Kehillah has been intentional in building a community of educators who are leading practitioners, thinkers, and innovators in their fields. Our educators bring richly diverse backgrounds and talents to bear on their teaching craft and are deeply committed to expanding the intellectual and human potential of our students.
At Kehillah, we believe deeply in the role of self-discovery to prepare students for meaningful lives. We have designed a program that will help students better understand the world and themselves, and enable them to create extraordinary futures. The classroom experience at Kehillah includes critical inquiry, experimentation, debate, discussion and a multiplicity of thought. We challenge and support each student to reach his or her potential.
ENGLISH
HISTORY
JEWISH STUDIES
MATH
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS
WORLD LANGUAGES
Kehillah’s English Department focuses on developing critical thinking, writing, and communication skills using literary texts as the focus. Classes utilize discussion to stimulate deeper engagement with the texts and students are asked to write in a variety of modes in response to what they read. The department has an overall four-year writing goal to develop skills through the use of persuasive, analytical, and creative writing assignments.
The multi-step writing process emphasizes that revision is just as important as initial conception of ideas and students learn how to improve the fluidity and clarity of their writing. Along with these written assignments, the classes engage with a variety of alternative assessments that encourage students to think about the texts from different angles, including creative pieces that are inspired by the literature they read.
English Department Faculty
Richard Brownstone
Dean of Academic Operations/New Faculty Advisor/ English Teacher
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Richard Brownstone
Along with teaching English at Kehillah, Richard will be taking on the role of Dean of Academic Operations and New Faculty Advisor.
Richard holds a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from SUNY Empire State College and an M.A. in the Teaching of English from Columbia University, Teachers College. A native New Yorker, Richard taught high school English at The Packer Collegiate Institute for eleven years while also serving as Upper School Dean, and he then served as Head of Upper School at The Kew-Forest School and Director of Middle School at International School of Brooklyn. Prior to his career in education, Richard was a professional ballet dancer, actor, singer, musician, and database designer/programmer. Richard enjoys being back in Northern California (where he spent his late teen years), enjoying the outdoors with his family, and is finishing his next novel (under the pen name R.B. Woodstone).
Brian Egdorf, Ph.D
English Teacher
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Brian Egdorf, Ph.D
Brian joined Kehillah after teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures in 2021. He has taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder and at the Lycée Tristan Corbière in Morlaix, France. His teaching interests include Russian literature, Francophone literature, queer literature, and literature for STEM students.
His current research focuses on the interaction of brain science and literature in the context of the psychological novels of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. His scholarly work has most recently appeared in Tolstoy Studies Journal and The Dostoevsky Journal. In addition to his studies at Berkeley, he received an M.A. at the European University at St. Petersburg (Russia), an M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a B.A. in French and English from Illinois Wesleyan University. In his spare time, he enjoys riding his bicycle, swimming in the bay, and participating in the Bay Area literary and arts scene.
Aviva Kasowski, Ph.D.
English Teacher/Jewish Studies Teacher
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Aviva Kasowski, Ph.D.
Aviva Kasowski is a dedicated writer and educator. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College, an M.F.A. from the University of California, Riverside, and an M.S. in Education from Touro College. She recently completed her doctoral work in English and Creative Writing at the University of Georgia. Prior to joining Kehillah, she taught English and writing at the University of Georgia and UC Riverside, and worked as a learning specialist at Rodeph Sholom School, SAR High School, and Success Academy in New York City.
An accomplished writer, she has published poetry in peer reviewed journals and is currently working on a novel. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, aerial arts, and hiking.
Peter Kistler
English Teacher
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Peter Kistler
Peter Kistler teaches English at Kehillah and has been a high school English teacher since 2005. He is a Bay Area native, and holds a B.A. in Communication Studies and an M.S. in Mass Communications, both from San Jose State University. He is passionate about teaching argumentation, rhetorical studies, and media literacy, and has coached high school parliamentary debate for the last eight years. He and his wife Lindsay live in San Jose, and enjoy cooking, camping, playing video and tabletop games, and the San Jose Sharks.
Dale Pagano
Dean of English
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Dale Pagano
Dale Pagano teaches English at Kehillah and is serving as the Dean of the English department. He holds a B.S. in Secondary English Education from Bowling Green State University and a Master’s degree in Urban Education from John Carroll University.
Dale comes to Kehillah with twenty years of teaching experience in both public and private settings and a strong passion for school reform, curriculum design, and literary analysis. When he’s not teaching, Dale enjoys reading, dining out, going to the theater, and playing the guitar.
