Board

Judaica, Gimel/Dalet
Hebrew, Vav-Chet

Hana Cidon

Hana has been teaching at Yavneh since 1998. She brings over 30 years of experience with teaching kindergarten with her. Before coming to Yavneh, Hana taught kindergarten for fifteen years at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Raritan Valley, New Jersey. Her love of teaching is evident in the classroom, and she readily admits, “I am devoted to working with kindergarten children.” Hana's teaching credentials come from Israel, where she taught kindergarten for fifteen years. She also loves to garden and visit her grandchildren.

(top)

Stephanie Factor

A veteran of six years of teaching, Stephanie Factor earned her Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood from Northeastern State University, and has done graduate work focused on teaching English Language Learners. She joined the Yavneh faculty in 2007. "I became a teacher," she says, "because I love the challenges and watching children grow into students who love learning." She chose Yavneh because of its "warm, supportive environment, where all people are valued and allowed to grow." She, her husband, son and two step-daughters share their home with two cats. In her free time, she helps out with her son's football team, and also enjoys cooking, gardening, and just being with her family.

(top)

Sharon Spivack

Sharon Spivack has been a member of the Yavneh faculty since 2004. She has held the positions of curriculum coordinator, middle school humanities and math teacher, learning specialist, and currently, second grade general studies teacher. Sharon is an credentialed education specialist who holds a master's degree in special education, with an emphasis on curriculum design and instruction of gifted and twice-exceptional students. She strives to identify each student's strengths and challenges and then to provide individualized and group learning opportunities that help all her students to learn and grow. Sharon has a strong commitment to Yavneh and its mission.

(top)

Elana Joffe

A native of Ontario, Canada and a veteran of six years of teaching, Elana Joffe will be teaching Kitah Gimel general studies. She graduated with honors from York University with a major in history and Jewish Studies, and received a second bachelor's degree as well as a master's degree in special education from McGill University and the University of Toronto. She chose to become a teacher because "It is an exciting career to work with children who are inquisitive and always have a fresh perspective." She is pleased to be at Yavneh because "I wanted to be part of a Jewish community. I value the ethics and the academic standards of the school." She is happy to be "working with excellent faculty, and connecting with families who have like-minded goals for their children." Her daughter Gabi is in Kitah Alef and her son Oren is attending the JCC Pre-School.

(top)

Renee Fine

Renee has been teaching at Yavneh since 1999, but is very familiar with the school. All five of her children have attended or currently attend Yavneh. She graduated from San Diego State with majors in Spanish and Social Work. She was a counselor for at-risk teens through Job Corp, an advocate for victims of violent crimes, and spent six years as a teacher and Judaica Coordinator at the JCC preschool. Renee was recently the recipient of the Grinspoon-Steinhardt award for Excellence in Jewish Education. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, traveling, living a Jewish life, and spending time with her family.

(top)

Shirleen Pensler

Mrs. Shirleen Pensler joined Yavneh in 2004. Mrs. Pensler has many years of experience in education. Prior to Yavneh, she taught in Michigan at Akiva Hebrew Day School in Southfield (fifth and sixth grade), the Berkley School District (fifth grade)), and Oakland Community College (at-risk students). In addition to being a classroom teacher, Mrs. Pensler has served as an academic therapist and learning specialist. She taught in a program for academically talented youngsters, and worked with remedial students. In 2002, Mrs. Pensler was nominated for the Disney American Teacher Award and had previously received the “Best Teacher” Award by the Detroit News for her work at Hamilton School in Berkley, Michigan. Mrs. Pensler relocated to California to be closer to her children and especially her grandchildren. Her favorite pastimes are traveling, reading, dancing, and going to the movies.

(top)

Rashna Wadia

Rashna has been teaching at Yavneh since August of 2005 and has over 10 years of experience. She received her B.A. from McMaster University and her B.E.D. from the University of Toronto. Her love of teaching stems from her interest in students of all ages and her ability to teach to the whole student, stating, “I enjoy connecting with children and helping them discover their talents and passions in life.” When Rashna isn’t teaching, she enjoys hiking, writing, and playing the piano.

(top)

Cady Burstein

Born in New York and educated at Wellesley College in Massachusetts (where she majored in economics) and at San Jose State University, Cady Burstein teaches social studies in Kitah Vav and Kitah Zayin. "I love working with middle school kids and sharing my love of history," she says. With nearly six years of experience teaching at local public middle schools, she came to Yavneh "looking for a change from my public school career and Yavneh seemed like a good fit." She also likes the fact that her daughter is attending the JCC Pre-School, "so I get to be close to her." She loves the "family feeling" at Yavneh. In addition to their daughter, Cady and her husband also have two cats. In her spare time, she loves to sing and play with her daughter.

(top)

Margaret Hulgrave

Margaret Hulgrave joins Yavneh as a 7th and 8th grade math teacher after spending several years as a full-time mom to sons Jack and Nick. A University of California, Berkeley, graduate, she taught in Palo Alto Unified for six years before having children. In her free time ("if I have any"), she enjoys walking and yoga.

