About Us
Who We Are

Faculty & Staff

List of 78 items.

  • Maddie Adler

    General Studies,
    1st Grade
    Maddie Adler is a General Studies teacher for 1st Grade. Maddie grew up in the Bay Area, moved to Massachusetts to attend college at Tufts University, and spent the next five years teaching 1st and 2nd grade at The Healey School in Somerville, MA. Maddie started working at Brandeis in 2019 after moving back to the West Coast with her husband. In her free time she enjoys baking all kinds of desserts and experimenting in the kitchen (her sourdough starter is named Stavros). 
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  • Alvin Animo

    Lunch, Recess, AfterCare Supervisor

  • Debby Arzt-Mor

    Director of Jewish Learning
    Debby Arzt-Mor is the Director of Jewish Learning at Brandeis, responsible for guiding Jewish and Hebrew language programming and curriculum throughout the school. Debby is a graduate of the Day School Leadership Training Institute at the Jewish Theological Seminary and the Melton Senior Educators program at The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. She holds a B.A. in Psychology and Jewish Philosophy from the University of Haifa and an M.A. in Nonprofit Administration from the University of San Francisco. Debby was raised in Jerusalem but is a longtime resident of San Francisco, and her two adult children are proud Brandeis alumni. Debby loves to spend time with friends and family, study Arabic, hike, and ride horses.
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  • Keren Asayag

    Hebrew Teacher,
    1st & 2nd Grade
    Keren Asayag is the Hebrew teacher for 1st and 2nd Grade. She joined the Brandeis community in 2019 after teaching at Tehiyah Day School, where she taught Hebrew and Judaic studies from Kindergarten through Middle School for six years. Keren holds a B.A. from Bar Ilan University and an M.A in teaching Hebrew as a second language from Middlebury College. Keren is a lifelong learner who loves to bring new ideas and programs to her students. In her spare time, Keren loves to read, travel, cook Shabbat and holiday meals, meet friends, and spend time with family
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  • Divya Bambawale

    3rd Grade Teacher
    Divya Bambawale is a General Studies teacher for 3rd Grade. Divya has been teaching elementary school since 2016 in India and in the United States, and recently completed an MEd degree program at Vanderbilt University. She holds a BA in English and World Literature and French from Pitzer College.
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  • Jennifer Baumer

    Judaic Studies,
    6th & 8th Grade
    Jennifer Baumer teaches Judaic Studies in our middle school and has been at Brandeis for over 20 years.  She holds a BA in History from UC Davis, and an MA in Humanities from San Francisco State University. In 2018, she completed the Day School Teacher Training program at the Pardes Institute in Jerusalem, and is currently working her way through the Talmud using the seven and a half year Daf Yomi cycle.
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  • Bel Beeson

    Librarian &
    Media Resource Specialist
    Bel Beeson is our Librarian and Media Resource Specialist. She graduated from UC Santa Barbara with a BA in Comparative Literature and a minor in Black Studies. After that, she taught creative writing at 826 Valencia for years, then worked at 826 Seattle while attending the University of Washington to earn her Master of Library Science and Information degree. Before coming to Brandeis in 2015, Bel spent a year working in New York, slinging coffee on the Lower East Side while working as a librarian at Columbia University.
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  • Sandee Bisson

    Maker Educator &
    Lower School STEAM Curriculum Designer
    Sandee Bisson is our Maker Educator and Lower School STEAM Curriculum Designer at Brandeis. 2023 marks her twenty-sixth  year in the classroom and thirteenth at Brandeis. Sandee has a B.A. in English Education from Plymouth State University, a National Board Certification in Early Adolescent Language Arts, and an M.Ed in STEAM Integration from the University of San Diego. When not tinkering in her classroom, she is most often found tinkering in her kitchen or exploring SF on foot with her husband, Casey. After exploring, they return home to the judgmental stare of their beloved feline, Buckminster.
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  • Dr. Jody Bloom

    Judaic Studies,
    5th & 7th Grade
    Dr. Jody Bloom teaches 5th and 7th grade Judaic Studies, advises 7th grade students, and manages our nationally recognized Tzedek (Social Justice) Program. Jody has over two decades of teaching experience and has been at Brandeis since 2009. Jody earned her B.A. from Brandeis University in Near Eastern Judaic Studies, her M.Ed. in Private School Leadership from Teachers College at Columbia University, and her Ed.D from Drexel University in Educational Leadership and Management. In 2016, Jody was awarded a 2016 Diller Educator Award for Excellence in Jewish Day School Education. 
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  • Serena Bourque

