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Spencer Armada is a teacher and scholar from the California Bay Area and came to The Kehillah School after completing his doctoral work in 18th-Century Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Mr. Armada’s dissertation, entitled “Sound, Self, and the Social: Aurality and Narrative in the English Long 18th Century,” argues that discussions of sound and scenes of hearing in the early English novel are in fact ways of conceptualizing and critiquing emerging forms of sociality and knowledge production. His scholarly research is broadly interested in the historical development of English literature and the novel form, subjectivity, and ethics, and his teaching interests cohere around the social function of reading and writing and the role of the humanities in shaping public life.

He has taught in various capacities over the last decade at San Francisco State University and the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is passionate about discovering with his students at Kehillah the ways reading and writing can shape their lives.

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Ronit Balan is a native speaker of Hebrew. Ms. Balan has extensive training in teaching the 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 University, Tel Aviv University, and the 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.

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Erin came to Kehillah after getting her Ph.D. 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 the University of California, 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.

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Dr. Tammy Ben-Yaacov moved back to Palo Alto after living in Israel for 11 years, where she was a faculty member in Electrical Engineering at the Technion (10 years) and at Tel Aviv University (8 years). It was an absolute joy for her to teach and live in Israel. Prior to moving there, she worked as a Materials Engineer as well as taught Electrical Engineering as a lecturer at UC Santa Barbara, where she earned her Ph.D. 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. In a remote Peruvian village, she worked on a variety of Engineering and water quality projects with a focus on sustainable and ethical practices, and she worked with community members towards the common goal of improving quality of life and gaining access to clean water. She grew and learned a great deal, was humbled and inspired, and her experiences contributed to her approach to and passion for teaching. She also loves spending time with family and friends, especially out in nature, and tries to visit different cultures and places as much as possible.

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Jordana is thrilled to be a member of Kehillah! She has worked in education since graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in Communication and Education from Chapman University. Upon graduating from Chapman, Jordana moved to Boston for an Assistant Director position in the Undergraduate Admissions Office at Northeastern University. As an Assistant Director of Admission, Jordana worked with both first-year and transfer applicants. In three admissions cycles, Jordana read over 5,000 student applications. While working as an admissions professional at Northeastern, Jordana completed her Master’s of Science in Leadership and is eager to continue applying the leadership skills from the program within the school community. With experience in college counseling and advising, Jordana has worked with students across the Bay Area to help students reach their potential at the school that is the best fit for them, both inside and outside the classroom!

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Sophia is passionate about sharing her love of science with students. Born in the former USSR, she moved to Israel during her teenage years, where she earned both her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry from Bar-Ilan University. She later relocated to the United States, working as a Research Fellow at Catalytica in Mountain View, California. With over 25 years of experience teaching Chemistry, Biology, and AP Biology in public and private high schools across the Bay Area, Sophia finds joy in sparking students’ curiosity about the world around them. Outside the classroom, she enjoys hiking every weekend, watching movies, and creating art using acrylic, oil, and mixed media. Most of all, she treasures spending time with her two grandchildren.

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Richard has been an educator and school leader for nearly thirty years. He holds a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing from SUNY Empire State College and an MA in Teaching from Columbia University, where he was also an Adjunct Professor, teaching database design and programming. A native New Yorker, Richard taught English and was Upper School Dean at The Packer Collegiate Institute, and then served as Upper School Head at The Kew-Forest School and Middle School Head at International School of Brooklyn. Born into a theater family, Richard spent his early adult years as a professional performer, touring the world first as a dancer with the Washington Ballet, and later as an actor/singer/dancer in numerous shows, including starring in the European tour of the musical HAIR. He was also a professional rock musician, playing and leading multiple bands in the NYC tristate area, and worked for many years as a software developer and database designer at major Wall Street legal and financial firms. Richard is also an award-winning novelist under the pen name R.B. Woodstone.

