New Faculty
Welcome new Kehillah faculty!
Brianna Thompson - English
Brianna has taught literature and writing at the university, college, and high school levels. Raised in rural Nevada, land of endless horizons and high desert sagebrush, she's lived in places like Virginia, New York, and Ohio. She's a seamstress and academic, having published on nineteenth-century American women's literature and contemporary authors like Octavia Butler. When she doesn't have her nose in a book, you can find her cooking up a storm, visiting family, hiking Bay area trails with her partner, or making a new outfit. With a Master's degree in English from the University of Virginia and a PhD in Literatures and Languages in English from Cornell University, she's excited to bring her passion for reading, writing, and thinking about literature to the community at Kehillah.
James Earwood - History
James is an experienced educator with a passion for global learning. Having spent the past 14 years working abroad in Austria, Japan, Jordan, and the United Kingdom, he brings a wealth of international experience to the classroom. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Education from Toccoa Fall College (USA) and a Master's degree in International Relations and Diplomatic Affairs from Staffordshire University (UK). Most recently James has spent the past 7 years teaching Global Politics at the United World College in Japan and Wales.
Outside of the classroom, James enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter. His love for travel and learning about different cultures is reflected in his teaching style, which emphasizes global perspectives and encourages students to think critically about the world around them. James considers himself blessed, as he finds immense joy in teaching and inspiring the next generation of global citizens.
Zoe D'Souza - Latin
Zoe was born and raised in London, England. She studied Classics at the undergraduate level at Durham University and pursued her Masters degree in Classics and Education at Cambridge University. She has taught Latin and Classics for the past 8 years, with a particular interest in epic poetry, Greek theatre, and the timeless entertainment of Ovid and Cicero. In her previous role, she was a Head of Year (a mixture of Dean of Students and College Counsellor), and as a result has developed a keen interest in mental health in young people, as well as enabling students to pursue Higher Education. In her spare time, Zoe is enjoying exploring California with her partner and their dog and enjoys good food, exercise, and women's soccer.
And congratulations to Dr. Tammy Ben-Yaacov, who will be stepping into the role of Dean of Math!
Dr. Tammy Ben-Yaacov has recently moved back to Palo Alto after living in Isreal with her family for the last 10 years where she was a teaching faculty member in Electrical Engineering at the Technion and at Tel Aviv University. Prior to moving to Israel, she worked in industry as a Materials Engineering Manager and taught EE at UC Santa Barbara, after completing her Ph.D. there in Materials and Electrical Engineering.
One of Tammy's highlights throughout her education was working with and leading a team in Engineers Without Borders for over 6 years. She worked on a variety of Engineering projects with a focus on sustainability, improving quality of life, and lending a hand in empowering the community in a remote village in Peru. She grew and learned a great deal, was humbled and inspired, and her experiences contributed to her becoming a passionate and compassionate teacher.
She loves spending time with family and friends, especially out in nature - camping, playing music around a campfire, splashing at the beach. She and her family enjoy cooking and having people over to share some good food, good stories, and good laughs.