The History Department instills in students the habits of mind necessary to think critically about the past and its impact on the present in service of the fulfillment of the obligations of citizenship. For us, history is not a set of content to be memorized; it is a complex narrative constructed from multiple perspectives that must be understood and analyzed in order to tell a larger story of patterns and trends over time.
To accomplish this, we strengthen the skill of document interpretation with a particular focus on source, perspective, and context. Students practice cross-cultural comparison, cause and effect analysis, and historical periodization through various projects, simulations, debates, and creative activities. In turn, the students communicate their understanding of the past through multiple modes of assessment: written, oral, and digital. At Kehillah, it is the goal of the History Department that students construct their understanding not only of the past, but of their present and future as well.
History Department Faculty
Oliver Cashman-Brown
History Teacher
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Oliver Cashman-Brown
Scott Legallet
History Teacher
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Scott Legallet
Scott Legallet grew up in the peninsula and has since lived all around the bay area and beyond. After an undergraduate degree in Entrepreneurship from Chapman University he began his career in the culinary arts and organic agriculture. He then pivoted to education and led garden/cooking programs. He went back to school for a Master’s in Teaching from Saint Mary’s College of CA and began teaching history in Berkeley and Alameda public schools. He has taught middle and high school social studies courses from ancient civilization, world history and geography to US History, philosophy and psychology.
He is a down to earth teacher who understands the importance of relationship building and connection in the classroom. Scott enjoys outdoor adventures with his wife and 2 dogs. Most weekends you will find him, his wife, and exuberant pups soaking up the sun with a frisbee and tennis ball on a continuous loop. If not, he could be cooking an intricate meal, getting dirty in a garden, engrossed in a book, or playing in a pick-up soccer game.
Elise Nahum
History Teacher
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Elise Nahum
Elise Nahum has worked in education for 15 years teaching a wide range of Social Studies courses in high school and middle school, from AP US Government to Ancient Civilizations. She has also worked 8 years producing/directing musical theater and 5 years coaching mock trial. She attended UC San Diego studying political science and has done graduate studies at San Francisco State, San Jose State, and La Trobe University in Melbourne, Australia.
She loves to travel to different countries with her husband and their son and daughter. In her free time she enjoys cooking, hiking, and swimming.
Richard Nybakken
Dean of History
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Richard Nybakken
Richard Nybakken is a dedicated historian and teacher with several years of experience in higher education. He received his A.B. from Dartmouth College and his M.A. and C.Phil. from U.C. Berkeley, where he specialized in European history (with a particular emphasis on modern Italy).
The Kehillah Jewish Studies Department is innovative and looks to engage students in intellectual, academic, spiritual, and social ways. At Kehillah, the Jewish Studies department draws on the 3000 years of tradition, lore, and wisdom, which it combines with the best of modern pedagogy. The Jewish Studies Department meets students where they are at in terms of traditional Jewish learning, language skills, and content knowledge. We create courses to meet the needs of our diverse student body.
Jewish Studies Department Faculty
Brian Egdorf, Ph.D.
English Teacher/Jewish Studies Teacher
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Brian Egdorf, Ph.D.
Brian joined Kehillah after teaching at the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned his Ph.D. in Slavic Languages and Literatures in 2021. He has taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder and at the Lycée Tristan Corbière in Morlaix, France. His teaching interests include Russian literature, Francophone literature, queer literature, and literature for STEM students.
His current research focuses on the interaction of brain science and literature in the context of the psychological novels of Dostoevsky and Tolstoy. His scholarly work has most recently appeared in Tolstoy Studies Journal and The Dostoevsky Journal. In addition to his studies at Berkeley, he received an M.A. at the European University at St. Petersburg (Russia), an M.A. in Comparative Literature from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a B.A. in French and English from Illinois Wesleyan University. In his spare time, he enjoys riding his bicycle, swimming in the bay, and participating in the Bay Area literary and arts scene.
Rabbi Dennis Eisner, DD
Dean of Jewish Life
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Rabbi Dennis Eisner, DD
Rabbi Dennis brings a 37-year career to the Kehillah Jewish High School community. Rabbi Dennis has directed several national and local Jewish initiatives and institutions, increasing participation and affiliation and developing innovative educational programs and social justice initiatives. Rabbi Dennis has always been a voice for pluralism, interfaith outreach and communal diversity. He has worked in sacred partnership with lay leadership to raise critical funds, improve and strengthen governance, develop leadership programs and leadership education, and create strategic plans. Now, he is thrilled to join the outstanding team at Kehillah, and looks forward to being part of the school’s amazing community.
