Administration

List of 9 members.

• 

  Dr. Pesha Kletenik 

  Head of School

  Bio

  Dr. Pesha Kletenik joins the MDS community with a great deal of enthusiasm and two decades of experience in Jewish education. Most recently she served as an assistant principal and principal at Yeshiva Har Torah in Queens. Prior to that, she was a mechanechet, programs director, school psychologist and assistant principal at Bnos Malka Academy. In those roles she utilized her creativity and energy for building teams, innovating new programs and partnering with parents in meeting the unique needs of each child. 

   

  Dr. Kletenik received her Doctorate in Education from the Learning and Teaching Program at Hofstra University, with a specialization in Human Development and Educational Psychology and a Master’s of Science in School Psychology from the Touro Graduate School of Education and Psychology. Dr. Kletenik has been an Avi Chai Fellow and a scholar in residence for the Orthodox Union Women’s Initiative as well as a guest lecturer at Hofstra University's Graduate School of Education. She has participated in numerous professional development initiatives, including attending the Principals’ Center at Harvard University Graduate School of Education. She is currently a student in the Emil Fish Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies at Yeshiva University. Dr. Kletenik has written about parenting and Jewish education in the Lookstein Jewish Educational Leadership Journal and the Panim Journal. She lives in West Hempstead with her husband and three children.
• 

  Mrs. Shani Skydell 

  Director of Early Childhood

  Bio

  Shani Skydell was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She is a graduate of Brooklyn College and the Hunter School of Social Work (MSW and LCSW). She worked at the JCC of the Five Towns, NY and the Ramaz School before assuming the role of Associate Director of the Magen David Yeshivah Early Childhood Center, and, most recently, the Director of the Early Childhood Division at the Rosenbaum Yeshiva of North Jersey (RYNJ). Shani uses her unique background as both a teacher and as a social worker to ensure that each of her students’ individual needs are met. When Morah Shani talks about teaching and describes her approach to educational leadership, it is evident that she is deeply caring, thoughtful, and sincere. 
• 

  Mrs. Cindy Sherman 

  Chief Operating Officer

  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.
• 

  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.
• 

  Ms. Sharon Miller 

  Middle School 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. 
• 

  Rabbi Elisha Hus 01

  Director of Academic Programs

  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 Assistant Principal

  Bio

  Rabbi Ariel Cohen embodies the warmth, care, and generosity of spirit that are the trademarks of MDS.  He is an excellent educator who is both admired and loved by his students. 

   

  Rabbi Cohen studied at Yeshivat Hakotel and received semicha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshivat Ohr Hachaim.  Rabbi Cohen made aliyah in 2006 and taught at Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh, before he and his family returned to the States.  He began his career at Manhattan Day School in 2010. 

   

  At MDS, Rabbi Cohen has taught Judaic Studies and served as Mashgiach Ruchani and Dean of Students.  He is currently the Assistant Principal and Director of Sephardic Education.

   

  Rabbi Cohen received a Master’s in Educational Leadership, is a certified Positive Discipline Teacher, and is a Fellow of the Legacy YU Teach Cohort.
• 

  Mrs. Allison Rubin 

  Director of Development
• 

  Ms. Batya Eisenbach 

  Associate Director of Admissions and Development