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Naomi Cahn '12 is thrilled to return to her roots at The Kehillah School. After building a rigorous technical foundation in enterprise cybersecurity and front-line IT support at companies like CrowdStrike and Barracuda Networks, Naomi is bringing her expertise back to the community that shaped her own development. Alongside her corporate experience, she has operated her own independent IT consultancy, specializing in cloud infrastructure, incident response, and data privacy. Naomi holds over 20 technical certifications—including CompTIA Security+, Network+, and LPI Linux Essentials—and is currently completing her B.S. in Cloud & Network Engineering at Western Governors University. Outside of managing the school's digital ecosystem, Naomi enjoys live music, making and sharing memes, and cheering on San Jose's professional hockey teams. She is incredibly honored to support Kehillah’s students and faculty, ensuring that technology remains a seamless, empowering tool for education.

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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 run 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 about having patience with oneself through the process.

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Einav Cohen is a native Hebrew speaker who was born and raised in Rehovot, Israel. She has been a dedicated member of the Kehillah faculty since 2005, where she teaches Hebrew language and Israeli culture. In addition, she has taught high school students at the Israeli after-school program Beged Kefet for over a decade. Ms. Cohen brings extensive experience teaching both heritage and non-heritage Hebrew learners. She holds a Master of Arts from Middlebury College in Teaching a Language as a Second Language, combining research-based instructional practices with a deep passion for language education. Before pursuing a career in education, Ms. Cohen served as an officer in the Israel Defense Forces, where she trained officer cadets. She later earned her law degree from Tel Aviv University and was admitted to both the Israeli Bar and the California Bar. She practiced civil law in Israel and later worked in patent litigation. A lifelong advocate for Hebrew language and Israeli culture, Ms. Cohen is committed to inspiring students to develop linguistic proficiency, cultural understanding, and a meaningful connection to Israel. She is the proud mother of three children, all of whom made aliyah to Israel, and the grandmother of one grandchild.

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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. She studied Shakespeare at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, holds Bachelor of Arts degrees in Drama and Anthropology from the University of Washington, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of California, Davis.

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Zoë was born and raised in London, England. She studied Classics at the undergraduate level at Durham University and pursued her Master's degree in Classics and Education at Cambridge University. She has taught Latin and Classics for the past eight 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.

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Brian joined Kehillah after earning his Ph.D. in Slavic in 2021 at UC Berkeley. He has also taught at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and at the Lycée Tristan Corbière in Morlaix, France. 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. He received intensive training in Georgian language and culture through a Fulbright in the Republic of Georgia in 2023, and he continues his studies in Georgian language and culture. His teaching interests include the history and theory of the novel, creative nonfiction writing, and contemporary poetry. His research focuses on the interaction of brain science and literature in Dostoevsky and Tolstoy, and his scholarly work has appeared in The Slavic and East European Journal, Tolstoy Studies Journal, and The Dostoevsky Journal. In his spare time, he enjoys riding his bicycle, swimming in the San Francisco Bay, and participating in the Bay Area literary and arts scene.

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Rabbi Dennis brings a distinguished 43-year career to The Kehillah School, with an extensive background leading local, national, and international Jewish organizations. Throughout his career, he has been a steadfast advocate for pluralism, interfaith outreach, and communal diversity. He has a proven track record of partnering with lay leadership to strengthen governance, lead strategic planning, raise critical funds, and deepen member participation. Rabbi Dennis is now honored to serve as The Kehillah School's interim head of school.

His decades of service have afforded him diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. Whether directing Jewish summer camps, leading international educational travel to Israel, or serving as a pulpit rabbi, he has remained passionately committed to the growth and sustainability of the Jewish communal experience. His leadership roles have included 25 years as a pulpit rabbi, work at Jewish day schools, national teen educational programs, Jewish Community Federations, and JCCs.

Rabbi Dennis is married to Mandy Eisner, the director of development and membership at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills. They have two children: Max, a senior engineer at Truebeck Construction Co., and Sadie, an assistant teacher at the Synapse School and an outdoor educator with the San Francisco Parks Department.

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Rabbi 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 bestseller.

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Teresa Fradejas was born in Spain and has always been fascinated by languages and different cultures. She studied English Philology and got her Master's in Linguistics and Literature from the University of Salamanca, Spain. While studying her master's 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.