    Science Teacher, Middle School
    Serena Bourque is a middle school science teacher and holds a BA in Environmental Studies from Wellesley College and an MA in Education from Lesley University. She has been working in education since 2016, including a year as an Americorps volunteer with SFUSD.
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  • Crystal Brown

    1st Grade Teacher
    Crystal Brown is a General Studies teacher for 1st Grade, and is also responsible for the recent launch of Camp Brandeis, our on-campus summer day camp! Crystal holds a BA in Music from Trinity University and an MA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Drama in London, England. She is an experienced teacher, drama coach, and performer. 
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  • Cassandra Burger

    Science, Middle School
    Cassandra Burger joined the middle school science team after two years in the lower school as an aide and resident teacher. Cassie holds a BS in biology with an emphasis in physiology and a minor in chemistry from San Francisco State University, and earned a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential through the DeLeT program at Hebrew Union College. 


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  • Carly Cheng

    Resident Teacher,
    1st Grade
    Carly Cheng is a General Studies teacher for 1st Grade. Carly has been teaching preschool and elementary grades since 2015 and holds a BA in Liberal Studies from California State University at Monterey Bay. In spring 2024 she will complete an MA in Teaching and receive a California Multi-Subject Teaching Credential through the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute at the University of the Pacific’s School of Education.
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  • Nicholas Cole-Farrell

    Director of Technology & Making
    Nicholas Cole-Farrell is Director of Technology and Making and has worked in K-12 education for seventeen years, including eight at International Baccalaureate schools in Berlin and Brandenburg, Germany. He earned his B.A. in anthropology and history and his M.A. in history at the University of Vermont, and studied European civilization and culture at the Sorbonne in Paris. Nicholas also holds a post-baccalaureate certificate from Drexel University in K12 Education. A native of New England, Nicholas is fluent in French and German, and has Spanish and Hebrew in his sights. When he is not running the technology and Maker Education programs at Brandeis, Nicholas and his wife Amy spend their time renovating their 1950s Pacifica ranch house into a modern suburban farmhouse for their two children - Brandeis students Lennon (Class of 2026) and Violet (Class of 2027), as well as their beloved Cairn terrier and three  Orpington hens. 
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  • Margot Cooke

    4th Grade, Lead Teacher
    Margot Cooke is a General Studies teacher for 4th Grade. Before coming to Brandeis she was at Rooftop Elementary, where she was a teacher for over two decades and served on the Anti-Racism Committee, the Art Committee, and the Instructional Leadership Team. She holds an undergraduate degree from UMass Amherst, and her MS in Elementary Education and Teaching from the Bank Street College of Education in New York. 
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  • Angela Dalfen

    Director of Admissions
    Angela Dalfen is the Director of Admissions. A former attorney and longtime school administrator, she joined the Brandeis leadership team in June 2020.  Angela was born and raised in Montreal, Canada, and is fluent in French and semi-fluent in Hebrew. A graduate of the Wexner Heritage Program, she has been active in numerous Jewish, legal, and LGBT organizations in San Francisco since moving to the Bay Area in 2003.  

     
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  • Irit Daly

    Hebrew Teacher, 3rd & 4th Grade
    Irit Daly is the Hebrew teacher for 3rd and 4th Grade and has been at Brandeis since 2007. Irit holds a B.A. in Social Work from Haifa University and a California Multiple Subject Credential and M.A. in Elementary Education from San Francisco State University, and she recently earned a Certificate of Excellence in Teaching Hebrew from Hebrew Union College. She was born and raised on Kibbutz Beit Alfa, Israel.
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  • Malika Densby

    Director of Finance and Operations
    Malika Densby, SPHR oversees our school's finances, operations, human resources, and the Tuition Assistance program. Malika has been at Brandeis since 2014, and has over 20 years of experience in HR, including stints at Connectix (creators of the Logitech quickcam) and TeraRecon (medical imaging software developer). 
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  • Whitney Dorman

    Music Teacher
    Whitney Dorman is our Music Teacher, and prior to coming to Brandeis she taught PreK-8th grade music in public, charter and independent schools in Maine, New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, and Singapore. Whitney earned a B.Mus. degree from Ithaca College and an M.Mus. from The Hartt School. When not teaching, Whitney enjoys reading, playing the oboe with the Sunnyside Woodwind Quintet, and volunteering at Garden for the Environment.
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  • Jonathan Ferris

