a variety of skills that accompany them including a Writer’s Notebook.  Children are taught to write in different styles: narratives, expository essays, fiction and non-fiction, as well as in personal journals.  

The Common Core State Standards is followed for the Second Grade Math curriculum.  The Math program develops conceptual understanding, computational proficiency and mathematical literacy.  

Science and Social Studies consist of several topics.  Children enjoy going to the Science Lab and using a variety of hands-on materials.  Each spring, students participate in Brandeis' Science Fair.

The children enjoy utilizing the Computer Lab where they work on Math and Literacy skills.  Our 2nd Grade encompasses a full and exciting program.

Mrs. Liebman also teaches 3rd grade science which includes topics such as, Living Things, Ecosystems, Animals and Plants, Simple Machines and Matter.  The children are taught to identify the steps in the Scientific Method, and learn how scientists form and test a hypothesis.

Science is taught in our Science Lab where students are able to use a variety of hands-on materials.  They observe, ask questions and draw conclusions using various science tools.  Students also conduct experiments. In the Spring, students participate in our Science Fair.

GilaGila Lipshitz
Nursery 2, General Studies
 

This is Gila's second year at Brandeis, having worked in the Kindergarten and Nursery 2 classes in the past. Gila is also a Brandeis parent, with two children currently enrolled and one son who graduated from the institution.

 

 

Reuben Maron
Administrative Director
 

Mr. Maron has been a part of the Brandeis family since February of 2018.  Prior to his role as Administrator at Brandeis Hebrew Academy, Mr. Maron served as Executive Director of HAFTR for 8 years.  With the support of administrators, lay leaders and faculty members, he increased enrollment from 1,000 students to 1,400 children and revitalized the school buildings and grounds.  Mr. Maron is excited to join the Brandeis Administration and continue the school's growth and success.

 
Lori Pennock
Resource Room
 

Mrs. Pennock is the Resource Room teacher at Brandeis.  Mrs. Pennock has taught for many years, including at other area Yeshivas.  Prior to raising her family, Mrs. Pennock was a Resource Room teacher in the Elmont School District.  Mrs. Pennock is delighted to now be a part of The Brandeis School community.

 
Lisa Sacolick
Nursery 2 Program Director, Nursery 3 General Studies
 

Three year nursery is taught by Morah Lisa and Morah Orly.  For the past five years, our Morahs have worked together to provide a nursery curriculum that is well-rounded.  Our three year-old students learn about our holidays, parsha, seasons, colors, shapes, numbers and the alphabet.  Special units include author studies, apples, fire safety, health, and music appreciation.  Our day includes free play, davening circle, story time, outdoor playground, center time, art projects and rest time.  We provide a friendly, warm, safe, nurturing environment where the children grow, learn and make lots of friends.

 
Tara Saez
Middle School Spanish
 

Mrs. Saez is currently in her 26th year of teaching, the last three at Brandeis.  Mrs. Saez is our 6th, 7th and 8th grade Spanish teacher.  Throughout her career, Mrs. Saez has taught in a variety of educational environments.  While at the past three years at Brandeis, Mrs. Saez has noted that Brandeis Hebrew Academy not only provides a productive learning environment for students but also provides an inviting family environment.

The Spanish curriculum is thorough, integrating the four major skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  In sixth grade, students begin with basic language skills.  By the eighth grade, our students are able to express thoughts in several language tenses.  This demonstrates the student's growth. 

The ultimate goal of our Spanish program is to prepare our students for higher level learning as well as the diverse society in which we reside.

edenEden Schebovitz
Kindergarten Assistant

 

Eden Schebovitz, as the assistant teacher for Kindergarten. Eden is currently in graduate school studying for her Master of Science in Education and Special Education (Birth-2nd). Eden is also a graduate of Brandeis. She is so excited to be a part of the Brandeis Mishpacha!  