(top)

Judy Morgan

Judy Morgan has been teaching at Yavneh since 2001. Prior to joining the Yavneh faculty, Ms. Morgan taught English to adults and children for seven years in Mexico City, tutoring children in English and Hebrew. She received her B.A. in Translation in Mexico City. She also studied in Israel for two years at the University of Bar-Ilan. When ask what she loves about Yavneh, Judy said, “Yavneh is my extended family!” In her free time Ms. Morgan enjoys reading, doing crafts, and beading, and mostly, she loves spending time with her family.

(top)

Judy Schultz

Our new Gan co-teacher majored in business and science at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. Prior to Yavneh, she was an assistant teacher for three years at a local private school where she also the before- and after-care program. Judy became a teacher because "I love teaching children, working with different personalities and different abilities and helping them learn." She chose Yavneh because "I wanted more Judaism, and I like the method of teaching and [the fact that] the school is more of a family." She and her husband have a son, 5, and a daughter, 7. In her spare time, she likes to spend time with family and friends, cook, ski, kickbox, and relax, as well as do Yoga, crafts, and photography.

(top)

Ilana Friedlander

Ilana is beginning her twelfth year at Yavneh teaching Judaic and Hebrew Studies for Kitah Alef and Kitah Bet. She loves teaching young children. A graduate of the Teacher Institute in Israel, Mrs. Friedlander has her Hebrew teacher’s certification through Jewish Education Services of North America. Mrs. Friedlander is especially talented in art and enjoys activating students’ interest through art projects. Ilana was trained this summer in the internationally-renowned Hebrew language program, Tal Am.

(top)

Shirley Goldstein

Shirley has been with Yavneh since 2000 and teaches Hebrew/Judaic Studies in Kitah Gimel and Kitah Dalet. Shirley was Head of Hebrew and Judaica at an elementary school in Durban, South Africa for 17 years. She obtained her international teachers' diploma from Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Before relocating to California to join their family, Shirley and her husband lived in Atlanta, Georgia, where she taught Hebrew and Judaica at The Epstein School, a Solomon Schechter school. Shirley's main joy is being here with her family, especially her grandchildren. She also plays bridge, enjoys handcrafts, music, sports, and theater, and loves to paint ceramics specializing in Jewish themes.

(top)

Rachel Regev

A native of Israel, Rachel is teaching Hebrew to Yavneh’s third- and fourth-graders. A graduate of Tel Aviv University, she holds a B.A. in Educational Consulting and Hebrew Literature and has been a teacher for nine years. She chose to teach at Yavneh because it is "a place with good energy, positive atmosphere and great people," and say she already feels “comfortable and welcomed." She and her husband have three children, with whom she likes to spend her spare time. She also likes to write, paint, draw, cook, and participate in sports.

(top)

Meira Gotesdyner

Meira joined the Yavneh staff in 2005 and teaches Middle School Hebrew and Judaic Studies. She received her B.A. and teaching credentials from Bar Ilan University.  She has over ten years of teaching experience and greatly enjoys her work. Why Yavneh? “I love the atmosphere,” she says, “and the way the school operates as an excellent academic institution and an excellent warm environment.” Not only is she committed as a teacher, but also as a parent; two of her three children attend Yavneh. In her free time Meira enjoys cooking and outdoors actitivities.

(top)

Hava Sasson

Hava, who joined Yavneh in 2005, is a math specialist who teaches in the middle school. She is a graduate from the Technion Institute of Technology in Israel with a B.S. in education. She has over 13 years of teaching experience in both math and computer science, and has taught at the high school and college level. Hava brings her own love of learning to work in the classroom: “I like to witness the learning process among my students. I like to see the looks on their faces when they solve math problems. I like to see them grow..” She finds that the most rewarding aspect of Yavneh is the community support. Hava enjoys being with her family (her two daughters attend Yavneh), traveling, listening to music and doing puzzles and brain teasers. She came from Israel in 2003 with her husband and daughters.

(top)

Ben Miller

Born in Seattle, WA, Ben Miller earned a degree in Recreation Administration at California State University (Chico), with a secondary PE credential from the University of Phoenix. He chose to become a teacher in order to "be able to give back and help students grow to be healthy, responsible adults. At Yavneh, he appreciates most its "feeling of community." His parents reside in Hawaii and his brother lives in Redwood City. Ben is a math and PE teacher at Yavneh, and served as a co-teacher in 2006.

(top)

Barbara Crowder

Barbara Crowder joined the Yavneh staff as our Phys. Ed. Instructor in 1999. She is a transplant from Utica, New York. Barbara received her B.A. in Physical Education from the University of North Carolina, and her Masters of Science from the University of Rhode Island. She loves working with children and she has over 25 years of teaching experience. Barbara values the importance of fitness and a healthy lifestyle. She enjoys swimming, traveling, and scrap booking.

(top)

Karen Ford

Karen served as the art teacher for the JCC Summer Camp before coming to Yavneh in 2006. She is an artist and printmaker and has worked since 2001 through local non-profits as an arts enrichment teacher with at-risk students in the San Jose schools. Ms. Ford graduated Phi Beta Kappa from U.C. Berkeley with a degree in psychology and has taken many fine arts courses at local colleges. Karen believes in the innate creative potential of all children and supports and celebrates the “artist within” each of us! The gift of self-expression which comes naturally to every young child can be best nurtured and developed in the structured yet non-judgmental atmosphere which Karen strives to provide. Her hobbies include gardening, beachcombing, and discovering interesting art resources. Not surprisingly, her two cats are named Miro and Matisse.