Rabbi Dennis’s decades in the Jewish community have afforded him great opportunities for professional and personal development. Whether in the context of involvement in Jewish day schools, national and local educational programs, Jewish summer camps, Israel travel and education, Jewish Community Federations and JCCs, or 20 years as a pulpit rabbi, Rabbi Dennis has been passionately committed to the growth and sustainability of our Jewish communal experience.
Rabbi Dennis is married to Mandy Eisner, who is Director of Development at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. They have two children: Max, a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and Sadie, a student at UC Berkeley. They also have a new puppy named Lucy who is without a doubt their most difficult child.
Shifra Elman
Dean of Jewish Studies
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Shifra Elman
Shifra Elman studied at Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women for her undergraduate degrees in Judaic Studies and English Communications. She then got her masters in Social Work with a concentration in community organizing from Wurzweiler’s School of Social Work. After a year volunteering with Americorps, she moved to the Bay Area to work for Hillel at Stanford as Director of Jewish Life and Learning. Innovations in Jewish life, practice, and thought have been at the forefront of her work and continue to be an essential part of her practice.
Shifra is chiefly interested in studying the things that made it into the Jewish canon along with some apocryphal works through various lenses such as feminism, historical context, literary criticism, poetic narrative. Her work at Kehillah is focused on co-creating a department that offers a well-rounded education in Jewish Studies for all students.
Rabbi Bruce Finkelstein, Ph.D.
Jewish Studies Teacher
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Rabbi Bruce Finkelstein, Ph.D.
Bruce (Baruch) Finkelstein is from New York, and lived his adult life in Israel as a rabbi, educator, and writer. He is an ordained rabbi from the Israeli Rabbanut and Chief Rabbi Goren; he has a doctorate in Talmud from Bar Ilan University, exploring the topic of rabbinic discretion in Jewish legal decisions. Dr. Finkelstein has published articles in the most prestigious rabbinic and academic journals and books. He also has co-authored several books on topics relating to pregnancy, childbirth, fertility, postpartum depression, and early childcare, including an international best seller.
Michael (Moshe) Goodman
Jewish Studies Teacher
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Michael (Moshe) Goodman
Moshe Goodman has been a Jewish educator teaching at Jewish day schools, summer camps, and synagogues across the Jewish spectrum as well as interfaith groups for over ten years. Moshe completed his B.A in Philosophy from Yeshiva University in 2006, and studied for two years at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. Moshe then spent six years teaching at the Abraham Joshua Heschel High School in New York, where he created a mindfulness oriented prayer group, various elective courses in Jewish Philosophy, a drama club aimed at empowering teens to create without self-judgment, as well as the Jewish Arts Teen Fellowship which gave students an opportunity to study the Bible through the lens of a creative form of their choice. At Heschel, Moshe also served as faculty mentor for the Human Rights Alliance, The Interfaith Club, and the Gay-Straight Alliance. Additionally, Moshe is a life coach certified in the Jonathan R. Wachtel System For Life Guidance as well as by the Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence.
Moshe is also a theatre artist and educator, having studied acting and writing under Bruce Ornstein in New York City beginning in 2008. Moshe has since gone on to work with Wednesday Repertory Company, Naked Chicken Productions, Good-Walk Productions, and Love Creek productions. There he has written and brought to the stage over 20 of his own one act plays as well as performing in and directing many other other one act and full length plays. In 2015, Moshe founded an education and production company called “The Love Tank”, which hosts Moshe’s course in acting and playwriting. Through The Love Tank, Moshe has produced two one act collections as well as his own full length play: “The Judah Encounter,” which explores the line between reality and un-reality, our relationships with ourselves as well as Martin Buber’s theology of encounter.
Aviva Kasowski, Ph.D.
English Teacher/Jewish Studies Teacher
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Aviva Kasowski, Ph.D.
Aviva Kasowski is a dedicated writer and educator. She holds a B.A. from Barnard College, an M.F.A. from the University of California, Riverside, and an M.S. in Education from Touro College. She recently completed her doctoral work in English and Creative Writing at the University of Georgia. Prior to joining Kehillah, she taught English and writing at the University of Georgia and UC Riverside, and worked as a learning specialist at Rodeph Sholom School, SAR High School, and Success Academy in New York City.
An accomplished writer, she has published poetry in peer reviewed journals and is currently working on a novel. In her spare time, she enjoys yoga, aerial arts, and hiking.
The Mathematics Department at Kehillah brings together a rich mathematics curriculum and a supportive faculty to meet the needs of all students. Through a variety of classroom activities and teaching techniques, the math department strives to instill in students a deep conceptual understanding of problem-solving, with an emphasis on critical thinking and applications. Students are held responsible for knowing not just how to do a particular problem or technique, but also why it works, and when to employ a particular approach.