Leora
 
Leora Schwadron
4th & 5th Grade Literacy, 6th Grade Social Studies, 7th & 8th Grade Jewish History
 
Leora Schwadron is a literacy, social studies, and Jewish history teacher. She has a BA in English with a focus on global culture and creative writing, and a Master’s degree in English from Binghamton University. Ms. Schwadron has previously worked as a writing center instructor, writer, and editor. 
Ms. Schwadron focuses on helping students develop confidence, passion, clarity and strong skills in their written and verbal expression. She guides students toward developing their writing and perspective skills, using context and literary tools to become effective communicators and hone their own voices to succeed in all subjects. Most importantly, Ms. Schwadron focuses on showing her students how exploring literacy and history gives them a first-class ticket to every part of the world.
 
shmuelIrit Shmuel
PreK and K Judaic Studies
[email protected] 
 
Irit Shmuel is the Judaic Studies teacher for PreK and Kindergarten. Irit has been a staff member at Brandeis for over ten ears and loves working with the students! Her passion is teaching Hebrew and she looks forward to a great year!
 
 
Kavinie Singh
Physical Education
 

Ms. Singh graduated from Queens College with a Bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and she is currently pursuing her Masters in Health Education.  She has taught at Brandeis Hebrew Academy for over four years and teaches a wide range of classes from Nursery to the 8th grade. 

The physical education curriculum is designed to teach students the fundamentals necessary to execute a sport task while promoting movement.  We aim to develop each student’s knowledge of safety and movement.  In turn, this leads to their ability to perform a range of activities for an active and healthy lifestyle.  Our program also focuses on each student’s development of a strong sense of self-worth, a positive attitude and good character traits.

 
Rebecca Smith
Middle School Math
 

Ms. Smith teaches Math for fourth through eighth grades. She has taught at Brandeis for the past seven years. In the Fourth Grade, the curriculum focuses on place value, addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, patterns and sequences, fractions, decimals, customary measurement, metric measurement, perimeter, area, and geometry.  Fifth Grade students learn place value, multiplication, division, decimals, expressions and patterns, fractions, measurement, and geometry.  Sixth grade math consists of ratios and rates, fractions, decimals, percents, decimals, integers, the coordinate plane, expressions, equations, functions, inequalities, area, volume, surface area, and statistics.  Our seventh graders learn ratios and proportional reasoning, percents, integers, rational numbers, expressions, equations, inequalities, geometric figures, measure figures, probability, and statistics.  In the eighth grade, students are taught Algebra 1 (Regents class) where the building blocks of algebra, linear expressions, equations, inequalities, functions, linear functions and arithmetic sequences, systems of linear equations and inequalities, exponents, polynomials, quadratics, roots and rational numbers, and statistics are taught.

 
AlisonAlison Troyetsky
PreK Assistant
 
Alison Troyetsky,  known by the students as Morah Alison or Ms. Alison, has been working at Brandeis for a few years as an assistant teacher. Alison holds a B.S in special education and rehabilitation. You can usually find me with glitter or paint on my hands in the pre-k room :)  
 
 
Ayanna Vickery
School Nurse
 
 
Elaine Winograd
3rd Grade General Studies, Middle School Math
 

Elaine Winograd is a secular teacher who has taught at Brandeis for over twenty years.  She has taught math, literacy, social studies, and science on the elementary level during her tenure.  Recently, Mrs. Winograd has added teaching math to seventh and eighth grade students.

Mrs. Winograd challenges herself to provide a classroom that promotes curiosity and exploration among her students.  Her students are willing to take risks and explore the unknown either independently or through peer interaction. Mrs. Winograd encourages her students to actively engage and participate in their learning.  Mrs. Winograd believes her role is to facilitate this process through cooperative learning, investigation, inquiry and hands-on activities.

 
R. ZalcmanRebecca Zalcman
Nursery 2 Assistant
 

Rebecca has a bachelors degree in English as well as a minor in secondary education. She herself was a former student of the Brandeis School and is excited to rejoin the Brandeis family! 

 
 
Shelly Zaltsman
Middle School Hebrew
 

Mrs. Zaltsman has been at Brandeis for the last six years, teaching Judaic Studies to Brandeis Hebrew Academy Middle School students.  The goals of her class are to further develop students' Hebrew language skills and to increase their connection to Eretz Israel.

 

ZangreErica Zangre
Administrative Assistant
 
Erica Zangre has worked at Chabad of Merrick for 5 years as an office administrator and is excited to join the Brandeis family.