Faculty Directory
At HAFTR Lower School, all general studies staff members hold a graduate degree in Education with many holding dual certifications in Childhood Education and Special Education. Judaic studies staff members come from a variety of backgrounds and with different experiences. Hebrew language educators are native Hebrew speakers and are trained in the Tal Am program.
Professional development is an important part of our learning community and school culture. Staff members recognize that there are always new things to learn. A focus for general studies staff has been the implementation of New York State Standards. Each week, staff members improve their craft by meeting for professional development in literacy, math and Judaic studies. Monthly grade meetings are used to develop an integrated curriculum for an upcoming event or holiday. As technology evolves, staff members learn and utilize best practices as they align technology with their curriculum.
Below you will find a list of our HAFTR Lower School faculty members and staff. To contact a faculty or staff member, please call (516)569-3043.
Administration
| Ms. Joy Hammer | Principal |
|
Ms. Tova Zucker
|
Assistant Principal |
|
Rabbi Aaron Feigenbaum
|
Rav Bet Sefer |
| Dr. Jonathan Cohen | Pathways |
| Mrs. Shelley Schmutter | Director of Special Education |
| Mrs. Gitit Levovitz | Hebrew Language Coordinator |
Administrative Staff
| Mrs. Caroll Adler | Secretary |
| Mrs. Robin Maron | Administrative Assistant |
| Mrs. Shari Willinger-Weiss | Administrative Assistant |
Guidance Department
| Dr. Jonathan Cohen | Pathways |
| Rabbi Yosef Jacobs | Pathways Counselor |
| Mrs. Naomi Wargon | District Psychologist |
| Ms. Jaclyn Bieder | District Social Worker |
| Mrs. Shelley Schmutter | Director of Special Education |
| Ms. Meira Carrey | Judaic Studies Learning Center |
| Mrs. Aviva Lee Parnes | Judaic and General Studies Learning Center |
| Mrs. Miriam Rosenberg | Judaic Studies Learning Center |
| Mrs. Jennifer Stein | General Studies Learning Center |
| Mrs. Aleeza Lauer | Permanent Substitute |
|
Mrs. Kara Gomberg
|
Speech Language Therapist |
| Mrs. Deena Goldblatt | Speech Language Therapist |
| Mrs. Shira Borell | Speech Language Therapist |
| Ms. Tara Stier | Speech Language Therapist |
| Mrs. Judy Ehrenreich | Occupational Therapist |
| Mrs. Sheri Brazil | Occupational Therapist |
| Mrs. Lily Weichholz | Occupational Therapist |
| Mrs. Debra Orner, R.N. |
| Kindergarten | |
| Mrs. Aliza Myers | Teacher |
| Mrs. Tali Zimerman | Teacher |
| Mrs. Rosemary Kahn | Teacher |
| Ms. Julie Steiner | Teacher |
| Mrs. Caryn Golombeck | Collaborative Teacher |
| Mrs. Nikki Joseph |
Assistant Teacher
|
| Mrs. Sefi Bodner |
Assistant Teacher
|
| Ms. Sasha Frankel |
Assistant Teacher
|
| Mrs. Alyssa Kamzan | Assistant Teacher |
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First Grade
|
|
| Mrs. Debra Haft | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Malka Zimmerman | General Studies Teacher |
| Ms. Brittany Gannon | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Penina Klein | General Studies Collaborative Teacher |
| Mrs. Gila Lipshitz | General Studies Assistant Teacher |
| Ms. Sari Moradi | General Studies Assistant Teacher |
| Mrs. Etia Cohen | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Yaffa Cohen | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Ms. Ilana Kohen | Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher |
| Ms. Racheli Mergi | Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher |
| Second Grade | |
| Mrs. Amy Bodner | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Michaella Eiss | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Talya Aryeh | General Studies Collaborative Teacher |
| Mrs. Rachael Lavian | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Tamara Wartenberg | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Ms. Noffar Amenu | Judaic Studies Assistant Teacher |
| Third Grade | |
| Mrs. Allison Elfassy | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Allison Rahmani | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Rachel Hess | General Studies Collaborative Teacher |
| Mrs. Shayna Ungar | General Studies Collaborative Teacher |
| Mrs. Janet Spector | Reading Teacher |
| Mrs. Chana Garfinkel | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Deena Schwebel | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Daniella Nierenberg | Judaic Studies Teacher |
| Fourth Grade | |
| Mrs. Michele Frenkel | General Studies Teacher |
| Ms. Melissa Dere | General Studies Teacher |
| Ms. Jessica Goldberg | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Teresa Grace | General Studies Collaborative Teacher |
| Rabbi Dovid Schwab | Judaic Studies Teacher, Boys |
| Mrs. Idit Perez | Judaic Studies Teacher, Girls |
| Mrs. Shani Lefkowitz | Judaic Studies Teacher, Girls |
| Fifth Grade | |
| Mrs. Jill Motechin | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Beth Katz | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Jana Fabricant | General Studies Teacher |
| Mrs. Gabriella Slotnick | General Studies Collaborative Teacher |
| Mrs. Bashi Kutai | Judaic Studies Teacher, Girls |
| Rabbi Elisha Weiss | Judaic Studies Teacher, Boys |
| Ms. Dale Rubin | Kindergarten and Grade One |
| Mrs. Yakira Meltzer | Grade Two and Grade Three |
| Mrs. Lisa Patik-Rosenberg | Grade Four and Grade Five |
| Mrs. Royce Maron | Art Teacher |
| Mrs. Jill Goldstein | Assistant Teacher |
| Mrs. Janet Goldman | Music Teacher |
| Mr. Jonathan Waisbrot | Gym Teacher |
STEM / Technology
| Rabbi Baruch Noy |
Director of Technology & STEM
Instructor, Grade Five
|
| Mrs. Elaine Gross | Ed Tech Coordinator and Tech Teacher Kindergarten and Grade One |
| Mrs. Sheryl Sokoler | Tech Instructor, Grade Two, Grade Three, Grade Four |
Hebrew Language
| Mrs. Gitit Levovitz | Hebrew Language Coordinator, Grades Three, Four, and Five |
| Mrs. Debby Landau | Kindergarten Lashon Teacher |
| Mrs. Chaviva Horovitz |
Lashon Teacher Grades Three and Four
|
| Mrs. Chen Gulzman | Lashon Teacher Grades Three and Four, Hebrew Library |
| Mrs. Einav Regev | Lashon Teacher Grades Three, Four, and Five |