Dean Goldfein
Head of School
As founding 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. Mr. Goldfein serves as a Board Member of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS). 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.
Andrea Hess
Dean of Faculty, Curriculum, and Instruction / 4th Grade General Studies
Ms. Hess brings 27 years of teaching, curriculum, and administration experience to CCJDS. She has taught in classrooms ranging from pre-K through sixth grade in public and independent schools across the country. In the Bay Area, she taught lower elementary grades and chaired the professional development committee and social and emotional learning committee for 10 years at Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito and Bentley School in Oakland. In 2017-18, Ms. Hess was the Assistant Head of School, then Interim Head of School at Tehiyah Day School in El Cerrito. Ms. Hess also served as a literacy consultant, instructional coach, student teacher supervisor, and mentor teacher for BATTI (Bay Area Teacher Training Institute). Ms. Hess founded Balanced Literacy Consulting in 2010 to help schools implement literacy curriculum effectively and thoughtfully. This year in addition to her administrative role, Ms.Hess will also be teaching literacy in fourth grade. Ms. Hess holds a BA in Clinical Psychology from Tufts University, and a Masters in Curriculum and Teaching with a focus on literacy from Teachers College, Columbia University. Joined in CCJDS 2021.
Eden Allswang Bruner
Interim Head of School (Fall 2023) / Assistant Principal for Operations and Advancement
Ms. Bruner brings to CCJDS her extensive experience in public service, community leadership, marketing, 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. She holds an MA in International Relations and Economics from Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies and aBA inSoviet and Russian Studies fromHarvard University. Joined CCJDS in 2011.
Lauren Weisbaum
Assistant Principal for Lower School / Kindergarten General Studies Teacher
Mrs. Weisbaum is honored to serve CCJDS as Assistant Principal of Lower School and Lead General Studies Kindergarten Teacher. She brings over 17 years of experience and is passionate about supporting and enriching our vibrant community. Prior to joining our school, Mrs. Weisbaum taught in a variety of grade levels within Deerfield public schools, Chicago public schools, and the El Paso Independent School District. She served as a middle school literacy coach at Horace Mann Academy in Chicago, and has worked as an adjunct professor at the University of Texas, El Paso in the College of Education. She earned her BA from University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana and her MEd in Reading Education from the University of Texas. Joined CCJDS in 2018.
Danielle Garrison
Assistant Principal for Middle School / K-8th grade Math Coordinator
Ms. Garrison has worked in middle school education for 24 years. She returned to CCJDS last fall to provide math leadership, teaching our eighth grade Geometry class, supervising the Algebra program, and coaching lower school teachers to develop assessments and curricula. Ms. Garrison worked at CCJDS from 2007-2015 as a math teacher, Math Director, and Director of Operations, and went on to have enriching administrative and teaching experiences at larger schools, most recently teaching mathematics for six years at De La Salle High School in Concord. Ms. Garrison holds a BA in Business Administration with concentrations in Accounting and Finance from the University at Buffalo, as well as an MA in Education from the University of San Francisco.
Sharone Wiezel
Director of Middle School Student Life / Upper School (5-8) Hebrew Curriculum Coordinator
Our Director of Middle School Student Life, Ms. Wiezel also teaches eighth grade Level 2 Hebrew and oversees our 5th-8th Grade Hebrew program. Born and raised in San Francisco to an Israeli family, Ms. Wiezel grew up speaking Hebrew at home and attended the Hebrew Academy. She moved to Israel after high school graduation and joined the Israeli Defense Forces, serving in the paratroopers. After teaching English as a Second Language for nine years in Israel, Ms. Wiezel enjoys bringing Hebrew and Israel to life for our students here in the Bay Area. She has a BA in Education, specializing in ESL, from Seminar Kibbutzim in Tel Aviv. Joined CCJDS in 2009.
Mirit Grembek
Director of Jewish Life / Middle School Hebrew and Jewish Studies Teacher
Updated bio coming soon. Joined in 2005.
