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The Schechter Team

The Schechter Team

Our dedicated leadership, faculty, and administrative professionals are driven by an unwavering passion for their work and a dedication to Schechter’s mission, vision, and values. They work hand-in-hand to ensure our commitment to academic excellence and are the foundation of our vibrant and thriving school community.

Dr. Lena Kushnir

Head of School

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Welcome to Schechter!

At Schechter, we pride ourselves on being a close-knit community where every member plays an integral role. Our dedicated faculty and staff, or “Tzevet,” are at the heart of everything we do. The term “Tzevet” is Hebrew for staff or team, and it beautifully reflects the collaborative spirit and shared commitment that define our approach.

Our Tzevet is passionate about nurturing a love of learning, instilling strong values, and supporting each child’s unique growth and development. Together, we create a warm, inclusive, and dynamic environment where every student can thrive.

Whether you are a current family, prospective parent, or alum, we invite you to explore our community and discover what makes Schechter a special place for all. Thank you for being a part of the Schechter family.

Rabbi Jonathan Bubis

Rav Beit HaSefer (School Rabbi)

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Zahava Berman

Director, Ginsburg Early Childhood Center

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Nanci Caplan

Associate Head of School

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Hillary Levitt Dunn

Director of Admissions & Enrollment

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Debbie Harris

Director of Educational Technology

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Samantha Kaplan Orlov

Director of Student Support Services

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Suzanne Mishkin

Sager School Principal

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Noa Padowitz

K-8th Grade Assistant Principal

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Scott Roseman

Director of Finance and Operations

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Tami Warshawsky

Director of Development

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Keren Acoca

1st-4th Grade Hebrew Aid

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Shiri Aharonovich

2nd Grade Hebrew and Judaic Studies Teacher; K-8th Hebrew Language Coordinator

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Avi Allali

5th-8th Grade Hebrew Teacher

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Carmen Anderson

Accounting Manager

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Talia Anisfeld

K-4th Grade School Psychologist

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Leonid Arlinsky

Director of Building & Grounds

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Anat Barlevy

8th Grade Language Arts Teacher

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Kim Bass

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher

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Faye Bearman

Judaic Studies Coordinator and Instructional Coach

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Andrea Berlow

5th & 6th Grade Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher

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Zahava Berman

Director, Ginsburg Early Childhood Center

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Elizabeth Botnick

Sager School and Ginsburg ECC Music Teacher

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Betsy Briskman

4th Grade General Studies Teacher

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Ilene Brot

General Studies Student Growth Coordinator/Instructional Coach

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Rabbi Jonathan Bubis

Rav Beit HaSefer (School Rabbi)

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Nanci Caplan

7th-8th Grade Sager School Principal

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Paul Chanan

Pre-K-8th Grade Physical Education Teacher

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Rick Cohen

5th & 6th Language Arts & Social Studies Teacher

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Jamie Cooper

2nd-8th Grade General Studies Special Education Teacher

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Elana Dermer

Alonim Bet Teacher, Ginsburg ECC

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Hillary Levitt Dunn

Director of Admissions & Enrollment

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Jaclyn Feather

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

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Maris Fineberg

Human Resources Manager

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Missy Friedman

7th & 8th Grade Social Studies Teacher

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Marissa Gerchikov

5th & 6th Grade Science Teacher, 5th Grade Math Teacher

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Rebecca Gold

1st & 2nd Grade Special Education Teacher

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Marcy Goldman

1st & 2nd Grade Hebrew and Judaic Studies Teacher

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Rachael Gray-Raff

5th & 6th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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Sandra Greenblatt

Alonim Aleph Teacher, Ginsburg ECC

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Anita Grobart

3rd-4th Grade Special Education Teacher

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Gregory Grosman

Maintenance Staff

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Emily Gurner

7th-8th Grade General Studies Special Education Teacher

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Cara Gutstein

Alim Teacher, Ginsburg ECC

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Rachel Haims

1st Grade General Studies Teacher

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Suzy Hakimian

7th & 8th Grade Science Teacher

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Debbie Harris

Director of Educational Technology

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Lindsey Harber

Student Support Specialist

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Ariela Haymberg

3rd & 4th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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Sandy Hill 