Students must be able to explain and justify the reasoning process taken to arrive at a particular solution and demonstrate a depth of understanding. Creative strategies, logic, synthesis, and analysis are emphasized. Together, we build a solid mastery of the techniques and processes necessary for students to achieve creative, innovative, and elegant math solutions.
Math Department Faculty
Zachi Baharav
Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher
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Zachi Baharav
After a year of extensive world travel, Dr. Baharav is excited to return to Kehillah’s math department. After working in the local hi-tech industry in various research, management and executive roles, he enjoys sharing his interest in math and Computer Science with students.
Dr. Baharav has more than 30 issued US patents, published over 40 scientific papers and chapters, and is a distinguished lecturer and a Senior member of the IEEE. In addition to keynote talks in numerous professional conferences, Dr. Baharav taught graduate classes in SJSU, and math and Computer Science in local colleges. He received his Ph.D. in EE from the Technion, Israel.
His teaching style combines project-based and hands-on activities, with a strong emphasis on basic principles. He believes that offering a multitude of approaches to learn a subject can help engage students and make learning fun. In his classes and life, he emphasizes reflection and contemplation.
Dr. Baharav, his wife, and their two children have been long-time residents of Palo Alto. When not teaching (and traveling!), he enjoys spending time with family and the outdoors. As an ultra runner, he likes running on the local hills. He has completed the WS-100 endurance run and cross-trains in swimming and biking. As a chess player, he can sometimes be seen at local chess events.
Erin Bennett, Ph.D.
Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher
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Erin Bennett, Ph.D.
Erin came to Kehillah after getting her PhD in Cognitive Science from Stanford University, where she worked on projects in Natural Language Understanding and Computational Linguistics.
Erin has taught many high school, college, and graduate students in classes at Stanford and UC San Diego and one-on-one online tutoring. She has taught a range of topics including Computer Science, Calculus, Statistics, Psychology, and Robotics. She loves combining her interests and skills in interdisciplinary projects.
Outside of teaching, Erin enjoys rock climbing, quilting, juggling, acting, and spending time with her partner and her cat.
Kathleen Edwards
Mathematics Teacher
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Kathleen Edwards
Kathleen Edwards has taught math at the high school level for 31 years. She has experience teaching every level of math, from pre-Algebra through AP Calculus BC. Ms. Edwards served most recently on the founding faculty of New Community Jewish High School (NCJHS) in West Hills, California, where she was the Dean of Students as well as Chair of the Mathematics Department.
Anthony Grabowski
Mathematics and Physics Teacher
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Anthony Grabowski
Anthony Grabowski worked 20 years as a process engineer in the Semiconductor and Hard Drive Industries. Previous to coming to Kehillah this year Anthony taught Chemistry, Physics and AP Physics in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia as well as Math at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He holds California Teaching Credentials in Physics, Math and Chemistry.
Anthony particularly enjoys mathematically modeling real work phenomena with his students. It is an interesting experience to look at “common” phenomena around us, and to ask a question like, “Why does a steel ball rolling in a groove travel slower than a identical ball that is not rolling in a groove”? Or, “Are the results of a seven game Baseball World Series statistically significant”? It is a thrilling, illuminating experience to create a mathematical model that gives answers to these questions.
Anthony received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University.
Jeff Holcomb
Mathematics Teacher
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Jeff Holcomb
Jeff Holcomb has been teaching math for the past 32 years. His career has taken him from California to China, Israel, and the Netherlands. On each new adventure he had opportunities to learn from a wide range of people and expanded his love of mathematics and teaching. One of the most impactful experiences he had was in The Netherlands when he was able to work with the Freudenthal Institute to develop his understanding of RME, and learn from his Japanese colleagues to better understand lesson study.
He is excited to bring his knowledge, and enthusiasm to Kehillah.
Jeff lives in Santa Cruz with his wife and their two children. When not teaching, Jeff enjoys riding his bike, working in the garden, baking bread, roasting coffee, and working on their house.
Chris Kuszmaul
Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher
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Chris Kuszmaul
Chris Kuszmaul has taught close to two dozen topics from Aikido to Computer Science to Creative writing in contexts from MIT, to Palo Alto High School to Tblisi State University for students ranging from elementary to undergraduates to NASA scientists. He was the first high school teacher of the Stanford Logic Curriculum, invented the data structure known as a Shadow Heap and holds a 6th degree black belt in Aikido. He retired from his position as a Senior Research Scientist at NASA to join a second (then third and fourth) startup. He re-retired into teaching and public service where he has functioned as the president of: Mountain View Kiwanis, The Slater PTA, and the Computer Science Teachers Association of Silicon Valley.
