Our Teachers

Rachel Amsterdam

Third Grade General Studies Teacher

Ms. Amsterdam first joined CCJDS as a long-term substitute during the 2024-25 school year. After many years as a teacher and administrator in public schools, Ms. Amsterdam found herself at home here and loves being part of our community. She taught 2nd Grade General Studies in 2025-26 is thrilled to be moving up with her class; she is the 3rd Grade General Studies teacher this year. Prior to joining CCJDS, Ms Amsterdam had over a decade of experience as a lower school teacher in the Bay Area, most recently in the Oakland Unified School District. She has her BA (Religious Studies) from Cal State Fullerton and Multiple Subject Credential from National University. Joined CCJDS in 2025.

Hagit Ayalon

Hebrew and Jewish Studies Teacher / K-4th Grade Hebrew Curriculum Coordinator

Ms. Ayalon loves working with students of all ages at CCJDS. This year she is teaching first grade Hebrew and Jewish Studies and sixth and eighth grade Hebrew, as well as coordinating our kindergarten-fourth grade Hebrew program. As a teacher, she infuses her work with warmth and creative energy that motivates and delights her students. Prior to moving to the United States, Ms. Ayalon taught both middle school and high school in Israel. She graduated with honors from Hebrew University with a BA in English Linguistics and an MA in Education. Joined CCJDS in 2011.

Hana Bar-Klein

Hebrew and Jewish Studies Teacher

Ms. Bar-Klein currently teaches fourth grade Hebrew and Jewish Studies, and fifth and sixth grade Jewish Studies. She also supports Director of Jewish Education Mirit Grembek in leading our tefillah (prayer), Shabbat program, and the yearlong program of Jewish holiday celebrations. Hana also supports our Shinishinim program in its successful implementation and mentors our Shinshinit. (You can learn about our Shinshinit, Adam, by reading his bio on our Administration and Staff page) Prior to joining CCJDS, Ms. Bar-Klein taught Hebrew at Krieger Schechter Day School in Baltimore, Maryland, and General Studies and Science in Israel. She received her Bachelor of Education from the Kaye Academic College for Education in Beer-Sheva, Israel, and she holds a Master of Education with honors from Hebrew University in Israel. She joined CCJDS in 2020.

Lior Ben Hur

Music Director

Born and raised in Jerusalem, Lior Ben-Hur has worked in music education in the Bay Area since 2004. Prior to joining his current role, he spent 8 years as the Music Director at Yavneh Day School in Los Gatos. In 2013, Lior won the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education, recognizing his innovative approaches to building Jewish community through music. He founded and leads Music By Heart, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping schools and organizations build community through music and music education. Lior’s band, Sol Tevél, has released three studio albums – including World Light, a collection of songs that aims to shed a new light and contemporary interpretation on old Jewish texts, ideals and mysticism; and So I Wander, an eclectic Reggae album which debuted at #14 on Billboard charts for Top Reggae Album. In his second year at CCJDS, Lior is expanding our program – adding a weekly music class for 6th grade and mentoring Annie Simmons in her new role as our K-1 Music teacher. Lior will teach the 2-6th Music classes and continue to provide Song Leadership with ruach (spirit) at Shabbat and other special events. Joined CCJDS in 2024.

Racheli Ben Shushan

Fine Arts Specialist

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 has taught art and Hebrew. Currently, she teaches our Fine Art Elective in Middle School, our K-5th grade art classes and a popular after-school art enrichment program. Trained at the Michlelet Oat Art School in Jerusalem. Joined CCJDS in 2006.

Julia Bruce

Drama Specialist / Lower School Teaching Support

Ms. Julia Bruce teaches 2nd-5th grade Drama and serves as a teaching assistant primarily in the 4th grade. Ms. Bruce has been the K-8th Grade Theatre Director at Alameda Children’s Musical Theatre/Tomorrow Youth Repertory for over 13 years. She also has extensive experience as a substitute teacher both at CCJDS and, earlier in her career, in an Oakland charter school. Ms. Bruce has a Master’s of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Mills College and a BA in Modern English Literature, with a minor in Russian Literature, from University of California, Santa Cruz. Joined CCJDS in 2025.

Adeelee Fox

First Grade General Studies Teacher

Ms. Adeelee Fox has served in multiple lead teaching roles at CCJDS, including General Studies in 4th grade, our COVID-era K/1 class, and 1st grade. She has also been a lead teacher on our Judaic Studies team, teaching 4th Grade and 6th Grade Judaics and 4th Grade SHIR HaLev service learning. This year she returns to the full-time 1st Grade General Studies teaching role. Prior to joining CCJDS, Ms. Fox taught at the Ronald C. Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City. She has her BA in Language Studies from UC Santa Cruz and a Teaching Certificate from the Day School Teacher Leadership program, DeLeT, of Hebrew Union College. Joined CCJDS in 2020.