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Ryan Galer comes to Kehillah after two years at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem as part of the Pardes Teacher Fellowship. Before discovering a passion for Jewish learning, Ryan taught ESL in person and online for several years. He is also an artist, writer, and filmmaker. Born and raised in New England, Ryan studied French and film at Brown University and Paris VIII Vincennes-Saint Denis, completed a thesis film at RISD, and spent many years developing an artistic practice in Paris. He completed an MA in Contemporary Art at the Estonian Academy of Arts, including multiple study visits in Lithuania. Ryan’s master’s thesis explored patrilineal Jewish identity, home and belonging through Yiddish-learning and art-making. Following graduation, Ryan completed the Paideia One-Year Jewish Studies Program in Sweden. Ryan was a Creative Intern at the Jewish Museum of NY, a trainee at the Paideia Folkhögskola, and participated in the Generation J Yiddish Youth camp in Germany. Some of his interests include navigating the tension between tradition and modernity in Jewish life and the interplay of reality and fiction in performance art. A fan of languages, literature, travel, and dogs, Ryan is excited to explore another new home.

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Moshe Goodman is a Jewish educator with over 10 years of experience teaching at Jewish day schools, summer camps, synagogues, and interfaith groups. He earned his B.A. in Philosophy from Yeshiva University in 2006 and studied at Yeshivat Chovevei Torah Rabbinical School. Moshe spent six years 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, and the Jewish Arts Teen Fellowship. He also mentored the Human Rights Alliance, Interfaith Club, and Gay-Straight Alliance. Additionally, Moshe is a certified life coach, specializing in the Jonathan R. Wachtel System for Life Guidance and the Institute for Social and Emotional Intelligence. A theatre artist and educator, Moshe began studying acting and writing with Bruce Ornstein in 2008. He has written and staged over 20 one-act plays, and has worked with several theatre companies, including Wednesday Repertory and Naked Chicken Productions. In 2015, Moshe founded The Love Tank, an education and production company offering acting and playwriting courses. Through The Love Tank, he produced two one-act collections and his full-length play The Judah Encounter, which explores the boundary between reality and unreality.

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Anthony Grabowski has taught high school physics and math since 2010. He joined the Kehillah faculty in 2016. Before teaching, he worked 20 years as a process engineer in the Semiconductor and Hard Drive Industries. 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 ramped groove travel slower than an identical ball that is not rolling in a groove”? Or, “Are the results of a seven-game baseball World Series statistically significant”? It is thrilling 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.

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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. He is an avid Bay Area sports fan and continues to participate in several adult sports in his free time.

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Originally from Missouri, Jennifer Idleman has been teaching art and design in California for over 20 years. She holds a Bachelor 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 Master's in 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.

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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, Chico. Mr. Kaplan is passionate about sports and how they can be used to teach many life lessons. He and his wife, Debi, are proud parents of Kehillah graduates Ashley Kaplan ‘11 and Max Kaplan ‘11.

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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.

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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 Tbilisi State University, for students ranging from elementary school 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 sixth-degree black belt in Aikido. He retired from his position as a Senior Research Scientist at NASA to join a second startup, then re-retired into teaching and public service, serving as 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, a farmer in Colorado, and James, 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 goal of knowing his students and adjusting to their needs, combining project-based and group work with the chance to work independently or follow a defined curriculum. He believes the best results happen when students grapple with complex challenges.

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Huy Lam Vu is a dedicated mathematics professional with a Master's degree from California State University, East Bay, and a Bachelor of Science from California State University, East Bay. Currently a High School Mathematics Teacher at Art of Problem Solving in Santa Clara, he specializes in inspiring young mathematical talents through engaging teaching methods. With extensive tutoring experience spanning K-12 and advanced mathematics, Huy has mentored students in academic competitions and helped learners with diverse needs. His professional background includes teaching at Lydian Academy and working as a private tutor, consistently focusing on developing students' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Proficient in technical skills like C++, JavaScript, and MATLAB, Huy is passionate about education, machine learning, and emerging technologies.

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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.

Mr. Legallet 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 two 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.

