Faculty & Staff Bios

2011-2012

Head of School

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JHSC is pleased to welcome Rabbi Yussman to JHSC as Head of School. To read Rabbi Yussman's letter to the JHSC community, please click here. To read Rabbi Yussman's biography, please click here.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x102
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Math, Science and Technology Department

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Dr. Castle is the Chair of the Math, Science and Technology Department, and also manages the business office. Dr. Castle has been an inspirational teacher to our student pioneers, and everyone looks forward to working with him again next year. Dr. Castle earned his Ph.D. in Organometallic Chemistry at the University of London, Imperial College, under the Nobel Laureate Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x206
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Rebecca Zeni has taught science and math at the Francis Parker Upper School, Josephinum Academy, and GCE Chicago High School, all in Chicago, IL. She has experience teaching inquiry-based chemistry, biology, and physics. Ms. Zeni also has a background in professional research in chemistry and physics at Beloit College and Harvey Mudd College. Her Masters in Education is from Depaul University. 

Phone: 203-275-8448 x209
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This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Math Teacher

Sara Mastros has taught a wide range of high school math classes at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy in Philadelphia, PA, including calculus, geometry, algebra, and theoretical mathematics. At the University of Pittsburgh, Ms. Mastros has taught courses in logic, matrix theory, and differential equations. She loves turning students on to math, and is proud of advising her school's math club. Her Masters of Science in Mathematics is from the University of Pittsburgh.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x205
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Humanities Department

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Dana Langer holds a Masters in Teaching with a focus in secondary English education from Brandeis University, as well as a JD from Boston University's School of Law. She most recently has taught high school English at Framingham High School in Massachusetts. She has taught literature and writing at all levels, and is proud of founding "Writer's Block," an after-school creative writing program.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x210
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Jaclynn Alpert has taught social studies in the Windham Public School District in Willimantic, CT. She has caringly and patiently taught all levels of students, paying attention to their various needs and learning styles. She has also been the director of the Treadwell Day Camp in Newtown, CT. Ms. Alpert holds a Masters of Secondary Education from the University of Bridgeport.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x211
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Judaic Studies and Hebrew Department

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A veteran Hebrew teacher of 15 years, Anat Graf most recently was a Hebrew teacher at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, MD. Prior to that, she was the Hebrew language coordinator at the Metropolitan Schechter High School in Teaneck, NJ. Ms. Graf, who grew up in Israel, received her MA in Jewish Education from Jewish Theological Seminary, her BA in Hebrew Literature and Jewish Philosophy from Tel Aviv University, earned her certification as an Ulpan Hebrew Teacher from the Joint Authority for Jewish Education, and received her High School Master Teaching Degree in Hebrew Literature from Haifa University. Ms. Graf served as an officer of education in the Israeli army. A gifted athlete, she received several medals as a competitor in the Israeli Maccabi Games.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x204
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Leah Bieler is excited to be one of our Talmud teachers. She holds a Masters in Talmud and Rabbinics from Jewish Theological Seminary, and is fluent in Hebrew. She currently teaches a Talmud class in Stamford, and teaches students in Judaic Studies at Congregation Beth El in Norwalk. Prior experience includes teaching rabbinics at Yachad Hebrew High School in West Hartford and at the Beit Midrash of Hartford.

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Tamara Beliak is excited to bring her passion teaching Judaism to JHSC. Mrs. Beliak has spent the past eleven years teaching Judaism at the Solomon Schechter School of Westchester, the Heschel School, and most recently at Ramaz. She has a Masters in Education from Yeshiva University, and is finishing up her doctorate.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x208
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Admissions and Development Department

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Dana Horowitz coordinates our admissions and development efforts. She most recently was the Associate Director of Development at Consumer Reports in New York. A native of Connecticut, Ms. Horowitz has developed strong connections to the southern Connecticut Jewish community, for example as Director of Women's Division and Young Leadership at the United Jewish Federation of Greater Stamford, New Canaan and Darien; and as Coordinator of Public Relations and Volunteer Services (Westchester Division) at the Jewish Board of Family and Children's Services in New York. Ms. Horowitz holds a MSW from Hunter College focused on community organizing.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x104
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Athletics Department