Laurie Gold

Middle School Humanities Teacher and Team Leader / Learning Support Director

A talented teacher who loves learning, Laurie Gold originally joined CCJDS as a middle school Math teacher and later transitioned to two other roles that she loves, as a middle school Humanities teacher and team leader and a Learning Support Director. This year she is teaching 6th grade and 8th grade English, as well as leading the Middle School Humanities team. During her educational career, which spans over 20 years, Ms. Gold has developed a passion for working with students across disciplines – including teaching middle school Humanities at Tehiyah Day School – and supporting teachers as a coach and learning specialist. As our 6th-8th Grade Learning Support Director, Ms. Gold works with teachers, students, and families to support differentiation in curriculum and teaching. She also offers professional development and coaching to faculty to strengthen our ability to understand our students’ diverse learning styles and differentiate teaching to help all students thrive. For students with diagnosed learning differences, she facilitates a strong home-school partnership and works with teachers to develop and implement appropriate interventions and accommodations to support student success. Ms. Gold received her BA from Boston University School of Education and MA in Childhood Education from City College of New York. Joined CCJDS in 2022.

Andrea Hess

Fourth Grade General Studies Teacher / Senior Administrator

Ms. Hess brings 29 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. 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.

Adelia Hunt

Second Grade General Studies Teacher

Ms. Adelia Hunt, entering her sixth year at CCJDS, is thrilled to be the 2nd Grade General Studies Teacher this year. During the 2025-26 school year, she taught this class as 1st Graders and she is delighted to continue growing and learning with them. Ms. Hunt completed the DeLeT Teacher Training Institute Program, a credentialing program of the School of Education at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Ms. Hunt holds a BA with honors in Political Science from Barnard College and a JD with honors from American University Washington College of Law. Prior to entering the field of education, Ms. Hunt practiced law, worked in Congressional Affairs and as Assistant to the Ambassador at the Embassy of Israel in Washington D.C., conducted research at a political think tank in Israel, and taught courses in Constitutional Law to public high school students in Washington, D.C. Joined CCJDS in 2021.

Aliza May

Hebrew and Jewish Studies Teacher 

Ms. May has taught Hebrew and Jewish Studies to CCJDS students of all ages. She is thrilled to work this year in kindergarten and second grade. A native of Israel, Ms. May loves bringing Israeli culture (and food!) into her Hebrew curriculum. She also excels at helping her students make connections between modern life and ancient texts, and put values into action through our SHIR HaLev service learning program. Prior to joining CCJDS, Ms. May taught Hebrew and Jewish Studies to students at Congregations B’nai Tikvah and B’nai Shalom. Professionally, Ms. May has also been a court reporter and court clerk in the trial courts in the Southern District of Israel. She received specialized training in teaching Hebrew at the Tal Am Language Institute in Jerusalem. Joined CCJDS in 2016.

Mahsa Saadati

Lower School Teaching Support

Mahsa Saadati serves as a Teaching Assistant with her primary assignment this year in 2nd grade General Studies. Ms. Saadati’s professional background has spanned the worlds of education and business. She is a piano teacher and, earlier in her career, spent several years as a professional tutor working with students in Math, Science, and English. She stepped away from education to pursue a career as a Data Analyst in the Tech and Financial sectors, but found that it could not bring her the joy and meaning that she found in working with children. She’s thrilled to be back in the classroom. Ms. Saadati has an MS in Applied Data Science from Syracuse University; a BS in Physiology from San Francisco State University; and an AA in Music from The Bahá’í Institute for Higher Education. Joined CCJDS in 2025.

Haya Sansani

Annie Simmons

Kindergarten General Studies Teacher / Drama Specialist

Ms. Annie Simmons, our Kindergarten General Studies teacher, also takes great joy in teaching drama and music. This year she is teaching K-1 Drama classes. Ms. Simmons is passionate about integrating arts in education and bringing song, movement, crafts, and games to learning environments. She performs throughout the Bay Area and beyond as a member of the Americana band The Live Oaks. Prior to CCJDS, Ms. Simmons taught collaborative playwriting and improv at the San Francisco Mime Troupe and was a nanny and Drama Specialist at Camp Tawonga. Ms. Simmons graduated with honors from Saint Mary’s College of California with a BA in Justice, Community, and Leadership. Joined CCJDS in 2021.

Catie Warburton

Fifth Grade General Studies Teacher

Ms. Warburton infuses her fifth grade classroom with kindness, intellectual curiosity, and creativity. Before coming to CCJDS, she taught science in the Lafayette School District for five years and spent two years as a second grade instructional aide at Lafayette Elementary School. Ms. Warburton has a BA in Biological Sciences and German Language and Literature from UC Santa Barbara and her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from Notre Dame De Namur University. When not at CCJDS, she enjoys knitting, cooking, and spending time with her family. Joined CCJDS in 2018.