The School's commitment to a superior academic experience begins with superior instruction. Small class sizes assure that each student benefits from the faculty's depth of training and experience.
Dean Goldfein, Head of School
Now in his thirteenth year as Head of School at CCJDS, Mr. Goldfein has earned widespread respect from colleagues, students, and parents. He possesses extensive experience in curriculum development, faculty hiring and evaluation, student assessment, fundraising and working with parent groups and governing boards as well as an extraordinary passion and commitment to education of Jewish youth. He served as Dean of Students and history teacher at Sacred Heart Preparatory and taught English at Brandeis Hillel Day School. MEd Administration, SFSU; MA, University of Virginia; BA History, UC Berkeley. Joined CCJDS in 2000 as the first Head of School.
Lisa Friedman, Dean of Faculty
Ms. Friedman brings extensive experience in elementary teaching and teacher education, including four years teaching children and student teachers at Mills College, 12 years teaching many different grade levels in both public and private schools, and leadership roles in program evaluation, curriculum development, and parent education. At CCJDS, she oversees professional growth, standardized testing, program individuation, and General Studies curriculum development and methodology. MA Education and BA Psychology, UC Berkeley. Joined CCJDS in 2002.
Rabbi Daniel Kohn, Rabbi-in-Residence & Judaics
Rabbi Dan joined CCJDS with an impressive list of academic accomplishments and solid experience in Jewish Day Schools as both a teacher and program director. His love for teaching and working with children and families makes him an outstanding addition to the school. He received his ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary, NY; BA Washington University, St. Louis; BS University of Judaism, Los Angeles. Joined CCJDS in 2005.
Dan Katzki, Business Manager
Mr. Katzki was brought on as business manager to apply his extensive experience in the business world to the benefit of CCJDS. He is a CPA (inactive status) with experience in both tax and audit at a major accounting firm and two decades of experience as a Controller and CFO in the private sector. He has served on several Boards of Jewish organizations including Congregation B’nai Shalom in Walnut Creek and Contra Costa Midrasha. BS Business Administration, UC Berkeley. Joined CCJDS in 2011.
Amy Wittenberg, Admissions Director
Ms. Wittenberg brings a career of work in the Jewish community, non-profit management, customer service and sales to CCJDS as our Admissions Director. Prior to joining CCJDS Ms. Wittenberg coordinated San Francisco’s Israel in the Garden Festival. Amy lived in Israel for 10 years and worked in the hotel industry . BA Health Education, University of Washington; One-Year Program, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Certificate, Hotel Management, UCLA. Joined CCJDS in 2005.
Monica Frame, Counselor
Ms. Frame, LCSW, worked for S.F. Jewish Family and Children’s Services for ten years providing individual and family therapy, and developed and facilitated socialization groups for children. She now works, consults, and speaks at schools and preschools throughout the East Bay. MSW, SFSU; BA Music, California State University, Hayward. Joined CCJDS in 2006.
Rebecca Murray, Office Manager
Ms. Murray wears many hats in her job as CCJDS’s Office Manager. She takes care of all the office support, keeps open lines of communication with our parents, helps our students when they are not well or hurt... just to name a few of her duties! She has worked in marketing, management, sales, and administrative support for high tech and non-profit organizations. She also has extensive experience managing a children's business in the East Bay. BA Mass Communications, UC Davis. Joined CCJDS in 2006.
Rachel Ben Shushan, Art Specialist & Hebrew
Ms. Ben Shushan is a talented artist and dedicated teacher. Born in Israel, she worked in the Iriyah Matnas V'Votizor V'Naamat - a highly regarded children’s art program - until moving to the US. Since arriving in the Bay Area in 2005, Ms. Ben Shushan has taught art at Jewish Day Schools. At CCJDS she teaches both Art and Hebrew. Trained at the Michlelet Oat Art School in Jerusalem. Joined CCJDS in 2006.
Lawrence Delaney, General Studies
Mr. Delaney, originally from Wales, taught second through sixth grades at schools in Oakland, Germany, and Dubai prior to coming to CCJDS. He brings great enthusiasm for teaching, music and athletic talents as leader of our rock band and one of our physical education instructors. Mr.Delaney enjoys introducing the students to cricket and non-contact rugby. He has authored a children’ book, “Detective Sniffer Investigates” a best seller on Amazon. Visual Cultures (Magna cum Laude), University of Derby in England; MA Media and Cultural Studies, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia; Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, Open University, MEd Education, Open University,England. Joined CCJDS in 2006.
Dr. Galit Franbuch, Hebrew/Judaics
Dr. Franbuch was born and raised in Tel Aviv, Israel and moved to the United States in 1996. With a great deal of warmth and talent, she has enthusiastically taught Hebrew and Judaics in Bay Area Jewish Day schools and religious schools since 1996. BA Psychology and Criminology, with honors, Bar Ilan University, Israel; MA Psychology, California School of Professional Psychology, Alameda; PsyD. Clinical Psychology, Family and Child Emphasis Area, California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University, Alameda, CA. Joined CCJDS in 2008.
Danielle Garrison, Math
Ms. Garrison, originally from New York City, New York, brings a wealth of experience teaching as a hardworking, assertive, and thorough math instructor. Prior to CCJDS, she taught middle school math at St. Patrick School in Rodeo, Ecole Notre Dame des Victoires in San Francisco, and Our Lady Queen of Peace in Baltimore, MD. BS Business Administration, University of Buffalo; MA Education, University of San Francisco. Joined CCJDS in 2008.
