Administration

Rabbi Saul Zucker, Head of School, is an educational leader with over 25 years of experience and a history of advocating for progressive education in both Judaic and general studies. He most recently implemented this pedagogical approach – including active-learner methodology and inquiry-based learning – at Magen David Yeshivah High School in Brooklyn, New York, where he served as principal from 2011-2017. While at Magen David, Rabbi Zucker built, mentored, and led an award-winning educational leadership team that was recognized by leading educational institutions.

 

Dr. Chagit Hadar, Principal of Judaic Studies, was born and raised in Israel, and brings with her to Ben Porat Yosef a value system steeped in Zionism, Torah and chesed. Chagit received a B.Ed. in Elementary School Science from Talpiyot College, an M.S. in Professional Communication from Clark University, and a Ph.D. in Education (with a concentration in Relationship and Interactions) from Atlantic International University.

 

Naomi Maron, General Studies Principal, has been a professional in Jewish day schools for close to 20 years. Naomi graduated summa cum laude from Yeshiva University, where she was a Gruss Scholar and a Belkin Scholar, and earned her Master’s degree in reading education from Hunter College. She has done post-master’s work at the Bank Street Graduate School of Education and the Windward School.

 

Jessica Kohn, Early Childhood Director and Founding Educator, is a professional with two and a half decades of experience in early childhood programs at Jewish day schools. “Morah Jessica,” as she is affectionately known at BPY, is an active member of every teaching team and develops a personal relationship with every student and family in our early childhood program. She infuses her warmth, energy, limitless creativity, and commitment to the children of Ben Porat Yosef into each classroom. As a founding educator of BPY, Morah Jessica was instrumental in implementing her vision of a child-centered, individualized and differentiated education.

Sarah Bartges, Associate Principal of the Middle School, is a passionate science teacher who is thrilled to join BPY's administrative team. Sarah received her B.A. in Environmental Policy from Barnard College and her M.A. in Biology for Secondary School Education from the City College of New York (CCNY).  During the past decade teaching secondary school math and science at Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science & Engineering, the Rudolf Steiner School, and the Idea School in New Jersey, Sarah has developed and implemented a curriculum that leads from a place of inquiry, engagement, and questioning. Focusing on the Next Generation Science Standards, Sarah developed and implemented the new science program at BPY. Sarah also served as the Education Director for the Rockland Farm Alliance, a nonprofit working to support and expand sustainable agriculture in Rockland County, where she helped inner city public school students experience organic farming in Upstate New York. Whether it is working in the garden, building giant bobsled tracks for BPY’s Physics Olympics, or teaching all the middle schoolers how to knit, Sarah’s creativity and enthusiasm permeate the school and she brings amazing knowledge and energy to BPY. As Middle School Associate Principal, Sarah will be working to enhance the synergy between the Judaic and General Studies curriculum, expand the opportunities for rigorous cross-curricular programming, provide mentorship and coaching to faculty, and coordinate and revitalize the Middle School organizational structure to enable teachers and students to have support systems to enable long term growth and development. Sarah can be contacted at [email protected].

Renee Klyman, Director of Admissions, is a veteran Jewish day school advocate who has spent the last several years spearheading the grassroots engagement division of the Orthodox Union’s Teach NJ, the political advocacy group dedicated to supporting the state’s Jewish day schools and other nonpublic school students. In that role, she helped engage students and parents in advocating for equitable government funding for New Jersey nonpublic schools. Before that, she was the office administrator at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School in Teaneck.  Renee has long felt from her years of working in Jewish education that the BPY educational experience and the community it creates is so unique and special among the choices our families have for their children and that it is such a special place for the religious Tziyoni community, which is what motivates her in working with parents and students to bring them to BPY.  Renee can be contacted at