Chris lives in Mountain View with his wife, Dr. Tracy King . They have two grown children — Jane is a farmer in Colorado and James is a robotics engineer in Mountain View. In his spare time Chris enjoys walks, tea, and announcing robotics matches at FIRST competitions.
Chris teaches with the primary goal of knowing his students and adjusting to their needs: He combines project based and group work with the opportunity to work independently or to follow a tightly defined curriculum. Chris believes the best results happen when students grapple with complex challenges.
Wolfden
Mathematics Teacher
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Wolfden
Wolfden grew up in the Bay Area and started their teaching career at Gersten Jewish School in San Leandro. They studied biochemistry and molecular cell biology at Mills College and hold a Masters of Education from Alder Graduate School. They taught math at KIPP Bay Area Schools before coming to Kehillah.
Wolfden is passionate about how Kehilah’s four commitments work to support our diversity and inclusion work at Kehillah and is an active member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging team.
Physical education at Kehillah is flexible and customizable. Students are required to complete a year of physical education in order to graduate. The requirement can be met in-school by taking one of Kehillah’s P.E. course, such as physical conditioning or by participating in one of Kehillah’s competitive sports teams. Alternatively, the requirement can be met by engaging in a regular program of activity outside of school for one year or the equivalent. Students have met this requirement through individual dance, workout, rock climbing and other programs.
Physical fitness at Kehillah is enhanced with a complimentary student membership to the state-of-the-art Oshman Family JCC fitness center across the street from campus.
Physical Education Department Faculty
Ryan Greenfield
Director of Athletics
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Ryan Greenfield
Ryan Greenfield is Kehillah’s Director of Athletics, Physical Training teacher, and Varsity Baseball Coach. Mr. Greenfield holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from the University of Arizona and a teaching credential from Notre Dame de Namur.
Howard Kaplan
Assistant Athletic Director
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Howard Kaplan
Mr. Howard Kaplan comes to Kehillah with over 25 years’ experience in managing youth and adult sports. Mr. Kaplan worked for the City of Millbrae in their recreation department from 1988 to 2013.
He holds a B.A. in Recreation Administration from California State University at Chico. Mr. Kaplan is passionate about sports and how it can be used to teach many life lessons. He and his wife, Debi, are proud parents of Kehillah graduates Ashley and Max Kaplan (Kehillah Class of 2011).
The mission of Kehillah’s Science Department is to develop critical thinkers and problem solvers by providing access to a variety of courses that will support the creativity and curiosity of all students. Through the application of conceptual and mathematical models, lab-based inquiry, and collaboration in the classroom, our students will be able to apply their scientific and analytical skills to design solutions to real-world questions. Our goal is to prepare our students to be informed citizens who will be ready to meet the scientific and ethical challenges of the future.
Science & Engineering Department Faculty
Erin Bennett, Ph.D.
Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher
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Erin Bennett, Ph.D.
Erin came to Kehillah after getting her PhD in Cognitive Science from Stanford University, where she worked on projects in Natural Language Understanding and Computational Linguistics.
Erin has taught many high school, college, and graduate students in classes at Stanford and UC San Diego and one-on-one online tutoring. She has taught a range of topics including Computer Science, Calculus, Statistics, Psychology, and Robotics. She loves combining her interests and skills in interdisciplinary projects.
Outside of teaching, Erin enjoys rock climbing, quilting, juggling, acting, and spending time with her partner and her cat.
Kristy Chun
Science Teacher
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Kristy Chun
Kristy is excited to rejoin Kehillah as a Chemistry teacher in the Science Department! She was born in Honolulu, Hawaii surrounded by warm weather and a wonderful family. For her undergraduate, she attended the University of Southern California and majored in Chemistry. Kristy then spent some time at UC Santa Barbara where she got a Masters in Science Education. Although her journey in California started in Los Angeles, Kristy continued to move north until she found her first teaching job in the Bay Area. Kristy feels fortunate to have found a career that she genuinely loves. This will be her 11th year as a high school chemistry teacher. She hopes to help students find their voice in the science classroom and explore the possibilities of learning new ways to interpret the world around them. Kristy enjoys spending time in San Carlos with her life partner (Tony) and their cat (Yuumi), taking daily naps, and trying new vegan food.