Dorit Hetz-Crane
Director of Admissions
Ms. Dorit Hetz-Crane is the CCJDS Admissions Director. She previously worked at The Shlenker Jewish Day School in Houston, Texas for almost 10 years where she served as as Director of Integrated Jewish Learning. After her move to the East Bay two years ago, she worked as the Director of Education at Congregation B’nai Tikvah in Walnut Creek. Ms. Hetz-Crane moved to the US from Israel as a teenager and has a BS in Management and Marketing from the University of Houston. Ms. Hetz-Crane is creative,detail oriented, and a team player. She loves spending time with her family, traveling, and cross stitching. Joined CCJDS in 2022.
Gal Morris
Office Manager
Ms. Morris brings tremendous care, organization, attention, and manages the Front Office. Born in Israel and raised in the US since age 10 by Israeli parents, she is bilingual. She is also known for her tremendous organizational skills and attention to detail. She is the first full-time CCJDS employee who is also a graduate! CCJDS Class of 2009.
Pamela Mitchell
Business Manager
Joined CCJDS in 2016.
Jeanie Goldeen Conneran
Librarian
Ms. Conneran has been involved with CCJDS since its inception in 2001. Her daughter, Mara, was a third grader that first year. Ms. Conneran began creating our library by purchasing books for the school; today, there are almost 12,000 books in the collection. Ms. Conneran, a fully credentialed teacher, has a MA in Children’s Literature and completed the Reading Specialist program at California State University at Hayward. She has been successfully teaching reading for more than 30 years.
Mike Brent
Operations and Business Office Support
Mr. Brent came to CCJDS in 2003 as a parent and active volunteer, serving as Co-President of the CCJDS Parents’ Association for five years. His twin daughters attended CCJDS from kindergarten through eighth grade. Mike has a BA in Economics from UC Santa Cruz, an MA in Economics from UC Davis, and has taught at the University of the Pacific, University of Phoenix, Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, and with the Contra Costa Community College District at Los Medanos and Diablo Valley Colleges. When not working, he enjoys travel, live music and SF Giants baseball. Joined CCJDS in 2012.
Deborah Pellegrino
Lunch Program Director
Mrs. Pellegrino is excited to bring her passion for food to CCJDS as the Lunch Program Director. She received her AA as well as Certifications in Baking and Pastry, Culinary Arts, and Hospitality Management from Diablo Valley College.
She has spent over 25 years baking and cooking in many Bay Area restaurants such as Wente Vineyards,Va De Vi, and Postino. Her love of the culinary arts also led her into the classroom teaching children’s cooking classes. Mrs. Pellegrino believes that every meal she creates should not only taste delicious but provide nourishment for both the mind and body. Joined CCJDS in 2023.
Kelsey Hammon
Speech Language Pathologist
Kelsey Hammon obtained her BA from UC Santa Cruz and her MA in Speech-Language Pathology from San Jose State University. Ms. Hammon received specialized training regarding hearing loss technologies and strategies for developing listening and spoken language as well as a total communication approach using sign language. Ms. Hammon strongly believes in collaborating with other professionals and involving families to provide an individualized and holistic approach to treatment. As a parent of two, Ms. Hammon is able to relate and better serve families and the children she works with. She is a Bay Area native who enjoys traveling, yoga, running (after her children :-p), trying new restaurants, and spending time with family and friends.
Monica Frame, LCSW
Counselor
Halel Amorai
SHINSHINIT (Israeli Ambassador)
Halel is a recent high school graduate from Israel who joins CCJDS for the year before she begins her army service. Halel brings to life Israel and Israeli culture for our students through fun and educational activities, and exposure to Israeli music, food, holidays, and everyday life. Halel works with all CCJDS students creating connections and memories and deepening students’ connection to Israel. Halel loves traveling, animals, cooking, reading, writing and drawing. Halel will spend the 2023-24 school year with our CCJDS.