    Judaic Studies & Hebrew Teacher, Kindergarten
    Jonathan Ferris is the Judaic Studies & Hebrew teacher for Kindergarten and will begin his 25th year of teaching at Brandeis in 2023. Jonathan also serves as the Tefillah Coordinator for all grades. A past recipient of the Diller Award for Excellence in Jewish Day School Teaching, Jonathan earned a Certificate in Day School Teaching from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles as part of the DeLeT Program. He holds a multiple subject credential and a single subject teaching credential in music, and has been involved musically with both Congregation Emanu-El and Camp Tawonga since the early 1990s. Jonathan has two children, Lilah and Reuben, who are Brandeis alumni. In his spare time, Jonathan loves to create music with others, spend time with his family (including two crazy dogs) and backpack in the Sierras.
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  • Arie Finkelstein

    Resident Teacher, 4th Grade
    Arie Finkelstein is a resident teacher in fourth grade. A graduate of the DeLet program at  Hebrew Union College, he previously worked at Brandeis Marin where he was a resident teacher and taught in the after-school program. A former song leader and counselor at Camp Newman, he also holds a BA in music from the California State University at Chico, and a California Multi-Subject Teaching Credential. 
     
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  • Dr. Ali Frank

    Math Teacher, 7th & 8th Grade;
    High School Placement Counselor
    Dr. Ali Frank is a Math teacher for 7th and 8th Grade, an 8th grade advisor, and a high school placement counselor. Ali has been teaching at Brandeis since 2007 and holds a B.A. from Indiana University, an M.A. from the University of South Florida, and an Ed.D from Florida State University. Before coming to Brandeis, Ali worked as a teacher and circus performer. Originally from Sarasota, FL, she speaks French, and enjoys snuggling with her puppy, reading, spending time with family and friends, and engaging in social activism.
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  • Inbal Frankenstein

    Resident Teacher
    Inbal Frankenstein is a resident teacher in Kindergarten. Inbal holds a BA in Humanities from the Open University in Israel and is a graduate of the DeLeT Lehora’at Ivrit Program (teacher certification) at Hebrew Union College.
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  • Dr. Dan Glass

    Head of School
    Dr. Dan Glass, our Head of School, previously held leadership roles at Wildwood School in Los Angeles and The Girls' Middle School in Palo Alto. He has written extensively on progressive education, Jewish spirituality and ethics, and contemporary poetry. A Bay Area native, Dan holds a Ph.D. in English from UC Davis, and a B.A. in English from UC Berkeley. He has published four collections of poetry, and has taught children and adults of all ages in subjects ranging from Ethics and Design to Poetics and Rap Music. Dan and his wife Kate have three daughters, two of whom are current Brandeis students.
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  • Kate Glustein

    Spanish, Middle School
    Kate Glustein is the Middle School Spanish teacher and a 7th grade advisor. She earned her bachelor's degree from Instituto Superior Daguerre in her hometown of Buenos Aires, Argentina, and has been teaching Spanish and English as a Second Language for over a decade. Before moving to the Bay Area, Kate worked for a non-profit literacy program in Dallas, Texas, as well as at a Jewish community school in Buenos Aires. 
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  • Sara Goldrath

    General Studies, 2nd Grade
    Sara Goldrath is a 2nd Grade teacher and has been at Brandeis since 2013. She received her B.A. in Theater and Communications from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, and her teaching credential from the DeLet Program at Hebrew Union College. She is currently reconnecting with the DeLet program and will complete a Master in the Art of Teaching degree in May 2022. Outside of the classroom, Sara can be found at the beach or hiking in the woods, and loves to attend theater or concert performances. 
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  • Rebekah Goldstein

    Art Teacher
    Rebekah Goldstein has been taught fine art at Brandeis for more than 15 years. Rebekah earned her MFA at California College of the Arts and a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College. Rebekah is also a working artist who has exhibited her work throughout the Bay Area and internationally. Originally from San Jose, she lives in San Francisco with her husband and two children. She enjoys painting in her studio, cooking, and hiking.
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  • Joanne Green

