Administration

List of 11 members.

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  Ms. Raizi Chechik 

  Head of School

  Bio

  Ms. Raizi Chechik, Head of School, is a creative and dynamic educator who brings to her position over two decades of school leadership experience and a passion for learning and teaching. She studied Tanach and Counseling at Michlala Jerusalem Teacher's College, holds an MA in Jewish History, and has done doctoral work in both Education and Jewish Studies. Ms. Chechik is a recipient of numerous professional and academic awards, among them the national Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education.  A graduate of the Intensive Training Program for Day School Leaders at Yeshiva University, Ms. Chechik served as a mentor to new school leaders through their Principal's Partnership program and continues to support new Principals and Heads of School.
  

   

  In her tenure as Principal of SKA, Head of School at the Ilan School, and prior to that, Assistant Principal of Manhattan High School for Girls, Ms. Chechik earned a reputation as a warm, caring and innovative educational leader with  high standards of scholarship, expertise in professional development, and sensitivity to the needs of each individual student. She is a gifted speaker and thinker who has lectured internationally on topics of education and Jewish studies. We are excited that Ms. Chechik has joined the MDS family and are looking forward to continued and enhanced development under her leadership! 

   

   

   

   
• 

  Mrs. Aviva Yablok 

  Director of Early Childhood

  Bio

  Aviva Yablok was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, where she first began her career in Early Childhood Education. She taught Kindergarten in Scranton, Pennsylvania, before moving to New York and Manhattan Day School in 1990. After nine years of teaching kindergarten at MDS, Aviva became the founding Director of the Silverstein Hebrew Academy Pre-School in Great Neck, NY. In 2002, Aviva returned to MDS as Director of the Early Childhood Department, a program which has grown and flourished under her leadership. Aviva is a respected and innovative educator and a frequent lecturer and workshop leader.

  
  

  Aviva derives great pleasure “from seeing children entering the doors of MDS each morning knowing they are entering a place where they will be safe, loved, and well cared for. Our youngest students know that their teachers are waiting to see each one of them every morning and give them a meaningful day in which their individual needs are met and a classroom experience that makes them feel good. I know we are making a difference in the lives of our children – that’s what keeps me here.”
• 

  Rabbi Dr. Steve Eisenberg 

  Lower School Principal

  Bio

  Rabbi Eisenberg is a warm and caring educator who is very well regarded in the Jewish educational community for his wisdom regarding the academic and emotional development of young learners. He seeks to connect with and inspire all of the MDS students.
  
  Rabbi Eisenberg is a proud graduate of the Yeshiva University schools where he received a BA, rabbinical ordination, and a Doctorate in Jewish Education. He also received educational leadership certificates from Harvard's Graduate School of Education and Bar Ilan University.
  
  Rabbi Eisenberg brings a rich experience in elementary education to MDS. He served as the assistant principal at the Yeshiva of Central Queens as well as at the Hebrew Academy of the Five Towns and Rockaway. In these roles, Rabbi Eisenberg inspired students, enhanced instruction, and implemented meaningful experiential programming to complement the formal curricula.
• 

  Rabbi Joshua Rosenfeld 

  Middle School Principal

  Bio

  Rabbi Rosenfeld studied for two years in Yeshivat Hakotel and served in the IDF in the 605th Combat Engineers as a ‘Lone  Soldier’ through the Second Lebanon War. He received a BA with Honors in English Literature from Yeshiva University, where he was a Wilf Family Scholar. He holds an MS ed. from the Azrieli Graduate School, and Semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.  Previously, Rabbi Rosenfeld was a beloved member of the Judaic Studies faculty at SAR High School in Riverdale for six years. Rabbi Rosenfeld is a proud MDS parent of Sofie (’26) and a community member who has served the Upper West Side community as Assistant Rabbi at Lincoln Square Synagogue for the past six years. 
• 

  Ms. Sharon Miller 

  Assistant Principal

  Bio

  Ms. Sharon Miller, originally from Woodmere, New York, now lives on the Upper West Side. She received her BA from Stern College and her Masters of Arts from New York University. She has been working at Manhattan Day School since 2002 and has been Director of the Special Education Department since 2004.

  
  

  Ms. Miller has devoted her career to helping all students, especially those who present with a range of disabilities, to receive a Jewish education that they deserve. She has been an advocate for inclusion and assisting students in participating in all activities along with their peers.  With many years of experience as an educator, director, counselor and mentor in various settings ranging from kindergarten through high school, she has provided innovative and quality education to her students.  She is a believer in "חנוך לנער על פי דרכו" – teach the children according to his/her own way.  Her goal is to teach students the skills and strategies they need in order to thrive academically and socially.
  
  

  In addition to her global administrative responsibilities, Ms. Miller is responsible for the transition of our youngest learners from early childhood to our lower school division, and for providing ongoing support to students and parents in the first and second grade years. 
• 

  Mrs. Shira Heller 

  Director of Teaching and Learning

  Bio

  Shira Heller is a dynamic educator with an ability to build relationships with and among a variety of audiences. Her ability to connect all learners to new ideas, resources, and each other makes Shira a sought-after teacher, mentor, and coach.

   

  Before joining Manhattan Day School, Shira worked in diverse educational settings. She was the Director of Teaching and Learning at Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools, the Assistant Director for Professional Development at YU School Partnership, served as a classroom teacher, a campus Jewish educator at Boston University, and an adult educator at the Manhattan Jewish Experience.

   

  Shira received her BA from Boston University, has done graduate work in Teaching English at Florida Atlantic University, and earned her MSW from Yeshiva University Wurzweiler School of Social Work.

   

  Shira lives in Teaneck with her husband, Rabbi Avi Heller, and their three children Nadav, Rinat, and Uriel, all of whom attended Manhattan Day School.
• 

  Mr. Elisha Hus 01

  Director of Educational Technology and STEAM

  Bio

  Mr. Elisha Hus, a proud MDS graduate, joined the MDS faculty in 2013. Since then, he has been a driving force behind many of the innovative and technological advancements seen in the MDS classrooms. Elisha graduated with honors from Yeshiva University in 2012 with a BA in Economics before deciding to pursue a career in education. He then went on to get his Masters Degree from SUNY Albany in Curriculum Development and Instructional Technology.

   

  Mr. Hus is passionate about STEAM education and utilizing technology for all it has to offer students taking a more active role in their learning, and help teachers differentiate learning for each student’s needs. In the day to day of Manhattan Day School, Mr. Hus can be found teaching in the state of the art SmartLab, overseeing the computers curriculum and the middle school 1:1 iPad program, training teachers in various technological classroom tools, and working on many other school wide projects.

   
• 

  Rabbi Ariel Cohen 

  MS, JS
• 

  Mrs. Adrianne  Mittan 

  Executive Director
• 

  Mrs. Cindy Sherman 

  Director of Admissions

  Bio

  Cindy Sherman has served as MDS's Director of Admissions since 2010. Under her direction, admissions to the school has grown to an all-time high. Cindy is the first person to meet and greet every prospective family. She loves showing off the faculty and students as she tours the building daily with new families. 

   

  Cindy is also the Early Childhood Office Manager. In 2012, Cindy spearheaded the initiative to obtain licensure from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene for MDS's Early Childhood program.  She is responsible for maintaining compliance and overseeing licensure renewal bi-annually. Cindy enjoys the day-to-day contact she has with both staff and students on the second floor.

   

  Cindy holds a BS in business administration from Boston University. Prior to joining the team at MDS, Cindy was the Director of Operations for a New York City surgical supply company and pharmacy.
• 

  Mrs. Allison Rubin 

  Director of Development and Community Engagment