Faculty
About Our Faculty
Connections forged between teachers and students enrich the educational experience at Hannah Senesh and are the foundation of our learning community. Experienced and dedicated teachers work to create environments that encourage active engagement and challenge.
Our teachers come from across the country and around the world, bringing a wealth of knowledge and a variety of perspective. All of our teachers are professionals with degrees in education or related disciplines. Many of our teachers are graduates of Teacher’s College, Columbia University, Bank Street College of Education, Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and DeLeT: Day School Leadership through Teaching, some of the most innovative and substantive programs in the field. Collaboration among colleagues is encouraged, and extensive professional development opportunities are provided, at both in-house and outside workshops and seminars.
Albert Einstein once said, “It is the supreme art of the teacher to awaken joy in creative expression and knowledge.” At Hannah Senesh, our teachers artfully awaken students’ curiosity, promoting creative thinking and supporting thoughtful inquiry.
Explore Our:
School Leadership | Educational Leadership | Student Support Services
Lower School | Middle School | Specialists | Administrative Staff
School Leadership
Nicole Nash
Head of School
B.A. University of Rochester
M.S.Ed. Bank Street College of Education
Shelley Fogelson
Lower School Director
B.A. University of Leeds, UK
M.Ed. William Davidson Graduate School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary
Lauren Goldberg
Middle School Director
B.A. Northwestern University
M.A. Stanford University
M.A. Columbia University School of Education
Annette Powers
Director of Admissions and Communications
B.A. University of Michigan
M.A. American University
Karen Stein
Director of Development
B.A. University at Albany, SUNY Albany
M.A. William Davidson Graduate School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary
Nathalie Cabot
Director of Operations
B.A. Touro College
Shai Carmel
Business Manager
B.S. University at Albany, SUNY Albany
M.B.A. University at Albany, SUNY Albany
Educational Leadership
Shelley Fogelson
Lower School Director
B.A. University of Leeds, UK
M.Ed. William Davidson Graduate School of Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary
Lauren Goldberg
Middle School Director
B.A. Northwestern University
M.A. Stanford University
M.A. Columbia University School of Education
Michael Dorfman
Director of Educational Technology
B.A. Rutgers University
M.A. Rutgers University
M.S. Brooklyn College
Nir Rikman
Hebrew Language Coordinator
B.A. Haifa University, Israel
M.A. Brandeis University
Phyllis Sussman
Judaic Studies Coordinator
B.A. Barnard College
B.A. Jewish Theological Seminary
M.A. Yeshiva University, Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies
Student Support Services
Suzanne Khuri
Learning Specialist
B.A. Harvard University
M.A. Institute of Education, Language of Learning Certificate
Rebecca Heus
Lower School Learning Specialist
B.A. Hamilton College
M.A. Bank Street College
Carolyn Lyons
Lower School Counselor
B.A. West Chester University
M.S.Ed. Hunter College CUNY
Kate Barton
Middle School Counselor and Outplacement Director
B.A. Wesleyan University
M.A. New York University Silver School of Social Work
Specialists
Iviva Olenick
Lower School Art
B.A. Binghamton University
A.A.S. Fashion Institute of Technology
Susan Hamburger
Middle School Art
B.A. Brandeis University
M.F.A. Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University
M.A. The City College of NY
Heidi Siegell
Lower School Music
M.A. Aaron Copland School of Music
Naum Goldenstein
Middle School Music
B.A. Ithaca College
M.A. from the City University of New York
Orff and Kodaly Certificates
Anne Lilly
Lower School Physical Education
B.A. University of Washington
Certification from National Academy of Sports Medicine
M.A. University of Northern Colorado
Ayinde George
Middle School Physical Education
B.S. SUNY Cortland
Lower School Faculty
Kindergarten
Dawn Wheatley
Lead General Studies
B.A. Connecticut College
M.A. UIC, ChicagoM.S., Bank Street College of Education
Anat Amsalem
Hebrew/Judaic Studies
B.A. Michelet Achva, Israel
Atalya Sternoff
Kindergarten Associate Teacher
B.A. Beloit College
First Grade
Liz McGinn
Lead General Studies
B.A. Endicott College
Talia Nudell
First Grade Associate Teacher
B.A. Brandeis University
M.A. University of Oregon
Ilana Elmkies
Hebrew and Judaic Studies
B.S. Tel Chai Rodman College, Israel
Second Grade
Lauren Rosenfield
Lead General Studies
M.A. New York University
B.A. Gettysburg College
Marisa Miller
Second Grade Associate Teacher
