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Jewish New Teacher Project joins Prizmah, the network for Jewish day schools. Visit Prizmah.org to learn more.
Jewish New Teacher Project is joining Prizmah, the network for Jewish day schools, pending approval by the NY Attorney General. Meet the team delivering the same high quality JNTP programming below.
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Nina Bruder is the CEO of JNTP. Nina has an extensive background in Jewish non-profit management, having served as the Executive Director at Bikkurim: Advancing New Jewish Ideas for ten years and at Drisha Institute for Jewish Education for six years. She also serves as adjunct faculty at the Wagner School at New York University.
Nina holds a B.A. in Sociology of the American Jewish Community from Brandeis University, a Masters in Public Policy from the Harvard Kennedy School, and studied for two years at the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies in Israel. She also is a Wexner Graduate Fellowship alumna. Nina can be reached at [email protected].
Suri Ganz is Director, Teacher Induction at JNTP. Suri joined JNTP in 2007 to support new teachers as a visiting mentor in day schools in Brooklyn and Queens. She currently develops and facilitates programming for mentor training and new teacher seminars. Suri also leads JNTP’s recruitment efforts.
Suri has been active in middle and high school Jewish education for over 25 years and, since 2009, has been involved in co-authoring Foundations, a high school curriculum currently implemented in Jewish schools across the country. Suri holds an M.S. Ed in Curriculum Development and Outcomes Assessments from Aspen University. Suri can be reached at [email protected].
Fayge Safran Novogroder is Director, Administrator Support Program at JNTP. A founding mentor in JNTP, Fayge trains mentors and principals, as well as coaches principals one-on-one. She also develops materials and resources for JNTP’s programs.
Fayge previously was Assistant Principal at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School for Girls; served as founding editor of Ten Da’at, a Jewish educational journal; was adjunct instructor at Yeshiva University’s Stern College; and taught in day schools for over 30 years. Fayge has a B.A. in English Literature from Brooklyn College, an M.A. in English Literature from New York University, and an M.S. in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate Studies at Yeshiva University. Fayge can be reached at [email protected].
Allana Friedman is a Program Consultant at JNTP, where she co-facilitates professional development training for Year 1 Mentors. She began her teaching career in LAUSD in 2004 and took a position as a curriculum coordinator and instructional coach in 2011. Joining New Teacher Center in October 2019, Allana began working with school districts and partners across the country as part of the program team. In the fall of 2020, she joined the JNTP team. Allana holds a BA in Journalism and Political Science from Indiana University and a Master’s degree and teaching credentials from Pepperdine University. Allana can be reached at [email protected].
Alanna Kotler has worked in the field of education for over 20 years. As both a teacher and administrator, Alanna’s areas of expertise include teacher mentoring, leadership coaching, curriculum auditing, development and implementation. In addition to being a certified leadership coach through the ICF, Alanna is a trained facilitator in the Immunity to Change™ approach, a transformational tool to bring about personal and organizational change. Alanna has worked with leaders from across North America as part of the Harvard Graduate School of Education Principals Institute, providing leadership coaching and guidance with new initiatives. Alanna is passionate about building capacity in schools and working collaboratively with leaders and teachers to bring about the best outcomes for students. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in English and American Literature from Brandeis University and a Masters from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Alanna can be reached at [email protected].
Valerie Mitrani is a Senior Program Consultant at JNTP where she designs and facilitates professional learning for mentors, new teachers and school leaders. She also serves as Director of Day School Professional Development at the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), Miami.
Valerie has been involved in with JNTP since 2008, serving as a visiting mentor for Miami schools and as a Program Leader and Facilitator of the CAJE-JNTP Induction Program. Valerie is a graduate of the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University with a dual MA in Jewish Communal Service and Near and Eastern and Judaic Studies. Valerie can be reached at [email protected].
Vicky Kairy is a Program Consultant at JNTP, where she provides professional development for administrators. Vicky has been involved in Jewish education for 20 years, most recently as Lower School General Studies and Judaic Studies Assistant Principal at Barkai Yeshivah in Brooklyn. Vicky also mentored beginning teachers in early childhood programs and elementary schools with JNTP; coached middle school teachers as a Judaic Studies Educational Coach; led an induction program supporting new teachers and mentors; and taught General and Judaic studies in grades K-8 for 15 years. She holds a BA from Brooklyn College and studied education at Touro College Graduate School of Education and Special Education. Vicky can be reached at [email protected]
Rachie Moche is a Program Consultant for JNTP, where she serves as a mentor and is on the Development team. Rachie worked in Special Education for the NYC Department of Education and was an adjunct professor at the Azrieli Graduate School, Yeshiva University. She holds a B.A. in History from City College, a B.S. in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University, an M.S. in Special Education from Hunter College, and an EdD in Administration and Supervision from Yeshiva University’s Azrieli Graduate School of Education. She is a founder of Ben Porat Yosef, a yeshiva day school in Bergen County, NJ. Rachie can be reached at [email protected].