Anthony Grabowski
Mathematics and Physics Teacher
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Anthony Grabowski
Anthony Grabowski worked 20 years as a process engineer in the Semiconductor and Hard Drive Industries. Previous to coming to Kehillah this year Anthony taught Chemistry, Physics and AP Physics in Fairfax County, Northern Virginia as well as Math at Gunn High School in Palo Alto. He holds California Teaching Credentials in Physics, Math and Chemistry.
Anthony particularly enjoys mathematically modeling real work phenomena with his students. It is an interesting experience to look at “common” phenomena around us, and to ask a question like, “Why does a steel ball rolling in a groove travel slower than a identical ball that is not rolling in a groove”? Or, “Are the results of a seven game Baseball World Series statistically significant”? It is a thrilling, illuminating experience to create a mathematical model that gives answers to these questions.
Anthony received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan, an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University.
Chris Kuszmaul
Computer Science and Mathematics Teacher
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Chris Kuszmaul
Chris Kuszmaul has taught close to two dozen topics from Aikido to Computer Science to Creative writing in contexts from MIT, to Palo Alto High School to Tblisi State University for students ranging from elementary to undergraduates to NASA scientists. He was the first high school teacher of the Stanford Logic Curriculum, invented the data structure known as a Shadow Heap and holds a 6th degree black belt in Aikido. He retired from his position as a Senior Research Scientist at NASA to join a second (then third and fourth) startup. He re-retired into teaching and public service where he has functioned as the president of: Mountain View Kiwanis, The Slater PTA, and the Computer Science Teachers Association of Silicon Valley.
Chris lives in Mountain View with his wife, Dr. Tracy King . They have two grown children — Jane is a farmer in Colorado and James is a robotics engineer in Mountain View. In his spare time Chris enjoys walks, tea, and announcing robotics matches at FIRST competitions.
Chris teaches with the primary goal of knowing his students and adjusting to their needs: He combines project based and group work with the opportunity to work independently or to follow a tightly defined curriculum. Chris believes the best results happen when students grapple with complex challenges.
Robert Stewart
Dean of Science
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Robert Stewart
Robert Stewart has over 30 years teaching experience in the Biological Sciences at Community Colleges in the United Kingdom, the United States, and in the International Baccalaureate High Schools in Cairo, Egypt, The French American International High School, and Quarry Lane High School in the Bay Area.
Robert has held management and administrative positions including the roles of Head of School at a college in Oxfordshire, UK, Director of Admissions and Marketing at Community College in Colorado, and as a College Counselor, Director of Careers and Higher Education at the International British School in Cairo, Egypt. Robert has worked for Non-Profit Life Sciences Organization, Washington DC, with the role of promoting Inquiry Based Learning and the use of technology in Science Teaching. He delivered teacher workshops that focused upon Biology and Microbiology and the use of student centered, collaborative project work, and inquiry led laboratory investigations.
Robert Stewart is a Chartered Biologist and Member of the Society for Biology, London. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Salford University, M.Ed. in Education from University of West London, and Postgraduate degrees from the Hull University, and Reading University, UK.
Maria Vicenty
Science Teacher
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Maria Vicenty
Maria Vicenty is from Puerto Rico and has been a science educator for 25 years. Ms. Vicenty taught in California, Puerto Rico, Washington, and Nevada. In 1995, she received the A+ Teacher Award in Las Vegas, NV. Ms. Vicenty received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Math and Science Teaching in 2015.
Ms. Vicenty likes to share her passion for science with the students by engaging them in inquiry activities, field work and class debates that connect the science concepts to everyday life. Another passion she likes to share with students is gardening. Ms. Vicenty enjoys seeing the students developing ownership, responsibility, and a love of nature.
Ms. Vicenty holds a B.S. in education with a concentration in biology from the University of Puerto Rico and a M.A. in curriculum and instruction from the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. She is endorsed to teach biology, general science and environmental science in PR and has the teaching credential for Biology in California.
Kehillah offers inspiring and challenging curricula in the Visual and Performing Arts including; music, music theory, studio art, digital art, and drama. Our VPA faculty are all accomplished, working artists themselves and are therefore able to provide real-world challenges and industry-standard technology in our curriculum. Courses are tailored to individual needs and focus on learning through hands-on experience, collaboration, and critique. Each class is specifically crafted to assist each student in forging enduring habits of lifelong learning, love of the arts, and creative expression.
Visual & Performing Arts (VPA) Department Faculty
Amy Cole-Farrell
Drama Teacher
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Amy Cole-Farrell
Amy Cole-Farrell is Kehillah’s Drama Teacher. With a background as a professional actor, director, and theatre company co-founder, Amy has spent the past 15 years creating theatre curriculum and teaching with such organizations as SF Shakespeare Company, University of California, Davis, Berlin International Youth Theatre, Spindrift School of Performing Arts, TheatreWorks Silicon Valley, and K-12 schools throughout the Bay Area.
