About Us
Who We Are

Faculty & Staff

List of 87 items.

  • Caitlin Ahrens

    Kindergarten Lead Teacher
    Caitlin Ahrens is a Kindergarten teacher and holds a BA in Biology from SUNY Albany. She has previously worked as a special education science teacher in Rhode Island, and a science curriculum consultant for SFUSD. 
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  • Ella Amzel

    Resident Teacher, 1st Grade
    Ella Amzel is a Resident Teacher in 1st Grade. She previously taught at The Village School in Eugene, Oregon, and at Temple Beth El Nursery in Berkeley. Ella earned her BA in Primary Education with a minor in Psychology from the University of Oregon.
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  • Alvin Animo

    Lunch, Recess, Aftercare Supervisor

  • Anthony Apelo

  • AJ Ashford

    Security Officer

  • Divya Bambawale

    3rd Grade Teacher, General Studies
    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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  • Tony Baxter

    7th and 8th Grade Social Studies
    7th Grade Advisor
    Tony Baxter is a 7th and 8th Grade Social Studies teacher. He holds a BA from Georgetown University, and spent several years working for Clorox before earning a master’s degree in Ancient History at King’s College, London.
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  • Khen Brezel

    Resident Teacher
    Khen Brezel is the Resident Teacher in 1st grade. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Technion Israel Institute of Technology. He has experience teaching art and architecture to students of all ages.
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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. 
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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, General Studies
    Crystal Brown is a lead teacher for 1st grade and has 18 years of  experience in education. She has taught at Brandeis for 11 years, including teaching middle school theater and serving as an advisor. In 2022, Crystal helped found our on-site summer day camp, Camp Brandeis. She holds a BA in Music and International Studies from Trinity University and an MA in Music Theatre from the Royal Central School of Drama in London, England.
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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

    1st Grade, General Studies
    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. She also completed an MA in Teaching and received 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 eighteen 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. 
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  • Margot Cooke

    4th Grade, General Studies
    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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  • Alana Cree

    Project Coordinator
    Alana Cree is the Project Coordinator at The Brandeis School of San Francisco, supporting both the Admissions and Development teams. She is excited to elevate the school’s social media presence and coordinate events that engage both current and prospective families. Alana earned her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Jewish Studies and Social Justice from the University of San Francisco. Originally from Sonoma County, she brings a deep appreciation for small, values-driven communities. This perspective drew her to Brandeis and continues to inspire her work.
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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, Middle School
    Irit Daly is the Hebrew teacher for middle school 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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  • Nicole Dickson

    4th Grade, General Studies
    Nicole Dickson is a General Studies teacher in 4th Grade. Nicole previously taught 3rd and 5th Grades in international schools in Kazakhstan and the Cayman Islands, and at Katherine Delmar Burke School in San Francisco. She holds a BA from San Francisco State University in Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Elementary Education, and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of San Diego. 
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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. She also plays oboe with the Sunnyside Woodwind Quintet and volunteers at Garden for the Environment.
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  • Mark Dylina

    Accounting Manager

  • Jonathan Ferris

    Judaic Studies & Hebrew Teacher, Kindergarten
    Jonathan Ferris is the Judaic Studies & Hebrew teacher for Kindergarten and will begin his 26th year of teaching at Brandeis in 2024. 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.
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  • Dr. Alison Frank

    Math Teacher, 7th & 8th Grade;
    High School Placement Counselor
    Dr. Alison 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 also speaks French.
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  • Inbal Frankenstein

    Hebrew Teacher, Lower School
    Inbal teaches 1st and 2nd grade Hebrew and is dedicated to building a strong foundation in both language and Jewish learning. Inbal has previously served as a resident and lead teacher in Kindergarten, a resident in 2nd grade, and has also supported the Hebrew language and Jewish Studies programs across the Lower School. She holds a B.A. in Humanities from The Open University of 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.
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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

