At Temple Emanu El, we believe in providing support to families throughout their lives. In the area of education, our Religious School faculty is among the best in the country. Our faculty members are degreed and/or hold special certification in their areas of expertise. Many continue their education at local universities, the Siegal College of Judaic Studies or the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland.
Faculty Bios
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Carolyn Abrams
Carolyn is currently teaching 5th grade at TEE. She has taught religious school for 8 years. During the week, Carolyn is a stay at home mom to three. Carolyn and her husband Adam are new members to the Temple. Carolyn has a bachelors in Elementary Education from the University of Cincinnati. Prior to motherhood, she taught elementary school.
Shari Bernstein
Shari Bernstein is returning for a second “season” as a 7th grade Hebrew teacher. Since Shari has been a member of Temple Emanu El since her childhood, she is most honored to also serve the congregation as Family Educator. After completing 2 years in the “Moreshet” Program at Siegal College, Shari continues as a student there in pursuit of a Masters of Arts degree in Judaic Studies.
Paula Bersano
Paula is teaching Pre-K this year at TEE. She has a BA in Early Childhood Development from OSU and has been teaching pre school for 10 years. Paula was also the Director for Betar in Cleveland for a year after college. She is married to Nir Bersano originally from Israel and has two children, Inbal and Nadav. She is very excited to teach the children about the holidays, Israel, the synagogue and in general, feeling good about being Jewish.
Meredith Block
Meredith Block is extremely excited to join the faculty of the Temple Emanu El Religious School for the 2008-2009 school year. Meredith is a two time graduate of John Carroll University, and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology and a Master's of Education. Meredith has extensive experience working with children ages 18 months to 18 years. She will be teaching 7th grade Judaics this year at TEE, but spends her free time looking for a full time job, teaching Spinning at a local gym, and planning her May 2009 wedding to the famous Mr. Ginsberg.
Aline Davis
Aline Davis returns this year as our Assistant Education Director. She teaches 6th grade Hebrew, 11th and 12th grade core classes, the Hadrachah class for our madrichim, Contemporary Topics in the high school and she administers the Kriat B’Yachad tutoring for the mid-week Hebrew program. A member of our congregation for eighteen years, she holds a Bachelor’s degree from George Washington University in American Literature and Elementary Education and a Masters of Arts in Judaic Studies from Siegal College. She was also a graduate of the first Moreshet class at Siegal College, obtaining her Hebrew teacher’s license. Currently, she holds a Level A license in Hebrew and her passion is accommodating students with a variety of learning styles in the Hebrew classroom. She was awarded the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award this year for Excellence in Jewish Education. All three of her children are graduates of the TEE Religious School.
Jeremy Ginsberg
Jeremy Ginsberg is excited to return to the 6th grade on Sunday mornings to teach Judaics and Zionism and is also excited to be continuing with this year's 8th graders who he has taught for the past 2 years. Jeremy also teaches contemporary topics on Monday nights. This is his 5th year teaching in the religious school and also serves as a senior educator for many of the grade level retreats. Jeremy is engaged to 7th grade teacher Meredith Block and cannot wait to get married and spend the rest of his life with the most amazing woman in the world. Jeremy is currently an inventory and logistics specialist for a local company. During Jeremy's youth he was active in USY. Jeremy was also an active member of Betar and was involved in many issues important to the Jewish people. He has previously served as the Executive Director for Betar in Cleveland and the National Coordinator of Tagar, the college arm of Betar.
Paula Goddard
Paula Goddard has been a member of Temple Emanu El for 19 years, and a member of the Religious School faculty for nine years. This year she will be teaching fourth and ninth grade. Professionally, Paula was employed for National City Bank for twenty-three years holding positions in the Retail Bank and the Retail Lending Divisions. Before leaving, Paula was Vice President, Manager of Sales Administration, which included incentive programs and training for all of Retail employees. Paula is a graduate of the Me’ah program at Temple Emanu El, and graduated from Dyke College, The Graduate School of Retail Banking at University of Virginia and has her Bachelor of Arts in Judaic Studies from Siegal College.