Karla Chouhan
Digital Media Teacher
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Karla Chouhan
Karla Chouhan is a photographer, graphic designer, and educator who inspires and empowers her students to explore the power of art, igniting the artist within.
Karla has successfully ran her own studio, Karla Chouhan Photography, for more than 30 years and has taught at the collegiate and high school level for more than 17 years.
She received a B.A. in Commercial and Scientific Photography from the internationally renowned Brooks Institute of Photography. From there her career took form at NASA exploring scientific endeavors and in Nashville where she worked for music labels and magazines, shooting over 1000 covers for the likes of Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton, and others.
Having achieved success in the freelance world, Karla found her passion for teaching and is excited to share her knowledge. Her own struggles and successes have shaped her approach to teaching, it is not just about acquiring skills but in having patience with oneself through the process.
Jennifer Idleman
Dean of Visual & Performing Arts/Design Lead
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Jennifer Idleman
Originally from Missouri, Jennifer Idleman has been teaching art and design in California for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in both Illustration and Graphic Design from the Savannah College of Art and Design, a California Teaching Credential in Art, and a Masters Secondary Education.
Jennifer is a working illustrator and designer. You can see her creative work here and her illustrated teaching website can be found here.
Anthony Quartuccio
Music Teacher
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Anthony Quartuccio
Anthony Quartuccio teaches music theory and composition at the introductory, intermediate and AP levels as well as chorale and instrumental groups. Mr. Quartuccio serves as a conductor at Opera San Jose, associate conductor of the San Jose Chamber Orchestra, and music director of the South Valley Symphony. In 2006 he received an honorary doctorate of Arts from Santa Clara University, in addition to awards from the California State Senate, Santa Clara County, and the Italian-American Heritage Foundation for his contributions to the performing arts in the Bay Area. Mr. Quartuccio is an alumnus of the Curtis Institute of Music, and has studied conducting with Otto-Werner Mueller, Gunther Schuller, and Gustav Meier at Tanglewood. On April 26, 2009 Mr. Quartuccio conducted the San Jose Youth Chamber Orchestra in a performance for the 14th Dalai Lama during his visit to the Bay Area. SJYCO member and Shoshana Bocian (Class of 2010) played viola in the performance.
Thomas Romero
Music Teacher
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Thomas Romero
Tom Romero teaches music at Kehillah Jewish High School and continues to develop new classes and curriculum to bring the school’s music program to new heights. Mr. Romero teaches multiple rock/jazz bands, and guitar classes, and is an active musician who has been teaching guitar in the wider bay area for many years. He received a B.A. in Music from California State University Long Beach, and his Teaching Credential and Master of Arts Teaching from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont.
The World Languages Department at Kehillah endeavors to equip students with the linguistic and cultural skills to flourish in an interdependent world. Our program reflects a conviction that students engage most deeply in language learning when skills building is integrated with the study of history, culture, and the contemporary world. We strive to create an environment that supports the learning needs, styles, and goals of every student.
- We cultivate in our students the ability to speak, write, listen, and read in a second language. We believe it is important to prepare students to communicate with clarity and confidence in a wide range of social, academic, professional, and virtual settings.
- We value cultural understanding, curiosity, and competency, and promote opportunities for students to explore the intersections between their own cultural identities and the many forms of linguistic and cultural expression around the world.
- We are invested in helping students develop habits of mind that will serve them as learners, citizens, and leaders over the course of their lifetimes. Our department is intentional in fostering in students the courage to learn from mistakes and take risks, to provide and receive constructive feedback, and to embrace the responsibility and pleasure of pursuing independent learning.
- We are committed to pedagogical approaches that ensure access to language learning for students of all levels and learning styles. We believe technology can be a useful component of language instruction, but place primacy on the human and social contexts in which language is created, consumed, and taught.
World Languages Department Faculty
Ronit Balan
Dean of World Languages
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Ronit Balan
Ronit Balan is a native speaker of Hebrew. Ms. Balan has extensive training in teaching English language to non-native speakers. For the last 20 years, Ms. Balan has applied the principles of ESL to teaching Hebrew as a second language to learners of all ages and levels. Ms. Balan served as an instructor and level coordinator for the EFL department of the Open Unversity, Tel Aviv University and Ministry of Education in Israel before coming to California, where she has taught Hebrew at Gideon Hausner Jewish Day School, De Anza College, Congregation Beth Am, and the Oshman Family JCC. Ms. Balan holds a Teaching Certification in ESL/EFL, B.A. in English Literature, and an M.A. in Second Language Education from Tel Aviv University.