B.A. Susquehanna University
Dorit Podchelbnik
Hebrew and Judaic Studies
M.A. Jerusalem University
B.A. Tel Aviv University
Tomer Yanay
Hebrew Heritage
B.A. Brooklyn College
Third Grade
Shannon Berkowsky
General Studies
B.A. Brandeis University
M.A. Hunter College
Samantha Butwin
Science/Tech
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, University Park
M.A. Hofstra University
Justin Schwaber
Math
B.A. McGill University
M.S.Ed. Brooklyn College
Shira Becher
Judaic Studies
B.A. New York University
M.A. Hebrew College, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education
NETA-CET Certificate in Hebrew language education
Rimma Berenshtein
Hebrew
B.A. Kibbutzim College of Education Tel Aviv
M.A. UIC, Chicago
Tomer Yanay
Hebrew Heritage
B.A. Brooklyn College
M.A. Middlebury College
Fourth Grade
Hilary Davis
Language Arts and Social Studies
B.A. Goucher College
M.S.Ed. Bank Street College of Education
Samantha Butwin
Science/Tech
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, University Park
M.A. Hofstra University
Justin Schwaber
Math
B.A. McGill University
M.S.Ed. Brooklyn College
Rimma Berenshtein
Hebrew
B.A. Kibbutzim College of Education Tel Aviv
M.A. UIC, Chicago
Tomer Yanay
Hebrew Heritage
B.A. Brooklyn College
M.A. Middlebury College
Shira Becher
Judaic Studies
B.A. New York University
M.A. Hebrew College, Shoolman Graduate School of Jewish Education
NETA-CET Certificate in Hebrew language education
Middle School Faculty
Fifth Grade
Sarah Fielkow
Humanities
B.A. University of Wisconsin-Madison
M.Ed. De Paul University
Laura Marder
Judaic Studies
B.A. Rutgers University
M.A. Hebrew College
Pardes Institute, Educators Program Advanced Certificate
Katie Adams
Math
B.A. Florida State University
M.S. Brooklyn College
Samantha Butwin
Science
B.S. Pennsylvania State University, University Park
M.A. Hofstra University
Yulia Shifrin-Izraev
Hebrew
M.Ed. Levinsky College of Education in Tel Aviv
Ilana Nowatzky-Bendet
Hebrew Heritage
B.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
M.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Ph.D. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Sixth Grade
Naomi Forman
Humanities
B.A. Washington University
M.Ed. Harvard University
Laura Marder
Judaic Studies
B.A. Rutgers University
M.A. Hebrew College
Pardes Institute, Educators Program Advanced Certificate
Katie Adams
Math
B.A. Florida State University
M.S. Brooklyn College
Mike Noll
Science
B.S. Rutgers University
M.S. Ed. College of Saint Elizabeth
Yulia Shifrin-Izraev
Hebrew
M.Ed. Levinsky College of Education in Tel Aviv
Ilana Nowatzky-Bendet
Heritage Hebrew Language
B.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
M.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Ph.D. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Seventh Grade
Sammy Meckler
Humanities
B.A. University of California Davis
Teaching Certificate from California State University
Jessica Lissy Trey
Judaic Studies
B.A. Yale University
M.A. Hebrew University
Pardes Institute, Educators Program Advanced Certificate
Shana Orlando
Math
B.S. Mathematics, St. Francis College
Mike Noll
Science
B.S. Rutgers University
M.S. Ed., College of Saint Elizabeth
Andreea Adereth
Hebrew
B.A. Tel Aviv University
Teaching Certificate in ESL K-12, Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel
Ilana Nowatzky-Bendet
Hebrew Heritage
B.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
M.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Ph.D. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Eighth Grade
Joseph Hayden
Humanities
B.A. Hendrix College
M.A. Indiana University
M.S. St. John’s University
Jessica Lissy Trey
Judaic Studies
B.A. Yale University
M.A. Hebrew University
Pardes Institute, Educators Program Advanced Certificate
Shana Orlando
Math
B.S. Mathematics, St. Francis College
Andreea Adereth
Hebrew Language
B.A. Tel Aviv University
Teaching Certificate in ESL K-12, Kibbutzim College of Education, Tel Aviv, Israel
Ilana Nowatzky-Bendet
Hebrew Heritage
B.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
M.A. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Ph.D. Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Mike Noll
Science
B.S. Rutgers University
M.S. Ed. College of Saint Elizabeth
Administrative Staff
Tamar Shohat MacKay
Associate Director of Community Engagement
M.A. The City College of New York
B.A. Ithaca College
Carley Balazs
Communications Manager
B.A. Bard College
Daphne Valerio
Nurse
Denisa Tomlinson
Development and Business Associate
B.B.A. George Washington University
Iliana Marti
Executive Assistant
Stephanie Valerio
Administrative Associate
Jorge Martinez
Fitness and Maintenance Technician
Pedro Martinez
Custodian
Angel Polanco
Custodian