Our Administration
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Rabbi Jonathan Knapp, PrincipalRabbi Jonathan Knapp has been a part of the Yavneh Academy family since 2001. Prior to his current role, Rabbi Knapp served as Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies, supervising all aspects of the limudei kodesh program, working with the teachers on enhancing the curriculum and monitoring student growth. Rabbi Knapp had served as the Director of Student Activities and as Director of Student Affairs at the Joseph Kushner Hebrew Academy in Livingston, NJ. Rabbi Knapp graduated from Yeshiva University with a B.A. in economics and holds an M.A. from the David J. Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education, where he is pursuing his doctorate in supervision and administration. jknapp@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 328 |
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Joel Kirschner, Executive DirectorJoel Kirschner has been the Executive Director of Yavneh Academy since 1999. His responsibilities include finances, public relations, budget development, and plant management. Joel has a master's degree in social work from Hunter College and specialized in group work and administration. jkirschner@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 307 |
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Gayle Clachko, Director of Guidance and Student ServicesCertified as a teacher in Early Childhood through Grade 8, a school social worker, and a cognitive behavioral therapist, Gayle Clachko has diverse teaching and counseling experiences. At Yavneh she enjoys supporting students, parents and faculty, both individually and in groups. Her role encompasses many areas that focus on character, education, self-esteem and social skills. “Ms. Gayle” develops many new and innovative co-curricular and extra-curricular programs. She holds a B.A. from Simmons College and an M.S.W. from New York University. gclachko@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 331 |
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Georgia Cohen, Early Childhood Director/Assistant Principal, General Studies 1-2As our Early Childhood Director, Mrs. Cohen supervises the education of students from Pre-K through second grade. She combines many innovative programs and curricular initiatives to nurture the unique gifts of each child. Prior to joining Yavneh, Mrs. Cohen served for 9 years as the Early Childhood Center Director of the Hebrew Academy of Nassau County, in West Hempstead, NY. She earned a M.A. in secondary education from Colgate University and an additional M.A. in early childhood and elementary education from Adelphi University. gcohen@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 316 |
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Dr. Sarah Feit, Director of Special ServicesDr. Sarah Feit, a Yavneh alumna, holds a multi-faceted job. As head of our in-house Learning Center, Dr. Feit manages, trains and provides guidance to the outstanding General and Judaic Studies Learning Center personnel. She has developed and implemented many new and exciting support and enrichment programs to best meet the needs of each learner. In addition, Dr. Feit works with Bergen County Special Services to arrange for outside services, including evaluations, speech therapy, occupational therapy and supplemental intervention. She holds a B.A. in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, three masters degrees from Teacher's College/Columbia University in the areas of special education, early childhood, and reading, and a doctoral degree in education from Teacher’s College/Columbia University in the area of curriculum and teaching with a specialization in early literacy. sfeit@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 327 |
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Dr. Aliza Frohlich, Director of Guidance, Middle SchoolDr. Frohlich serves as a resource for students, parents and teachers as she helps individual students navigate through adolescence. During these middle school years children are changing at a rapid pace, and Dr. Frohlich has developed a guidance program targeted towards the specialized needs of the “tween” years. With an “open door,” her goal is to help students self-advocate, brainstorm solutions to their problems and learn to communicate better. Dr. Frohlich particularly enjoys her role in developing and supervising Yavneh’s cutting edge Advisory Program - a proactive and interactive weekly social/emotional class providing our students with life skills ultimately helping them become resilient adults. Dr. Frohlich has a doctorate in School and Child Clinical Psychology from Yeshiva University's Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, a masters and specialist’s certificate in school psychology from Queens College, a masters in Jewish Education from YU's Azrieli Graduate Institute and a Judaic teaching certification from Michlalah Jerusalem College for Women. afrohlich@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 322 |
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Judy Katz, Assistant to the Principals"Ms. Judy" has been a valued member of the Yavneh team for many years. In her current position, she is responsible for coordinating and supervising field trips, special assemblies, bussing and scheduling of school facilities. Prior to taking on this role, Judy worked in Yavneh’s Early Childhood department for fourteen years, both in pre-K and kindergarten. jkatz@yavnehacademy.org Ext.325 |
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Chani Lichtiger, Director of TechnologyMrs. Chani Lichtiger is responsible for Yavneh's educational technology department. With many years of experience teaching technology to grade school students, her responsibilities include designing and implementing computer lessons and classroom instruction to children in grades K-8. Mrs. Lichtiger integrates technology into all aspects of Yavneh's curriculum, and continually trains and updates the entire faculty and staff. She holds a B.A. from Brooklyn College, an M.A. in education from NYU and is certified in technology and education from Bank Street College. clichtiger@yavnehacademy.org Ext.326 |
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Rabbi Steven Penn, Assistant PrincipalRabbi Penn is responsible for supervising the Judaic studies curricula for grades 1-5. In addition to developing and implementing programming on middot, chesed and chagim, he leads the ever popular “Shabbat Assemblies” for the lower grades. Rabbi Penn returned to Yavneh, where he spent his early career teaching Talmud, Mishnah and Chumash to middle school students, after serving as Assistant Head Master at the Ramaz Lower School in Manhattan. Rabbi Penn also taught at the Yeshiva University High School for Girls. Rabbi Penn has an M.A. degree in Jewish education from the David J. Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and a B.A. in psychology from Yeshiva University. spenn@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 333 |
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Rabbi Dr. Aaron Ross, Assistant Principal, Judaic Studies 6-8Rabbi Dr. Ross oversees the Judaic Studies curriculum in our Middle School. In his tenure at Yavneh, he has taught classes in Gemara, Mishna, Chumash, Halacha, and Tefilla, and served for five years as the coordinator of our Middle School Judaic Studies curriculum. He has been a driving force in helping teachers to expand their use of alternative forms of assessment, and he works closely with our faculty to help them integrate technology into their lessons and assignments. Rabbi Dr. Ross holds an Ed.D. from Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School, semicha from Yeshiva University, an M.A. in Rabbinic Literature from NYU, and a B.A. in history from the University of Pennsylvania. aross@yavnehacademy.org Ext. 312 |
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Barbara Rubin, Associate Principal, General Studies 3-8Mrs. Rubin, Associate Principal for grades 3 - 8, works with teachers to develop curriculum and dynamic programming. Her deep respect for children is partnered with her desire to guide our students to maximize their strengths while exploring additional interests. Coordinating alongside a professional and astute faculty has allowed Mrs. Rubin to implement new initiatives in our school including the Debate Team, E2K, and Our Living Legacy to name just a few. Before coming to Yavneh Academy in 2007, she had been at Magen David Yeshivah in Brooklyn for 18 years, initially teaching Middle School students and then serving as the Assistant Principal for grades 5 - 8. With a B.A. in language arts and education from CCNY, Mrs. Rubin has also earned an M.S., Ed., in curriculum, supervision and planning. brubin@yavnehacademy.org Ext 323 |