Marianne Biron
French Teacher
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Marianne Biron
Marianne Biron is fascinated with foreign language acquisition and multiculturalism. She is French-American, born and raised in France, and spent part of her childhood in Japan. With a background in international relations and languages, Marianne has taught French in France, the United States, and Turkey. In addition to teaching, she has worked in foreign relations at the US Department of State in Washington DC and New Delhi, India, and in ocean policy at the European Institute for Marine Studies in Brest, France. She holds a B.A. in Law & English as a second language from University Lumieres Lyon 2 (Lyon, France) as well as a Master’s Degree in Public Policy and International Relations from University Jean Moulin Lyon 3 (Lyon, France) and a Master’s Degree in Urban Networks in Developing Countries from Sciences Po Rennes (Rennes, France). When she is not in the classroom, Marianne can be found traveling around the world or hiking America’s magnificent national parks.
Einav Cohen
Hebrew Teacher
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Einav Cohen
Einav Cohen is a native Hebrew speaker who was born in Israel and grew up in Rechovot. She has three kids, two of which made Alia to Israel. Einav is a highly experienced Hebrew language instructor to both native and non-native speaking students, Ms. Cohen taught Hebrew language at Hebrew College in Boston before relocating to the bay area and joining the faculty at Kehillah. While in Israel, she served in the Israeli army as an officer, training cadets. She also graduated from law school at Tel Aviv University and was admitted to the Israeli Bar and the CA Bar as a lawyer. Einav practiced civil law in Israel before relocating to the Bay Area and patent law litigation in CA after joining Kehillah.
Einav is also teaching high-school students at the Israeli after school Beged Kefet. In the summer of 2018 Einav started pursuing MA in teaching a language as a second language in Middlebury College.
Teresa Fradejas
Spanish Teacher
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Teresa Fradejas
Teresa Fradejas was born in Spain and has always been fascinated by languages and different cultures. She studied English Philology and got her Masters in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Salamanca, Spain. While studying her masters degree she worked as an intern at the English Studies department at said university. Despite initially planning to pursue a career in academia, she quickly realized that teaching was her true passion. After studying to become a teacher in Spain, England, and the US, she went back to Spain to teach English as a Second Language. After a few years, she then decided to move to the US. She holds a California Teaching Credential to teach both English and Spanish. She opted for Spanish this time which brought her to our Kehillah.
Sarah Janda, Ph.D.
Latin Teacher
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Sarah Janda, Ph.D.
Inspired by a lifelong love of language, mythology, and the art of Greece and Rome, Sarah Janda pursued the study of classics as both an undergraduate and a graduate student, with a particular concentration on Latin poetry of the first century CE.
Anna Michele
Spanish Teacher
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Anna Michele
A native from Spain, Anna Michele holds a Law degree from Public University of Navarra and an MBA from University of Deusto, both Spanish institutions. After working in finance in Spain at several companies -both small and multinational corporations-, she moved to the Bay Area a few years ago where she made a successful transition to a career as Spanish instructor after discovering serendipitously a passion for teaching the Spanish language. Prior to joining Kehillah, Anna taught Spanish to high school students at several centers located in the extended Bay Area, both in a traditional classroom setting as well as a one on one tutor.
Hope Tsai, Ph.D.
Mandarin Teacher
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Hope Tsai, Ph.D.
Hope Tsai is a passionate Mandarin language educator dedicated to fostering a motivating language learning environment with 5C (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) and project-based learning (PBL). She was born in Taiwan and came to the States 16 years ago to pursue her graduate study in second language education in Connecticut. She later earned her Ph.D. in Education from Pennsylvania State University (PSU).
She has taught Mandarin in both school and private settings to students to adult learners in Taiwan, Germany, and the USA for over 10 years. She was also a diversity specialist and an online campus tech support with PSU. In her Mandarin language classes, she always connects lessons with real-life topics to cultivate students’ interest and critical thinking, to be more creative, and to collaborate and communicate with other classmates and teachers. She believes everyone can learn different languages and teaching is a work of the heart! She also advocates classical Chinese philosophy where an educator not only transmits knowledge, provides classes, but also guides students when confused. Outside of the Mandarin classroom, she is a curriculum designer, career coach, world traveler, hiker, and connoisseur. She also enjoys volunteering, music concerts, sports games, Chinese chess, windsurfing, and cooking.