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Coach Greg Bracey comes to the Jewish High School of Connecticut with over 30 years of experience in athletics. He also coaches the JHSC basketball and track and field teams. He has been the strength and conditioning coach at Quinnipiac University, St. Anthony's basketball team, and Westhill High School track & field team, among others. He personally was on three state basketball championship teams, and helped his team win a NCAA division 1 championship. Greg has an MA in education from the University of Bridgeport, and sees his job as not only providing students with an excellent foundation in athletics, but how to be productive human beings and independent thinkers.

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Visual Arts Department

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Steven Gerber, a Bridgeport native, recieved a BFA in Communications Design from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn NY.  He is currently Professor of Visual Concepts and Rendering at the New York Scool of Interior Design and also on the Interior Design Faculty of Fairfield University. He is manager and a founding board member of City Lights Gallery, a non-profit arts organization in Bridgeport. His drawings, paintings and photographs have been displayed in many area galleries.

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Music Department

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Brian Q. Torff is a renowned bassist and composer, and is currently Music Program Director at Fairfield University. He is a featured bass soloist and is the musical director for the Django Reinhardt New York Festival, which has appeared at Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center and Birdland in New York City. Torff wrote a book, "In Love With Voices: A Jazz Memoir." He is the Jazz Series director at the Westport Arts Center in Westport, CT and performs in jazz festivals around the U.S.  Torff has founded the Fairfield University Summer Jazz Workshop and has served as co-chair person for the music advisory board for the National Endowment for the Arts. In 2008 he was awarded Artist of the Year by the Fairfield Arts Council.

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Guidance Department

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Claire Friedlander guides students and families through the college admissions and financial aid process, and leads workshops and information nights with parents on issues related to college guidance. In addition, Mrs. Friedlander provides general counseling to students and families that is individually suitable and challenging in order to promote and support academic and personal/social development.

A licensed professional counselor in the state of Connecticut and a National Board Certified Counselor, she produces and moderates the popular College Ahead! evening programs for parents and teens, featuring prominent college admission deans discussing what families need to know during the high school years to prepare for the college decisions that follow. A past Director of Guidance in the Stamford Schools, Claire currently counsels families at Jewish Family Services, and also maintains a private practice.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x101
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Office Staff

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Kim Clemenza, Executive Assistant to the Head of School, is an experienced administrative professional with a unique combination of experience in the private sector as well as in the educational system.  Kim is responsible for providing support and assistance to the Head of School of JHSC, and helps coordinate many of the events and happenings behind the scenes. She looks forward to building relationships with current and incoming families. A graduate of Dean College in Massachusetts with an Associates Degree in Secretarial Science, Kim has honed her skills working with top attorneys and C level executives.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x103
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Cindy Lavoie, our Manager of Finance, has a diverse background in both finance and accounting working in both private industry and nonprofits. Cindy has a Bachelors degree from Providence College and Master in Business Administration from Babson College. She interacts daily with families, teachers and the Board of Trustees supporting financial, human resource, registration and tuition assistance functions. Joining JHSC in the spring of 2010, she has developed many of our systems that we use to manage the school today.

Phone: 203-275-8448 x107
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Electives

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Noah Ottenstein teaches the Web Development and Computer Programming elective and provides IT support at JHSC. He has been working as a Web Developer and IT consultant in Connecticut and Massachusetts since 2002 providing design, development and technology consulting services to businesses in diverse industries, nationwide. Noah attended Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusets.

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Margot Reynolds is excited to be teaching Arabic at JHSCT this year. She received her BA in Arabic from Georgetown University and studied abroad at the University of Damascus in 2009, and has traveled throughout the Levantine region. Margot also works in downtown Bridgeport at Wholesome Wave, a national non-profit that works to improve access to and affordability of locally grown food for all.

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