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Kaylin is an experienced college counselor with a passion for supporting students as they navigate the complexities of college admissions. She has worked as a College Counselor and then as Director of College Counseling at top international high schools in China. Prior to joining Kehillah, Kaylin served as Director of Academics, overseeing academic operations and academic advising programs, at the Quarry Lane School in the Bay Area. Kaylin holds a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley, and an M.A. in Education and Human Development from George Washington University. In her free time, Kaylin enjoys hiking, camping, traveling, and crocheting. She has generated a small following on Instagram for her crochet designs (@LilCrochetedThings). Most of the time, Kaylin hangs out at home with her husband, daughter, and two cats.

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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 U.S. Government to Ancient Civilizations. She has also worked eight years producing/directing musical theater and five years coaching mock trials. She attended UC San Diego studying political science and has done graduate studies at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, 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.

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Sofya Osipov emigrated from Azerbaijan, a former republic of the Soviet Union, with her husband, son, and daughter in 1995. She holds a B.A. degree in Accounting/Business Administration from the Finance & Economics Institute, Baku, Azerbaijan. She has 25 years of accounting experience. She has been with Kehillah since 2006. She started as a bookkeeper and was promoted to Business Manager in 2010. She is passionate about Kehillah. Before Kehillah, her most recent position was with FCI Construction, Inc. for seven years (from 1999 to 2006).

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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 Shoshana Bocian (Class of 2010) played viola in the performance.

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Jamie Reichman is the Director of Strategy and Enrollment at The Kehillah School, where she helps guide the school’s growth and deepen its connection with students and families. She brings a systems-thinking, human-centered approach to her work and is passionate about cultivating school environments where people feel known, engaged, and aligned around shared values. Jamie holds a Master’s in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College at Columbia University and a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Illinois Wesleyan University. She has supported independent schools and mission-driven organizations through identity work, values alignment, strategic planning, and organizational transformation. Before joining Kehillah, Jamie led a consulting practice focused on identity and change in educational settings, and earlier in her career, she founded and ran a successful luxury event photography business. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, running, meaningful conversations, and exploring the world with her family.

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Thomas “Tom” Romero teaches music at Kehillah 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 in Teaching from Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont. He has composed original music for short films and documentaries, and he currently performs as principal guitarist with the Aurora Mandolin Orchestra/Ensemble, the Silver Strings Ensemble, Caffe Acoustico, and The Wentworth/Romero Flute and Guitar Duo. He has studied with internationally acclaimed musicians Richard Patterson (classical guitar) and Chris Aquavella (classical mandolin).

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Born and raised in San Diego, Molly Slater holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Visual Communication: Graphic Design from Northern Arizona University, with minors in Physics, High School Art Education, Art History, and Oil Painting. Her passion for art education began at 19, when she taught art abroad for a year in an international school. She has pursued multiple decade-long careers: art teacher, professional oil painter, and user experience software designer. Beyond her professional life, Molly is an avid consumer of physics and astronomy, attending public lectures at Stanford and SLAC. She enjoys exploring the SFMOMA and the natural beauty of our local ocean and mountain ranges. As a lifelong soccer player, Molly also loves attending women’s soccer games.

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Charles Sorrie, a historian of modern France and the United States, has published several articles on the history of World War I. He was a 2018 research fellow for the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs' "Living Legacy of World War I" project. He holds a PhD in International History from the London School of Economics and is currently writing a book on censorship of the French press in 1917-18.

Charles is from Canada, where he taught History of World War I at Trent University. Before joining The Kehillah School, Charles taught history and geography at the Lycée Français de San Francisco, where he directed a nationally award-winning Model United Nations team. At Kehillah, Charles directs both the Model United Nations Club and the Investment Club, and was recently a 2026 National History Day judge at the University of Maryland.

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coaching the Cross Country, JV Boys Basketball, and Boys Volleyball teams. She comes to Kehillah after working in the Stanford Athletic Department for 5 years as both the Women's Basketball Administrative Assistant and the Assistant Director of Olympic Sports Equipment. Prior to Stanford, Casey has worked in facilities, events, and operations with teams such as the University of San Francisco, Tampa Bay Rays, Fresno Grizzlies, and California State University, Bakersfield. Casey has coached a variety of sports such as basketball, volleyball, cross country, and badminton from elementary school to community college levels. Casey earned a Liberal Arts degree from Skyline College and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Sports Management from California State University, Bakersfield.