Karali Pitzele is a Program Consultant with JNTP, where she serves as a facilitator and coach to early career administrators through the Administrator Support Program. Karali began her career as a Humanities teacher, then founded The Green School in Brooklyn, where she was principal for six years. Karali then worked in Jakarta, Indonesia with a franchise of K-12 bilingual independent schools. Karali served as NYC Program Director at New Teacher Center from 2014-19 before transitioning to the JNTP team. She holds a B.A. in Cross-Cultural Studies from Antioch College, an M.S. in Teaching from New School University, and a Building Administrator License from New York City Leadership Academy & Baruch College. Karali can be reached at [email protected].
Jason Randall is a Program Operations Associate at JNTP. He has nearly a decade of experience helping nonprofits and small businesses manage projects and engage audiences. Prior to JNTP, Jason worked in a variety of marketing roles ranging from content creation to advertising sales. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Information Technology from Florida State University. Jason can be reached at [email protected].
Leah Volynsky is a Program Manager at JNTP for the Teacher Induction program. Leah has years of experience working in Jewish non-profits and higher education. Leah holds a B.A. from Hofstra University in Public Relations and an M.A. from New York University in Media, Culture and Communications. She also is a graduate of the Brandeis Jewish Leadership Incubator nonprofit management program. Leah immigrated with her family from Moscow to the US in 1996. Leah can be reached at [email protected].
Evan Weiner is a Program Consultant at JNTP, where he facilitates professional learning for mentors and new teachers and provides one-on-one coaching for mentors. He has been involved with Jewish Education for over 20 years. Evan began his connection with JNTP as a new teacher and eventually became a mentor himself, mentoring teachers in both General and Judaic Studies departments. He has been an educational leader in both formal and informal educational settings, and has brought his JNTP training to elicit the best in his staff partners. Most recently, Evan served as Judaic Studies Principal, Curriculum Coordinator, and Instructional Coach at Ohr Chadash Academy in Baltimore before joining the JNTP staff. Evan participated in the YOU Lead Educational Leadership Program and JETSIsrael Edtech Incubator Program, and he holds an M.Ed. from Azrieli School of Education. Evan can be reached at [email protected].
Judith is a Program Consultant at JNTP, where she serves as a facilitator and coach to early career administrators through the Administrator Support Program. Judith has been collaborating with NY-area Day School and Yeshiva educators and leaders to provide tailored professional learning and growth, across both General and Judaic Studies, for 20 years. She is passionate about understanding each learner’s context and co-creating solutions that make sense in their setting. Prior to her current focus on leadership and Professional Development (PD) at The Jewish Education Project, Judith was a K-8 classroom teacher and later a Principal at Westchester Day School. She can be reached at [email protected].
Rachel Harari is an Associate Program Consultant at JNTP, where she co-facilitates new teacher training. She is also an Associate Lecturer at Columbia University and a middle school English Language Arts teacher at Yeshivah of Flatbush. Rachel is currently working on her PhD at Teachers College, Columbia University, within their Educational Leadership program. Through her work as a Department Chair for six years at Magen David Yeshivah High School in Brooklyn, New York, Rachel was inspired to study the role of the high school department chair in Modern Orthodox schools in New York City. Rachel received her M.S. in Special Education from Brooklyn College, and her B.S. in English Education from New York University, where she published her research on mathematics anxiety in elementary school students: “Mathematics Anxiety in Young Children: An Exploratory Study.” Rachel is a 2016 recipient of The Covenant Foundation’s Pomegranate Prize, which recognizes emerging leaders in the field of Jewish Education.
Lauren Katz is JNTP’s Director of Development, where she oversees the organization’s fundraising efforts and marketing and communications initiatives in an effort to advance JNTP’s mission and strategic goals. Lauren’s portfolio includes strategic planning, donor cultivation, engagement, and gift acquisition. She has an extensive background in Jewish non-profit management with a specific focus on fundraising and development, most recently serving as the Director of Marketing & Communications and Alumni Relations at SAR High School for over four years and at the Ramaz School for seven years as the Director of Alumni Relations. In addition, Lauren worked at the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Detroit and UJA-Federation of MetroWest, NJ in the campaign and planning and allocations departments. Lauren holds a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Michigan and attended the University of Michigan School of Social Work and Jewish Communal Leadership Program. Lauren can be reached at [email protected].