    Theater Arts Teacher
    Joanne Green is the drama teacher at Brandeis. Prior to coming to Brandeis, Joanne taught drama at The Laurel School and before that for ten years at Drew School. A graduate of Middlebury College, Joanne’s passion for theater began while growing up in Newton, Massachusetts. As an actor, she has performed on and off Broadway and has studied with some of the most renowned teachers in the country, including William Esper in NYC and Shirley Knight in Los Angeles. In addition, she has been a member of the Groundlings Improvisation Troupe in Los Angeles, and her one person show “Loudmouth Chowder” received a nomination for “Best Solo Show” from the LA Weekly.
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  • Linda Greiff

    AfterCare Supervisor

  • Ali Gunsberg

    Counselor, Middle School
    Ali Gunsberg, LCSW is the Middle School Counselor. A Michigan native and certified PADI scuba diver, she holds a bachelor’s degree from Eastern Michigan University and received her LCSW credential at Loyola University Chicago. Ali specializes in helping children and adolescents cope with and overcome anxiety and depression, and works closely with students and faculty throughout the Middle School years.
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  • Shannon Gutierrez

    Assistant to the Head of School
    Shannon Gutierrez, Assistant to the Head of School, joined the Brandeis community in 2013 after years with an international judicial consulting firm. After graduating from the University of Oregon, she moved to Madrid, Spain, to teach English as a second language. Shannon is a San Francisco native who lives in the East Bay with her family. 
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  • Simi Hoze

    Hebrew Teacher, Middle School
    Simi Hoze is a Middle School Hebrew teacher and dance teacher. Part of the Brandeis community since 2004, Simi was previously a professional ballet dancer with the Bat-Dor Dance Company in Israel. She attended the Florence Melton Adult School for Educators in Chicago, and was the Spertus Museum Artist in Residence at the Jewish Community for Jewish Education. A native of Israel, Simi loves traveling home to see family and friends, and enjoys dancing and cooking in her spare time. 
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  • Aaron Jessup

    Middle School Humanities
    Aaron Jessup is a Middle School Humanities teacher, and came to Brandeis from Alta Loma Middle School in South San Francisco. He holds an MFA from UC Davis and a BS from California State University, Chico. Aaron is also an experienced dance instructor, having taught at the Berkeley Rep School of Theatre, ODC, and the Korea National University in Seoul. 
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  • Rachel Klein

    General Studies, 2nd Grade
    Rachel Klein is a 2nd Grade Teacher and Chair of the Resident Teacher Mentorship Program. 2023 marks the 28th year she has taught 2nd grade students at Brandeis! Rachel received her undergraduate degree in Speech and Communication Studies at San Francisco State University and her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Additionally, she completed a certificate program at Richmond College in England in Theatre Studies. Rachel previously participated in a teaching exchange program in Tokyo, Japan, and brings these experiences into her teaching at Brandeis. A native San Franciscan, Rachel now lives down the coast in Pacifica with her husband and daughter. On weekends, you can find her timing swimmers at her daughter's swim meets, drinking iced coffee, or walking on the beaches of Pacifica.
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  • Eitam Kohen

    STEM Teacher, 5th Grade
    Eitam Kohen is our 5th grade STEM teacher. Eitam earned his B.Sc. degree in Environmental Science from San Francisco State University, and is also an experienced Jewish educator and former DeLet Fellow. A native of Kibbutz Urim, Israel, he is fluent in Hebrew. In his free time, you can find Eitam practicing his frisbee, chess, and piano skills. 
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  • Mirza Kopelman

    Director of Auxiliary Programs and Community Partnerships
    Mirza brings over 20 years of experience in K-8 education to his role at Brandeis. He was previously the Afterschool and Summer Camp Director at Ecole Bilingue de Berkeley, a preschool - 8th grade independent school in the East Bay, where he was responsible for  developing vibrant, engaging, and child-centered programs throughout the school year and summer. He takes a holistic approach to working with students, recognizing the importance of social, emotional, and spiritual learning. An accomplished musician and avid record collector, Mirza is also a father of four and a longtime Bay Area resident.
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  • Liron Lahav

    Judaic Studies, 3rd & 4th Grade
    Liron Lahav is the 3rd and 4th grade Judaic Studies teacher at Brandeis. Liron has been with Brandeis since 2015 and holds a B.A. in Elementary Education from Oranim College, Israel. Before coming to Brandeis, Liron worked as a Hebrew teacher at Temple Emanu-el. He is originally from Kibbutz Shomrat, Israel. 
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  • Shruthy Lakshminarasimhan