Mary Beth Kierstead, General Studies
Ms. Kierstead began her teaching career in 2000 in New York City when she entered Teachers College, Columbia University where she was a Peace Corps Fellow. She has experience in both public and private schools. Ms. Kierstead strongly believes a teacher's role is to nurture children's natural curiosity and guide their intuition to academic success. MA TESOL Teachers College, Columbia University; BA French and Economics, University of Missouri; California Teaching Certificate Cal State Monterey Bay. Joined CCJDS in 2008.
Hadas Rave, Hebrew/Judaic Studies
Ms. Rave was born in the United States and lived her early years in Ohio and Missouri. In 1997 she moved to Israel and taught 4-15 year-olds for nine years at the alternative school - Meitar on Kibbutz Bet Oren, Israel before coming to CCJDS as a Hebrew and Judaics teacher. Studied Communications Drury University, BA Communications Warren Wilson College, North Carolina. Joined CCJDS in 2008.
Sarah Schwartz, General Studies
Ms. Schwartz has taught Kindergarten at CCJDS since 2005, she brings a warmth, intelligence, and lots of fascinating stories about her dog to our full day Kindergarten schedule. Her classroom blends academics and play to create a wonderful transition into elementary school. Prior to coming to CCJDS she taught Kindergarten in Oakland and was the Math Team Leader for her school. MA SFSU; BA UC Santa Cruz. Joined CCJDS in 2005.
Dr. Michele Spitulnik, Director, Center for Science Education
Dr. Spitulnik taught high school chemistry and physics in Michigan before pursuing a doctorate in science education from the University of Michigan. Since 2002, she's been on the faculty at the Graduate School of Education at UC Berkeley, designing middle school science curriculum and implementing professional development courses for science teachers. BA Chemistry Vassar College; MS Materials Engineering and PhD Science Education, University of Michigan. Joined CCJDS in 2008.
Alissa Levy, General Studies
Ms. Levy grew up in Berkeley. She has taught 4th-6th grades for more than twelve years. She has also spent four years as a support provider for the Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment Program, mentoring newly credentialed teachers. Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, St. Mary’s College; BA with honors Political Science and Rhetoric UC Davis. Joined CCJDS in 2009.
Eliza Becker, General Studies
Ms. Becker spent five years teaching first grade at Willow Creek Academy in Sausalito before joining CCJDS. She also implemented a reading intervention program for students in grades 1-3, and tutored students in grades 1-4 with a language arts focus. She is thrilled about teaching in a vibrant Jewish community. BA Communications, UC Davis, Teaching Credential and MA Teaching Reading, USF.
Joined CCJDS in 2010.
Cesar Martinez, Spanish Teacher
A native of Toluca, Mexico, Cesar studied Accounting at the Instituto Politécnico Nacional in Mexico City. He has experience working as a summer programs counselor in Mexico, where he helped children with their school work, offered enrichment activities and taught them how to swim. Cesar also has experience teaching illiterate adults how to read and write. At Viva el Español Cesar has taught a wide range of ages and proficiencies, from 1st grade beginning students, to bilingual elementary school students, to Los Chavos (teens), with whom he has a particularly great connection. He loves to teach and says “I feel like I’m a child again when I work with children”. Joined CCJDS in 2010.
Sarah Shwedel, General Studies
Ms. Shwedel implemented the English Language Development program for 5th graders while in her first rotation as a student teacher at her placement school. She brings a great deal of warmth into the classrooms at CCJDS. Multiple Subject Teaching Credential CSU; BA Liberal Studies/Child Development, CSU Chico, Joined CCJDS in 2010.
Joel Siegel, Kindergarten Music Teacher and Song Leader
Mr. Siegal has been active in the Bay Area Jewish Music scene since 1990. Joel serves as a song leader and works for Temple Isaiah and several other Bay Area congregations, Jewish day schools, and preschools. He tutors Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. BA Peace & Conflict Studies UC Berkeley, JD, UC Davis. Joined CCJDS in 2002.
Teaching Staff:
Hagit Ayalon, Hebrew Teacher
Ms. Ayalon taught at the Lerner Jewish Community Day School in Durham, North Carolina for 5 years prior to coming to CCJDS. BA, English Linguistics and MEd Educational Programs and Curriculum Development, and a Teaching Certificate, Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Joined CCJDS in 2011.
Amber Dyson, Drama Teacher and Performing Arts Director
Ms. Dyson teaches Drama classes and has directed the popular CCJDS musical production since 2010. She has been teaching theater since 2004. Ms. Dyson was most recently "seen" in Zanzibar Puppet Theatre's production of Cinderella. Ms. Dyson also directs for Bay Area Children's Theater, sings with Pacific Mozart Ensemble, and performs with the Un-Scripted Theater Company. Associate's degree in Liberal Arts, Solano Community College. Joined CCJDS in 2010.
Jessica Duran, Spanish Teacher
Bio Coming Soon!
Eden Bruner, Development Director
Ms. Bruner brings to CCJDS her extensive experience in public service, community leadership, and fundraising. Prior to joining CCJDS, she was the Director of Development and Marketing at Jewish Family and Children’s Services of San Francisco, the Peninsula, Marin and Sonoma Counties. Ms. Bruner has also worked as a diplomat with the United States Department of State in Washington D.C. and the Former Soviet Union. MA International Relations and Economics, Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies; BA Soviet and Russian Studies, Harvard University. Joined CCJDS in 2011.
Nick Malick, Middle School Humanities
Mr. Malick, originally from Piedmont, CA, taught for three years at the Tilton School in Tilton, NH, before accepting a two-year teaching fellowship at the University of Oregon. Prior to coming to CCJDS Mr. Malick taught at Orinda Academy. BA Philosophy, Colby College; MFA Creative Writing, University of Oregon. Joined CCJDS in 2011.