    2nd Grade, General Studies
    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 a teaching credential and Master's degree from the DeLet Program at Hebrew Union College. 
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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. 
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  • Joanne Green

    Drama 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
    Linda Greiff is our Aftercare supervisor and has decades of experience as an art teacher in San Francisco. She has also worked as a Senior Textile Designer for Levi Strauss & Co., The Gap, and Pottery Barn Kids.
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  • Rabbi Genevieve Greinetz

    Director of Jewish Learning
    Rabbi Genevieve Greinetz is the Director of Jewish Learning. She completed her rabbinic ordination at Hebrew College and recently served as Assistant Rabbi and Director of Education at Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo. She has worked as a rabbinic intern at Mayyim Hayyim Community Mikvah and the Jewish Community Day School (both in Boston) and holds an MA in Jewish Studies from the Graduate Theological Union.
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  • Armen Grigoryants

    Security Officer

  • Andrea Guerra

    Afternoon Receptionist

  • 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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  • Kylie Hieter

    Judaic Studies & Humanities Teacher, 6th grade
    Kylie Hieter is teaching 6th grade Judaic Studies and Language Arts and serving as a 6th grade advisor. Kylie holds a BA in History and Jewish Studies from San Francisco State University and spent the last year as a resident teacher with the 3rd grade team. 
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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. 
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  • Rachel Klein

    2nd Grade, General Studies
    Rachel Klein has been a lead teacher in 2nd grade at Brandeis for 30 years, and serves as the Chair of our Resident Teacher program. A Diller Educator Award winner, Rachel has also been a mentor for teacher credentialing programs including BATTI, DeLeT, and the University of San Diego. She received her undergraduate degree in Speech and Communication Studies and a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at San Francisco State University. 
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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. 
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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. An accomplished musician and avid record collector, Mirza is also a father of four and a longtime Bay Area resident.
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  • Emma Kuykendall

    Emma Kuykendall is a Middle School Humanities teacher and began at Brandeis as a long term substitute in Middle School Spanish. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Linguistics and Cognitive Science from UC Berkeley where she also worked as a research assistant studying the phonology of South American languages. In addition to teaching Social Studies, Emma has taught English as a Second Language, Spanish, and art.
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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. 
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  • Yuval Liser

    Israeli Shishinit
    Yuval Liser is our Israeli Shinshinit. She will spend the school year at Brandeis living with different families, working in and outside the classrooms, and creating rich programming related to Jewish life and Israel.
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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. 
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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. She has coached volleyball for over 20 years. 
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  • Grady Love

    Facilities Staff

  • 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. 
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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 Mitzvot. 
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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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  • Emily Milton

    Resident Teacher, 3rd grade
    Emily Milton is a resident teacher in 3rd grade. She holds a BA in Psychology from UC Santa Barbara and has been working with preschool and elementary school students in the Bay Area for the past 10 years.
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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.  
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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. 
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  • Jonnay Neal

    Aftercare Staff

  • Lee Nissman

    Judaic Studies Teacher, 3rd & 4th Grade
    Lee Nissman is the 3rd and 4th grade Judaic Studies teacher. She has experience teaching in Israel and at the Palo Alto JCC, focusing on curriculum development, Hebrew and Jewish History, and working with Russian-speaking students. Lee holds a BA and MA in General and Comparative Literature from Hebrew University, and a teaching certificate from the Kerem Institute for Humanistic Jewish Education.
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  • Natalie Ohanessian

    Learning Specialist, 6th to 8th Grade
    Natalie Ohanessian is the 6th to 8th grade Learning Specialist. She previously worked at Convent and Stuart Hall, and has over fifteen years of experience as a teacher and Learning Specialist. Natalie holds a BA in Liberal Studies, an MA in Language and Literacy, and a multi subject teaching credential, all from San Francisco State University.
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  • Giovanna Palma