    Science Teacher, Middle School
    Shruthy Lakshminarasimhan joined our middle school science team after teaching middle and high school STEM subjects in her native India. Shruthy earned her bachelor’s degree in engineering, specializing in computer science, at Anna University in Chennai, and also holds a bachelor’s degree in education from Tamil Nadu Teachers Education University.
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  • Genevieve Lawrence

    Learning Specialist, Middle School
    Genevieve Lawrence is our middle school learning specialist, and a a member of our high school counseling team. Genevieve previously taught humanities and served as the Head of Middle School at Stanbridge Academy in San Mateo. She is a Bay Area native, and holds a BA in Government from Colby College and an MA in English Literature from California State University, East Bay. 
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  • Marty Lipman

    Facilities Manager
    Marty Lipman is the Facilities and Security Manager. Raised in Petaluma and San Diego, he ran his own real estate and mortgage business for nearly 30 years before coming to Brandeis. Marty holds an undergraduate degree from   Sonoma State University and an MBA from Grand Canyon University. He and his wife, who he met on Ulpan in Israel, own a farm in Penngrove, CA. Marty is the proud father of Dr. Sivan Tarle, Middle School Director, and adoring grandfather of Rayla Tarle, Class of 2030. 
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  • Nikki Lo

    Administrative Support
    Nikki Lo is an Administrative Assistant at Brandeis. She holds a B.A. in Child and Adolescent Development (with an emphasis on School Age Children and Families) from San Francisco State University. Before coming to Brandeis in January of 2020, she was an Assistant Director at Bright Horizons and an Admissions Associate at Sterne School. Nikki has traveled all over the world, including to Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Indonesia. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, rollerblading, and outdoor running. 
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  • Denise Lujan

    Physical Education, Middle School
    Denise Lujan is our Middle School Physical Education teacher. Coach Denise has been at Brandeis since 2009 and holds a B.A. in Women’s Studies from San Francisco State University. Before coming to Brandeis, Denise worked as a PE Specialist at Sloat Elementary School. A San Francisco native, Denise enjoys attending Giants  games, playing volleyball, and taking long walks around the city. She has coached volleyball for over 20 years, and her favorite coaching memory is winning silver and bronze medals at the Maccabiah Games with her JCCSF teams.
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  • Madeleine Mackenzie

    Humanities, 5th Grade; 
    Advisory Coordinator
    Madeleine Mackenzie has been the 5th Grade Humanities teacher at Brandeis since 2019, and previously served as a resident teacher in 3rd Grade. A San Francisco native, she studied English Literature at the University of Edinburgh for four years before returning to the United States to pursue a teaching credential and M.Ed. from Mills College. Madeleine spends most of her time reading, but when she’s not, you can find her assigning silly voices to her cats, Millicent and Clyde.
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  • Amanda Malone

    4th Grade, Lead Teacher
    Amanda Malone is a General Studies teacher for 4th Grade. She has been teaching upper elementary grades since 2017, including a stint at Katherine Delmar Burke’s School as a long-term substitute in fourth grade. Amanda holds a BA in Justice, Community, and Leadership, and an M.Ed with a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, both from St. Mary’s College. Amanda also has several years of experience as a yoga instructor.
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  • Michelle McBeth

    Resident Teacher
    Michelle McBeth is a resident teacher in 2nd grade and previously served as a substitute teacher and a staff member in our PM program. Michelle holds a BA in Technocultural Studies from the University of California, Davis, and is also an experienced art teacher. 
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  • Aaron McCullough

    Events & Facilities Support
    Aaron McCullough is our Events and Facilities Coordinator. An SF native, Aaron is a talented musician and former screen printer. In his spare time he enjoys cooking, backpacking, and birding. 
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  • Maya Menachem '15

    Resident Teacher
    Maya Menachem ’15 is a resident teacher in Kindergarten. A Brandeis graduate and former substitute teacher, she has been active in Jewish education for many years. She holds a BA in Broadcasting and Electronic Communication Arts from San Francisco State University.
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  • Sandra Menachem

    Judaic Studies, 1st & 2nd Grade
    Sandra Menachem is the Judaic Studies teacher for 1st and 2nd Grade. She has worked in education for over 25 years, having earned her B.Ed. in Education and Administration from Ben-Gurion University, and a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Bank Street University. In addition to teaching at Brandeis, she dedicates her time to teaching American Jewish History and Holocaust Studies to Bay Area teens in partnership with Congregation Or Shalom, and also prepares students for their B’nai Mizvah. In her (very rare) downtime, she enjoys drinking espressos, taking long walks and spending time with her family.
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  • Joyce Mendoza