(top)

Julia Goldstein

Julia joined the Yavneh faculty in 2006, teaching music to students in grades 1 through 5. She majored in engineering with a minor in music at Harvey Mudd College, and has done graduate work at Stanford and the University of California (Berkeley). "I'm a lifelong musician and it is wonderful to be able to share my love of music with children," she says. Julia enjoys teaching at Yavneh because "it was a chance not only to move to the next level in my teaching, but also to establish another connection with the Jewish community." She enjoys the creativity and enthusiasm of Yavneh students, and finds it "rewarding to feel that I'm making a difference in their lives." When not at Yavneh, she plays flute and piccolo with the Nova Vista Symphony, of which she is president of the Board. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing.

(top)

Steven R. Bogad, M.A.
Head of School
steve@yavnehdayschool.org

Mr. Bogad brings to Yavneh Day School a depth of experience in public and private education and an exciting vision for Jewish day school living and learning. In his early years, Steve was a teacher and then principal in the Goleta Union School District and the Education Director at Congregation B’nai B’rith in Santa Barbara. In the private sector, Steve served as the long-term Head of School at Valley Beth Shalom Day School in Encino, CA and was the Founding Head for the Columbus Jewish Day School in Columbus, OH. Steve also brought his vision for Jewish education during his tenure as Head of School at the B’nai Shalom Day School in Greensboro, NC and as the High School Principal at the Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, FL. He was on the Board of Directors for the California Association of Independent Schools and for the Jewish Community Day School Network (RAVSAK).

Steve received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology with a minor in Religious Studies from the University of California (Santa Barbara). He continued his studies at UCSB, earning an M.A. in Educational Administration and Curriculum. Steve did further graduate work in the area of Educational Technology. Concurrently he earned California credentials in Teaching, Pupil Personnel Services and Administrative Services. Recently, he has pursued studies at the Hartman Institute in Jerusalem and at the Harvard Principals’ Center.

Joni Quintal, M.A.
Principal
joni@yavnehdayschool.org

Joni Quintal, General Studies Principal for Yavneh, has always infused her work with a strong commitment to positive communication, leadership development, and social justice. Joni attended the University of California (Berkeley), earned a degree in elementary and special education from the University of Nevada (Reno), followed by a master's degree in Educational Leadeership. She holds an Administrative Credential from the State of California. Over the years, Joni has taught second grade, fourth grade, fifth grade, and special education for grades K-6. She also taught PE and art to first through fifth graders and ran a summer camp for kids and their families living with HIV/AIDS for seven years here in the Bay Area. Prior to Yavneh, Joni served a large public high school in Sacramento as the Vice Principal of Student Services. She also worked with an organization that helps organizations -- from large corporations to small nonprofit groups -- learn to communicate in an environment that supports creative problem solving, strengthens teams, improves business and enhances customer service.

In the summer of 2007, Joni received a prestigious year-long fellowship from the Lookstein Center at Bar Ilan University in Israel and traveled to Israel for the first time. Throughout the year, she will be working on a project emphasizing "Integration through Collaboration," analyzing Yavneh's curriculum to enhance ways in which both its general and Judaica curriculum and better serve each other. In whatever she does, Joni says, "I am passionate about social justice and teaching our kids that privilege means responsibility to all the people on this planet."

Rabbi Laurie Hahn Tapper
Judaic Studies Coordinator, Rabbi-in-Residence
rabbi@yavnehdayschool.org

Rabbi Laurie Hahn Tapper's path to the rabbinate began when she was a teenager at Camp Swig, watching the sunrise with her bunkmates on top of a mountain.  After graduating from Stanford University (where she played on the Varsity Softball team), she lived in Israel studying Talmud and working  for Hillel at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. An alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship, she was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in May 2005 and received an MA in Education.

Prior to coming to Yavneh, Rabbi Hahn Tapper served as the Director of BCI and Adult Programs at the Brandeis-Bardin Institute, a trans-denominational Jewish experiential education retreat center.  She has served as the Director of Prayer and Spirituality (Rosh Tefilah) at Camp Ramah Darom, a chaplain at UCLA Medical Center, and has taught Hebrew Bible in various Jewish day schools in both the New York City and Los Angeles regions.  Rabbi Hahn Tapper is committed to engaging the Jewish community in creative forms of education and spirituality, particularly through the arts, the outdoors, and alternative tefillot.   She lives in Redwood City with her husband Aaron Hahn Tapper.

Melissa Fehl
Business Manager
melissa@yavnehdayschool.org

Dana Lowy
Director of Admissions
dana@yavnehdayschool.org

Arlene Mitchell
Operations Manager
arlene@yavnehdayschool.org

Barbara De Groot
Office Administrator
barbarad@yavnehdayschool.org

Joe Martin
Office Assistant
joe@yavnehdayschool.org