    Aftercare Staff

  • Mira Peretz

    Hebrew Teacher, 3rd & 4th Grade
    Mira has been at Brandeis since 2013, teaching Hebrew in our Middle School. She was previously a 4th grade Hebrew teacher at Tehiyah Day School in El Cerrito, and has taught biology as well. Mira earned her Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, from Technion - The Israel Institute of Technology, and holds a teaching certification in secondary education. Mira has over 25 years of teaching experience, is fluent in Hebrew with some knowledge of Arabic, and is a yoga instructor.
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  • 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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  • Ella Pinco

    3rd - 5th Grade Learning Specialist
    Ella Pinco is the 3rd - 5th Grade Learning Specialist and has over a decade of experience in similar roles at Tessellations School, Axiom Learning, and the Learning Disability Society in Vancouver, BC. Ella graduated from the University of British Columbia with a BA in Psychology. 


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  • Arielle Rauch '14

    Campaign & Development Coordinator
    Arielle Rauch ’14 is the Campaign & Development Coordinator in the Development office. She is a Brandeis graduate and has been active in the Jewish community in both San Francisco and Arizona. Arielle graduated Summa Cum Laude from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Justice Studies and a minor in Criminology & Criminal Justice.
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  • Sarah Rhee

    Learning Specialist
    Sarah Rhee is our Lower School Learning Specialist. She has worked with PreK-12th grade students for over 20 years, previously at Sacramento Country Day School and Marin Montessori School before coming to Brandeis in 2020. Sarah earned her BA in Child Development and minored in American Sign Language at CSU Sacramento, attended Mills College for her MA in Education, and received an MS in Organizational Leadership from Northeastern University. Sarah is also a certified yoga instructor and volleyball coach.
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  • Anna Richardson

    Math Teacher, 6th & 7th grade
    Anna Richardson is a 6th and 7th grade math teacher and a 7th grade advisor. She has been a lead lower school teacher at Brandeis for the past two years, and has previously taught at Stratford School and San Francisco Pacific Academy. She holds a BA in Business Management and Economics from UC Santa Cruz and an MA in Teaching from Northeastern University.
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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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  • Ariel Rodriguez

    4th Grade Resident Teacher
    Ariel Rodriguez is a resident teacher in 4th grade. She holds a BA in Sociology and a BA in Spanish Language and Literature from UC Berkeley. Over the last 10 years, Ariel has worked with students in elementary school, middle school and high school across a multitude of academic subjects, test preparation, and both high school and college counseling.
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  • Avram Rosenzweig '15

    Aftercare Staff

  • 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. She is a fifth-generation Arizonan who loves living in San Francisco after 40 years in the desert.  
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  • Lawrence Schaedler-Bahrs

    Resident Teacher, 1st Grade
    Lawrence is the Resident Teacher for 1st grade, and has previously worked with school-aged children at Tree Frog Treks and as a teaching assistant at Charles Armstrong School.
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  • Michael Scialo

    Language Arts, 6th & 8th grade and High School Placement Counselor
    Michael Scialo is a 6th and 8th grade Language Arts teacher,  an 8th grade advisor, and a high school placement counselor. Michael 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 New Paltz. 
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  • Nate Smith

    Aftercare Staff

  • Damon Sperber '82

    Assistant Director of Development 
    & Community Engagement
    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.
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  • Zindzi Sugerman

    Resident Teacher
    Zindzi Sugerman is a resident teacher in Kindergarten after serving as our librarian during the 2024-25 school year while Ms. Bel was on maternity leave. 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, and additional 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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  • 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.
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  • Kelly Tom

    Front Desk Coordinator
     
    Kelly is the Front Desk Coordinator at Brandeis. A Bay Area native, she graduated from UC Davis with a BA in Psychology.
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  • 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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  • Janelle Valladolid

    Events and Facilities Specialist

  • 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.
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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.
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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 naive, he currently serves on the board at Lick-Wilmerding High School.
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