    Staff Accountant
    Joyce Mendoza is the Staff Accountant at Brandeis. Joyce started working at Brandeis in 2014, and has over thirty years of accounting experience in the private and public sector. Joyce has a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Journalism from Centro Escolar University in the Philippines, and loves to travel, sing, dance, spend time with family, and volunteer for causes that are near and dear to her heart.
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  • Ari Micich

    Band Teacher
    Ari Micich has been teaching band at Brandeis since 2015 and holds a master's degree from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. Many of Ari's former students continue to make music a part of their lives and perform with high school bands and youth orchestras throughout the Bay Area. In addition to teaching, Ari is a professional musician, having played trumpet with nearly every orchestra in the Bay Area, including the San Francisco Symphony and SF Ballet. He also performs with his brass quintet, Brass Over Bridges, a community-focused chamber ensemble that provides free clinics and master classes to school music programs where the arts are under-supported.
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  • Corrie Mizusawa

    Director of Athletics
    Corrie Mizusawa is the Director of Athletics at Brandeis. A former professional and collegiate basketball player, Coach Corrie joined Brandeis in 2011 after graduating from UC Berkeley with a M.S. in Education. She has many years of coaching experience  - basketball for seventeen years, volleyball for eight years, cross country for five years - along with six years of physical education teaching experience.  In her free time, she enjoys attending sports events and concerts, visiting Disneyland and spending lots of time with her dog, Cassie.  Her greatest Brandeis memories are winning back-to-back-to-back B.A.I.A.L. girls' basketball championships and traveling to Israel as a chaperone three times.
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  • Sharon Moore

    General Studies, 3rd Grade
    Sharon Moore teaches 3rd Grade General Studies. She came to Brandeis after fourteen years teaching in international schools, first in Singapore and then in Chicago. Sharon earned a B.A. in Political Science from Northwestern University and a master's degree in Teaching from Columbia College Chicago. Sharon spent her early adult life dancing with a concert jazz company, and incorporates her love of dance into all of her classrooms. Sharon likes to play tennis, read books, visit her daughter in Sacramento, and spend time with her dog.
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  • Jude Morris

    Humanities, Middle School
    Jude Morris teaches 7th grade Humanities and English at Brandeis and has over fifteen years of experience working as a classroom teacher in English and Latin at the middle school, high school, and college levels. He double-majored in Philosophy and Classics at San Francisco State University, and went on to earn his master’s degree in Classics at UC Boulder focusing on ancient literature and art history. Jude is a big fan of Star Wars, and enjoys cinema, museums, and concerts. He lives in San Francisco with his partner Lisa, with whom he can often be found visiting various parks with dogs Eva and Gracie.
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  • Liza Padua

    Accounting Manager
    Liza Padua has been the Accounting Manager since 2018. A CPA, Liza graduated from the Philippine School of Business Administration with a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. She was awarded the Elizabeth Stewart Scholarship Award in 1997 from the California Autism Foundation, where she worked for thirteen years. Prior to that, she worked for eight years at Lifehouse Inc., where she was awarded the Outstanding Staff Recognition Award. Liza was born in the Philippines and is fluent in English and Tagalog. She takes care of her 97-year-old mother and adores her 11 years old Maltese dog “Bubba”. Liza is a Golden State Warrior fanatic and loves watching Netflix movies.

     
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  • Mira Peretz

    Hebrew Teacher, Middle School
    Mira Peretz is a Middle School Hebrew teacher and has taught at Brandeis since 2013. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Technion - The Israel Institute of Technology and a teaching certification in secondary school education. Mira has over 20 years of experience teaching Hebrew at Jewish day schools in the Bay Area. A former biology teacher, Mira speaks Hebrew and some Arabic, and enjoys yoga, cooking, biking, reading, and singing. 
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  • Robert Perez

    Facilities Staff

  • Douglas Pierce

    General Studies, Kindergarten
    Doug Pierce is a lead general studies teacher in kindergarten, and previously served as an aide and a resident teacher in the lower school. In addition to holding an MDiv degree from Boston College and a MA in philosophy from Fordham University, Doug completed the DeLeT program at Hebrew Union College, where he earned a California Preliminary Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Certificate in Jewish Day School Teaching. 
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  • Sarah Rhee

