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Nina Bruder is the Executive Director 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 nbruder@newteachercenter.org.
Fayge Safran Novogroder is Senior Manager, 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 Yor University, and an M.S. in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate Studies at Yeshiva University. Fayge can be reached at fsafran@newteachercenter.org.
Suri Ganz is Senior Manager, 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 sganz@newteachercenter.org.
Lauren Katz is the Director of Development at JNTP. 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.
Michael Bitton is an Associate Program Consultant at JNTP and Head of School in Yeshivas Ohr HaChinuch, a Jewish elementary school in Lakewood, NJ with a child-centered, constructivist approach to education. He has spent the last decade innovating and coaching teachers through workshops and presentations.
In 2013, Michael won the Young Pioneers Award from the Jewish Education Project, and, in 2014, received the Pomegranate Prize from the Covenant Foundation. In the 2015-16 school year, he took part in a year-long cohort with the Educational Leadership Academy at the High Tech High Graduate school of Education in San Diego, CA and is currently a doctoral student working on his Ed.D at the Azrieli Graduate School of Education. Michael can be reached at mbitton@newteachercenter.org
Chana Fox is Program Manager at JNTP. She is responsible for all administrative functions, supporting the operation of JNTP’s program, recruitment, marketing and development teams. Chana has been involved in Jewish education for nine years and is passionate about making a positive difference for the Jewish future. She holds a B.S. from Yeshiva University. Chana can be reached at cfox@newteachercenter.org.
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 afriedman@newteachercenter.org.
Rabbi Dr. Maury Grebenau is a Program Consultant at JNTP and the Administrator Support Program Co-Lead, joining Fayge Safran Novogroder in providing cohort-based professional development and individual coaching to early-career administrators. Maury has been teaching and leading in Jewish day schools for almost 20 years, including roles as principal in Texas and California for the past decade.
Maury has written many articles on educational leadership and current school-related issues including teen health and school technology use. His articles have been published in Phi Delta Kappan, Principal Leadership and Hayidion, among others. Maury recently earned his EdD from Northeastern University with a dissertation on the experiences of new principals in Jewish day schools. Maury can be reached at mgrebenau@newteachercenter.org.
Vicky Kairy is a Program Consultant at JNTP, where she provides professional development for mentors and new teachers. 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 VKairy@newteachercenter.org.
Program Consultant
Julie Lambert is a Program Consultant at JNTP where she facilitates professional development for mentors and new teachers. She also serves as a Senior Educational Consultant at the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education (CAJE), Miami, where she designs and implements capacity-building initiatives for Miami’s Jewish day schools. Julie has been involved with JNTP since 2008, serving previously as a visiting mentor in Miami schools and currently as a facilitator of the CAJE-JNTP Induction Program.
In addition, Julie is the Associate Director of Congregational Innovation for the Union for Reform Judaism. In addition, Julie is a graduate of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Rhea Hirsch School of Education with Joint Masters Degrees in Jewish Education and Non-Profit Management where she currently serves on facult as an Adjunct Professor teaching a course on Instructional Leadership and Professional Development Julie is an alumna of the Wexner Graduate Fellowship Program. Julie can be reached at jlambert@newteachercenter.org.
Valerie Mitrani is a 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 vmitrani@newteachercenter.org.
Rochelle Moche is a Program Consultant for JNTP, where she serves as a mentor and is on the Development team. Rochelle 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. Rochelle can be reached at rmoche@newteachercenter.org.
Karali Pitzele is a Program Consultant with JNTP, focusing on content development and materials preparation. Her background is in teaching, school leadership, teacher development and school design, with a strong focus on supporting authentic learning environments and student empowerment. Karali began her career as a Humanities teacher in grades 6-12, then founded The Green School in Brooklyn in 2006 where she was principal for six years. She 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 BA in Cross-Cultural Studies from Antioch College, an MS in Teaching from New School University and a Building Administrator License from New York City Leadership Academy & Baruch College. Karali can be reached at kpitzele@newteachercenter.org.
Ilana Sperling is JNTP’s Senior Development Associate. She coordinates the organization’s fundraising activities, including event planning, prospect research, strategic planning and proposal writing. She previously served in various programming, development and grants management positions at a number of Jewish non-profit organizations, including the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), the Claims Conference, and the American Sephardi Federation. Ilana has a B.A. in History from Stern College and an M.P.A. in non-profit management and policy from New York University’s Wagner School for Public Service. Ilana can be reached at isperling@newteachercenter.org.
Tova has mentored beginning teachers in elementary school and high schools as an in-house mentor with JNTP since 2008. She created the first professional development program at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School; served as the JNTP Greater Philadelphia Community liaison for two years; served as the Reflection Coach for teachers at Kohelet Yeshiva Lab and Middle School; and serves as a consultant to high schools on sexuality education. She holds a BA from Stern College, an MA from Azrieli Graduate School, a certificate from Yeshiva University’s Graduate Program for Advanced Talmudic Studies, and is a graduate of Nishmat’s US Yoatzot Halacha Program. Tova can be reached at tsinensky@newteachercenter.org
Leah Volynsky is a Program Coordinator at JNTP for Teacher Induction program. Leah has years of experience working in Jewish non-profits and higher education. Leah holds a BA from Hofstra University in Public Relations and an MA 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 lvolynsky@newteachercenter.org.
Evan Weiner is an Associate Program Consultant at JNTP, where he facilitates mentor training. 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 holds a Masters in Education from Azrieli School of Education.
Basya Wolff is a Visiting Mentor at JNTP. She has mentored teachers in elementary/middle schools in both general and Judaic studies in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island. Basya has been a teacher for over 40 years, is an Early Childhood, Judaic curriculum developer and coordinator. She also has presented workshops for Torah Umesorah, The Jewish Education Project, YACHAD National Council for Jewish Disabilities and private schools. Basya can be reached at bwolff@newteachercenter.org.
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.