Debbie Goldman
Debbie Goldman, a member of Temple Emanu El, has been a preschool teacher at Temple Emanu El for the past 10 years and is now joining the Religious School staff. Debbie recently received her Master’s degree in Jewish Education from Siegal College and a Level A Licensure in Judaics from the JECC. She is very excited to share her ideas and knowledge with older students. In High School, Debbie was active in youth groups and became a leader in the junior branch of BETAR. Debbie has been married to Mitch for seven years and they have two children, Benjamin, 5, and Mikayla, 2.
Amanda Greenwald
Amanda is very happy to return to teaching 3rd grade this year! IN addition to Judaic studies, she will be introducing Hebrew study as well! Amanda is currently enrolled at Siegal College, striving for her Bachelor’s Degree in Hebrew with a minor in Jewish Education. After living in Israel from 1997-1999, she hopes to integrate her love of Israel into the Hebrew curriculum. Last year, we had a wonderful time and this year will even be more fun!
Alice Langholt
Alice is glad to be teaching at her "home synagogue" Temple Emanu El, and happy to be joining the synagogue with husband, Evan and their four children. Alice has Elementary Teaching certification and a Master's degree in Jewish Studies. Previously the Executive Educator at Park Synagogue for ten years, and with twelve years as a teacher at Akiva High School, Alice is ready to bring her enthusiasm for teaching and Jewish knowledge to all of her students. Alice has also written and directed 21 Jewish musicals for kids and many other Jewish songs as well. Alice wrote the cards for the Jewish versions of the popular game Apples to Apples, and is involved in game development and freelance writing. Alice won the Libbie Braverman Creative Teaching Award in 1995, and received a grant from Brandeis' Institute of Informal Jewish Education to publish her Drama of B'reisheet curriculum developed at Akiva High School in 2006. Alice is looking forward to having fun with the students in Youth High Holiday services, on retreats, and in 4th grade and high school classes this year.
Saree Leimsieder
Saree Leimsieder is thrilled to join the Temple Emanu El faculty as a third grade teacher. Saree has a bachelor's degree as a Mild to Moderate Intervention Specialist from Cleveland State University. Saree has worked with children for the past 12 years in various educational settings. Saree is looking forward to being a part of the TEE family.
Robin Rood
Robin Rood is new to teaching at Temple Emanu El and is currently a Master’s student in Judaic Studies at Siegal College. She is very excited to help children learn Tefillah in a fun and creative way on Sunday mornings and in the Hebrew School program. Mrs. Rood is a substitute teacher in the Chagrin Falls School District since 1999 as well as a Registered Dietitian and has a Master’s in Education. She is a member of B’nai Jeshurun Congregation and is married to Dr. Mark Rood, a Family Physician in South Russell and has four daughters Shaina, Shelley, Rachel and Sarah.
Joanne Rosenblum
This Fall, long time TEE member, Joanne Rosenblum will begin her 25th year as a kindergarten teacher in the Religious School. Concurrently she teaches Pre School at the J.C.C. Joanne has a Bachelor of Science degree from Ohio University and taught second grade for five years before retiring to raise her family. She and her husband Harvey have three married children and recently welcomed their fourth grandchild.
Amy Newman Smith
Amy Newman Smith has been teaching Hebrew and Judaics in Cleveland since relocating here in from Southern California 2004. She has taught fourth and fifth grade and is a graduate of Siegal College's Moreshet teacher training program. Mrs. Smith has also taught intensive Hebrew decoding classes for adults, as well as introduction to Judaism courses. Mrs. Smith is the author of Words that Changed History: The Nuremberg Laws and is a freelance contributor to the Cleveland Jewish News. Mrs. Smith is married with two young daughters, ages four and two.
Marilyn Zaas
Marilyn is happy to return to teach 1st grade. She has taught Religious School at Temple Emanu El for six years. She and her family have been members at TEE since 1983. Her three children were all confirmed here. Marilyn is looking forward to meeting her new students and learning alongside her students.