    Learning Specialist
    Sarah (Song) Rhee is our Lower School Learning Specialist, and came to Brandeis after 15 years at Sacramento Country Day School and a year at Marin Montessori School. Sarah oversaw computer literacy for grades preK-8th, and was a kindergarten general studies teacher for seven years. She has an extensive background in Child Development and American Sign Language, and uses songs, games, movement, and hands-on activities to augment her students’ learning. Sarah earned her B.A. in Child Development and minored in American Sign Language at CSU Sacramento, and also holds a master's degree in Education from Mills College in Oakland. Sarah is a certified yoga instructor, former volleyball coach, and roller derby referee.
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  • Anna Richardson

    Kindergarten Teacher
    Anna Richardson is a General Studies teacher in Kindergarten. She comes to Brandeis from the Stratford School, and before that San Francisco Pacific Academy. She holds a BA in Business Management and Economics from UC Santa Cruz and an MA in Teaching (Elementary Education) from Northeastern University. Anna grew up in San Francisco, having moved here from the former Soviet Union as a child.
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  • Jenny Rinn

    Director of Lower School
    Jenny Rinn is the Director of Lower School and has been in education for over twenty years in both public and independent schools. She began her career at Riverdale Country School in New York City, later returned to her hometown of Austin, Texas, to teach in the Austin Independent School District, and finally settled down on the West Coast. She was a teacher and administrator at Keys School and Periwinkle School in Palo Alto and a 3rd grade teacher at The Nueva School in Hillsborough before coming to Brandeis in 2016. Jenny has a B.A. from the University of Texas, Austin, and a Master of Science in Education from Sarah Lawrence College. When she's not on campus, you might find her hiking long distances or traveling to film festivals.
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  • Samantha Ruiz

    Resident Teacher
    Samantha Ruiz is a resident teacher in 1st Grade. Samantha has experience working with preschool and elementary school students and holds two associate’s degrees in Early Child and Adolescent Development and Behavioral Science. She completed her BA with an emphasis in education at San Francisco State University.
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  • Avram Rosenzweig '15

    Aftercare Teacher

  • Polly Sapakie

    Assistant Director of Admissions
    Polly Sapakie serves as the Assistant Director of Admissions at Brandeis. A former longtime public school teacher with an M.A. in English from Northern Arizona University, Polly joined the Brandeis staff in November 2019, just a few months after her daughter started Kindergarten. She is a fifth-generation Arizonan who loves living in San Francisco after 40 years in the desert. Polly enjoys exploring Golden Gate Park with her daughters and husband, reading non-fiction, and watching British crime dramas. Polly has two children who attend Brandeis.
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  • Michael Scialo

    Language Arts, Middle School
    Michael Scialo is a Middle School Language Arts teacher, and came to Brandeis after 10 years at the Trinity School in Manhattan. He holds an MA in English Literature from Trinity College and a BS from SUNY College, New Paltz. While he was at Trinity he started a service-learning trip to a Native American reservation in South Dakota and launched the Middle School writing center.
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  • Damon Sperber '82

    Development Associate
    Damon Sperber ’82 works in the Development office and is a proud Brandeis alumnus and current parent. A graduate of UCLA in World Arts & Cultures and the prestigious American Conservatory Theater where he earned his MFA, Damon is a native San Franciscan who loves to create new and exciting ways to engage with the Brandeis alumni community through person-to-person interactions, original media, and humor. In his off-time, Damon continues to act professionally.
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  • Evan Spiler

    STEM Teacher, Middle School
    Evan Spiler has been a 6th and 8th grade math teacher at Brandeis since 2017 and holds a master’s degree in Education from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. He has many years of experience in visual arts, drama, and technology, and is a talented photographer and world traveler. Evan has also studied film at NYU and worked as a software engineer. In his off-time, Evan enjoys rock climbing, and going on hikes with his German shepherd.
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  • Zinzdi Sugerman

    Resident Teacher
    Zindzi Sugerman is a resident teacher in 3rd grade. Zindzi holds a BA in Psychology and Jewish Studies from University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. She has also completed a two-year program in somatic therapy, as well as professional development training through the Institute for Social Emotional Learning.
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  • Brittany Tackett

    Lower School PE Teacher
    Brittany Tackett is our Lower School PE teacher. She has been a program coordinator at LaGarza Sports, a high school and college-level basketball player and coach, and a 4th Grade teacher at St. Veronica’s School in South San Francisco. Brittany earned a BS in Kinesiology from Lewis-Clark State College, and holds an MEd in Teaching and Elementary Education with a teaching credential from the University of San Francisco.
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  • Christine Tamez