Alonim Aleph Teacher, Ginsburg ECC

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Shlomit Hoch

5th-8th Grade Hebrew Teacher

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Meital Hochenboym

Executive Assistant to Head of School

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Alicia Honan

K-8th Grade Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher

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Eliana Horwitz

5th-8th Grade Social Worker

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Ariela Ish-Hurwitz

5th-8th Grade Hebrew Teacher

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Annie Kaplan

Kindergarten Special Education Teacher

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Bridget Kaplan

Sager School Nurse

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Jill Katz

5th & 6th Grade Special Education Teacher

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Tali Kramer

Alonim Bet Teacher, Ginsburg ECC

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Traci Kranz

Administrative Assistant to the Educational Leadership Team (ELT)

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Max Kudrin

Maintenance Staff

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Dr. Lena Kushnir

Head of School

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Ronit Levy

3rd & 4th Grade Hebrew and Judaic Studies Teacher

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Tali Lupovitch

1st & 2nd Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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Molly Markshtien

Kindergarten Judaic Studies Teacher

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Pnina Mazor

5th & 6th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher & 5th Grade Hebrew Teacher

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Suzanne Mishkin

K-6th Grade Sager School Principal

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Louis R. Moeckler

IT Manager

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Andrew Montgomery

4th Grade General Studies Teacher

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Noreen Ohcana

5th-8th Grade Mathematics Teacher

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Samantha Kaplan Orlov

Director of Student Support Services

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Rabbi Raphael Ozarowski

7th-8th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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Noa Padowitz

K-8th Grade Assistant Principal

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Sivakami Palaniappan

Database Specialist

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Lauren Patinkin

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher

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Hannah Pogrund

1st Grade General Studies Teacher

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Jackie Povitsky

ECC Administrative Assistant & Aftercare Coordinator

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Deborah Proper

2nd Grade General Studies Teacher

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Hallie Redman

K-8th Grade Art Teacher

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Scott Roseman

Director of Finance and Operations

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Laura Rosenfeld

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

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Marsha Rosenson

5th-8th Director of Bands and Musical Director

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Rena Rozen

Dance and Movement Specialist; Library Assistant

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Shira Wenig Rozgovich

Development & Events Manager

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Marci Rubinstein

Facilitator of Innovation and Registrar

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Benji Sagarin

IT Support Specialist

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Hanna Schiffman

2nd-8th Grade Hebrew Ulpan Teacher

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Inbal Schnitman

Kindergarten Hebrew and Judaic Studies Teacher

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Shana Scholder

Kindergarten General Studies Teacher

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Ron Schrag

7th & 8th Grade Judaic Studies Teacher

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Alex Schwartz

Alim Teacher, Ginsburg ECC

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Amy Schwartz

7th Grade Language Arts Teacher

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Linda Schwartz

Permanent Substitute Teacher & Bus Supervisor

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Sari Shandling

Kindergarten General Studies Teacher

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Mike Shuman

5th-8th Grade Math Teacher

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Judy Szapiro

Sager School Front Office Administrative Assistant

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Barb Tatz

5th-8th Grade Math Teacher

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Trisha Taylor

Sager School Front Office Administrative Assistant

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Stephanie Stormoen

English Language Learner Teacher

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Samantha Sylverne

4th General Studies Teacher

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Amy Yaffe

3rd Grade General Studies Teacher

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Becca Versman

Librarian

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Tami Warshawsky

Director of Advancement

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Yehudit Wolf

3rd & 4th Grade Hebrew and Judaic Studies Teacher

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Executive Committee

Dr. Lena Kushnir

(SSDS ’88)
Head of School

Ben Fisher

Board President

Zhanna Plotkin

Secretary

Ari Studnitzer

(SSDS ’91)
Vice President, Finance

Sarina Gerson

Vice President, Development

Rebecca Schechter

Vice President, Development

Sheri Greenbaum

Vice President, Governance

Gil Soffer 

(SSDS ’78)
Vice President, Head Support and Evaluation

Medwin Dayan

Immediate Past President

Directors

Rabbi Nate Crane

Zach Fertig

(SSDS ’04)

Gary Kirshenbaum

Andrea Leshem

(SSDS ’82)

Sherry Levin

Jonathan Pearl

Andy Saffir

Ann Schneiderman

(SSDS ’95)

Melissa Spellman

(SSDS ’79)

Kyle Stone

Mark Swislow

Lynn Wiznitzer

Tina Wolf

Thank you for your interest in joining the Schechter team!

At Solomon Schechter Day School of Metropolitan Chicago, we ignite our students’ Jewish souls, educate them to their highest potential, and empower them to use their knowledge, skills, and creativity to enrich our world.

Please click here to see our available positions. We would love to have you join our community.

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