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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. When she's not at work on her novel-in-progress, you can find her lifting weights, reading, cooking, bookbinding, and spending time with friends and family. Ask her about Voiceful! She's published academic scholarship on 19th-century American women's literature and contemporary authors like Octavia Butler, and she's also published fiction and book reviews in literary magazines. With a Ph.D. in Literatures in English from Cornell University, she loves bringing her passion for reading, writing, and thinking about literature to the community at Kehillah.

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Hope Tsai is a passionate Mandarin language educator dedicated to fostering a motivating learning environment through 5C (Communication, Cultures, Connections, Comparisons, and Communities) and project-based learning. She was born in Taiwan and came to the United States 16 years ago to pursue graduate study in second language education in Connecticut, later earning her Ph.D. in Education from Pennsylvania State University (PSU). She has taught Mandarin in school and private settings to students and adult learners in Taiwan, Germany, and the USA for over 10 years, and also worked as a diversity specialist and online campus tech support representative at PSU. In her classes, she connects lessons to real-life topics to cultivate students’ curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity, and to build collaboration among classmates and teachers. She believes everyone can learn a new language and that teaching is a work of the heart, and she draws on classical Chinese philosophy, in which an educator not only transmits knowledge but also guides students when they’re confused. Outside the classroom, Hope is a curriculum designer, career coach, and avid traveler and hiker who enjoys volunteering, music concerts, sports games, Chinese chess, windsurfing, and cooking.

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Derek is a historian, teacher, and, in the words of friends and family, “professional student.” He comes to Kehillah following three years at Crystal Springs Uplands School, where he taught both middle and high school history. Before that, he taught history, geography, civics, and research methods at Khan Lab School. A native of Louisiana, Derek lost his southern drawl a long time ago but still impulsively says “ma’am,” “sir,” and “y’all.” He earned his undergraduate degrees in history and creative writing at the University of North Carolina and was a graduate student at Stanford for far too long. Along the way, he earned his master's in history and spent several years in French archives, where his research explored memory, culture, and politics in modern France and its empire. Derek and his spouse have lived in the Bay Area for over 20 years now. When not teaching, he loves watching movies and TV, listening to podcasts, playing the drums and guitar poorly, and reading just about anything he can get his eyes on.

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Maria Vicenty is from Puerto Rico and has been a science educator for 33 years. She has taught in California, Puerto Rico, Washington, and Nevada. In 1995, Ms. Vicenty received the A+ Teacher Award in Las Vegas, Nevada. In 2015, she received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching from President Barack Obama. Ms. Vicenty is passionate about sharing her love of science by engaging students in inquiry-based activities, fieldwork, and class debates that connect scientific concepts to everyday life. She enjoys watching students develop ownership, responsibility, and an appreciation for nature. Ms. Vicenty holds a Bachelor of Science in Education with a concentration in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She is endorsed to teach Biology, General Science, and Environmental Science in Puerto Rico and holds a California teaching credential in Biology.

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As Kehillah’s Administrative Coordinator, Elaine helps students, parents, and visitors with their administrative requests. She also works on confirming student attendance and is on the graduation committee supporting logistics.

Previously, Elaine worked in the marketing industry at Apple, Hallmark, and Sprint. She graduated from Stanford University with a B.A. in American Studies and Kellogg Graduate School of Management (Northwestern University) with an M.B.A. In her free time, she is writing a comic novel about five animals who decide to cross a magic field.

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Katherine grew up in the Bay Area and started her teaching career at Gersten Jewish School in San Leandro when she was 14. She went on to study biochemistry and molecular biology, math, and music at Mills College and holds a Masters of Education from Alder Graduate School. She taught math at KIPP Bay Area Schools before coming to Kehillah. Katherine is passionate about developing communication and connection within her community, as well as tending to her plants. She can be found wandering the campus with Damien, her very good service dog.