    Associate of Advancement Services
    Christine Tamez is our Associate of Advancement Services. She graduated from CSU Fullerton with a B.A. in Communications, and from San Francisco State University with an M.P.A. in Environmental Policy. She previously worked at independent schools in San Francisco and on the peninsula, planning fundraising campaigns and events, managing volunteers and marketing, and tracking data.
    You can find her volunteering at the California Academy of Sciences in the aquarium and is currently working with HeadCount.org overseeing their San Francisco area volunteer base while registering people to vote at concerts, festivals, and community events.
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  • Dr. Sivan Tarle

    Director of Middle School
    Dr. Sivan Tarle, Director of Middle School, has been at Brandeis since 2016. Dr. Tarle holds a B.Sc. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology from UC Santa Barbara, an M.A. in Teaching from American Jewish University in Los Angeles, and an Ed.D. from CSU Northridge. Before joining the Brandeis faculty, she was a biology teacher and administrator at de Toledo High School in Los Angeles. When she is not at school she can be found at one of any number of San Francisco playgrounds with her husband and two children.
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  • Lauren Trimble

    Learning Specialist - Interim

  • Anatoliy Tsibulskiy

    Security & Facilities Staff
    Anatoliy Tsibulskiy is our Security Officer, and has been at Brandeis for over twenty years. Anatoliy graduated from the Military Academy in the USSR with a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering and Artillery Science. When the USSR collapsed, Anatoliy joined the Ukrainian Army and completed two tours, including assignments at the Chernobyl Nuclear Station, before retiring with the rank of Major.  After moving to San Francisco, Anatoliy worked at the JCCSF and was awarded a lifetime membership to their gym. In 2000, Jewish Vocational Services recognized Anatoliy as “Best Employee.”
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  • Clare Wadbrook

    Social Studies & Language Arts, Middle School
    Clare Wadbrook is the 8th Grade Humanities and English teacher at Brandeis. Born and raised in England, she earned her B.A. with Honors in Humanities at Sussex University and her post-graduate degree in teaching from the University of Brighton. She worked in East London for several years as an English teacher, then switched to computer network design after completing a master’s degree in Information Systems. Along the way she qualified as a Cisco Engineer, obtained her CCIE from Cisco Systems, and travelled extensively teaching courses and writing books for the company. 
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  • Mairin Weiner

    Counselor, Lower School
    Mairin Weiner, LCSW is the Lower School Counselor. She graduated from Kenyon College with a dual degree in Psychology and Spanish before going on to earn a Master of Social Work with an emphasis on mental health and family therapy from the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis.
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  • Catherine Withrington

    Art Teacher
    Catherine Withrington is the Art Specialist at Brandeis. She grew up in Hong Kong and the United Kingdom but has been living in San Francisco for the last twenty years. She holds a B.A. (Honors) in Interior Architecture from the Edinburgh College of Art and a PGCE in Art and Design Education from the University of Reading. She began her career in Asia working in architecture, but switched paths to focus on a subject about which she is truly passionate! Before joining the Brandeis faculty, she taught art and design in public and private schools in the UK and around the Bay Area. In her spare time, she continues to study architecture, furniture and urban design. 
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  • Vivian Wong

    Learning Specialist
    Vivian Wong is the Learning Specialist and Differentiation Coordinator for 3rd-5th Grade and an advisor for 5th grade students at Brandeis. She has a B.A. in Communications from San Jose State University, an M.A. in Counseling Psychology (emphasis on School Counseling) from the University of San Francisco, and holds a Pupil Personnel Service Credential. 
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  • Stacy Youkilis

    Director of Development
    Stacy Youkilis is the Director of Development at Brandeis. A Texas native, Stacy completed a bachelor’s degree in Art History from UT Austin and a master’s degree in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University. Before coming to Brandeis, Stacy held management-level development positions at the San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco Symphony, Stanford Lively Arts, and United Way Bay Area. Stacy and her husband Scott have three Brandeis students in their family.
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  • Cameron Yuen-Shore

    Director of Special Projects
    Cameron Yuen-Shore, Director of Special Projects, has taught 2nd through 8th grade math, redesigned report cards and schedules, enhanced day-to-day logistics on campus, and been a Middle School advisor. Cam has a B.A. in Economics from Occidental College and a multiple subject teaching credential from the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute. A San Francisco native, Cam grew up in the fog that often covers Brandeis in the morning.
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