Meet our new faculty for 2022-2023!
 | Emmy Atlas Israel Educator Emmy Atlas has a BA Degree in Communications from Rutgers University and a post-graduate Paralegal Certificate from Fairleigh Dickinson. She has extensive experience teaching Hebrew reading and Judaics and working with teens and families in a wide variety of positions. Emmy was once interviewed by the Greater MetroWest Jewish News for teaching a class called “Would you be their Facebook Friend?” which entailed creating Facebook profiles for a variety of Jewish biblical figures. She was the first teacher in our community to teach the Yachdav peer-to-peer class which paired a 5th grade class in NJ with a 5th grade class in Ofakim/Merchavim. Emmy became a lifeguard as an adult so she could go to day camp with her kids, and she has often been told that she has a doppelganger who works at GOA (can you guess who it is?). She is so excited to be joining the GOA family this year as the Israel Educator working with the Rishonim! | |
 | Sheila Barbach Science Faculty, Upper School Sheila Barbach received a BA from Boston University and MA from Kent State University in Anthropology with a concentration in Physical Anthropology. She also has an EdM from the Brandeis Teacher Leadership Program. Ms. Barbach is a certified meditation teacher and has gone on archaeological digs in the Czech Republic, searching for dinosaur fossils in Utah and Colorado. A high point in her career was the Legacy Heritage Teacher Leader Fellowship that she completed while working toward her EdM from Brandeis. Working with a mentor, alongside one of her colleagues at Gerrard Berman Day School, Ms. Barbach led a two-year initiative on integrating General and Judaic Studies curricula. | |
 | Nancy Breslin Arts Faculty, Lower School Nancy Breslin received a BS in Fine Arts from Skidmore College and a BA in Interior Design from American College of Applied Arts. Before embarking on a career in children’s art education, Nancy was an interior designer with top Manhattan architectural firms working on all types of projects. She was most recently the head of the art program at New Horizons Day Camp. A few fun facts: A movie star bought her shoes. For 100 consecutive weekdays following March 2020 of Covid, she ran zoom art classes as everyday at 3:00; each class had an individual art prompt and was never repeated. | |
 | Heather Brown Assistant Principal, Lower School Heather received her BA in English from the University of California, Irvine and holds a Masters in Jewish Education from the University of Judaism. Having worked as both a teacher and administrator in Jewish education for over 20 years, she is passionate about student-centered learning that allows each learner to realize their unique potential for growth. For the past 10 years, Heather served as the Education Director at Congregation Shomrei Emunah in Montclair. She is also an avid baker and adores making unique challah flavors each week. She also loves nature, including hiking and camping in the woods with her family and pup! Having been a parent and lay leader at GOA for the past 9 years, Heather is excited to begin this new chapter as the Lower School Assistant Principal. | |
 | Joe Candela PE/Health Faculty, Upper School Joe Candela is excited to be joining the Health/Physical Education team at GOA. Following the completion of his BS in Health Behavior Science from the University of Delaware in 2019 and Master of Public Health in Health Communications & Promotion from Boston University in 2021, Mr. Candela spent the past year as a 3rd/4th grade Assistant Teacher at Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County. He is very passionate about fitness, health, and wellness and looks forward to taking his knowledge and experiences to help students achieve their goals. Fun fact: Mr. Candela is a black belt in MMA. | |
 | Catie DeSista Office Operations Manager, Upper School Catie DeSista joins GOA with nearly 20 years of experience in event planning and five years of school experience. | |
 | Tali Fischer Lower School Faculty Tali Fischer grew up in Brooklyn and moved to NJ two years ago. She graduated from Brooklyn College with a BA in psychology and then attended NYU graduate school for social work, receiving her MSW. Tali was hired at a special education school in Brooklyn as a substitute teacher and ended up working there for eleven years. A highlight career point at her previous school was helping create a project-based learning program for her 3rd grade students around area and perimeter. The project led to the students helping to design a playground on the school roof! Tali comes from a big family with four brothers and has three of her own boys (and a dog). | |
 | Lauren Gardner Foreign Language Faculty, Upper School Lauren Gardner started teaching high school Spanish in 2005, first in Massachusetts and then in her home state of New Jersey. She earned a combined BA in Spanish and Economics from Union College in New York and then an MAT in Spanish from Boston University. Ms. Gardner is currently pursuing a second Masters of Education at Gratz College with a concentration in Jewish Instructional Education. For the past four years, she was on the team at the Jewish Community Foundation (JCF) of Greater MetroWest NJ, working on allocations for endowment funds, donor advised funds and other legacy giving projects. | |
 | Meegan Gliner Special Events Coordinator Meegan Gliner is thrilled to be joining the GOA community in a serendipitous and bashert manifestation. She comes with 30+ years of theatre teaching and event coordinating experience at charter and private schools around the globe. Her philosophy centers on creating opportunities for student leadership and supporting the needs of students, families and the entire school community. Meegan is also a Schechter parent alum, as her daughter attended Schechter Boston, and Meegan was a proud parent volunteer with their theatre program. She’s looking forward to meeting and teaming up with all of the incredible GOA key stakeholders (students, families, faculty, alumni and beyond) as GOA becomes her new school “home”! | |
 | Tara Goldstein Guidance Counselor, Upper School Tara Goldstein received a Master's degree in School Counseling at Kean University. Tara played the tuba all through school when she was younger, and she loves to cook and try new restaurants. She has worked with children of all ages for more than20 years volunteering, educating and counseling. Ms. Goldsteinstill works part-time at Lifetown working with special needs students. She is looking forward to working with our students and families. | |
 | Eric "Rick" Grey Instrumental Music Faculty, Lower School Rick Grey received his Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Mason Gross School at Rutgers University, and he is halfway through his Masters in Music Education through the University of Florida. He has been teaching and instructing bands since he was in high school and over the years he has received many accolades and awards, even winning a couple of world championships. Along with his wife and two others, he has created a non-profit competitive performing arts association that continues to thrive 25 years later. Rick has two amazing daughters, artists and musicians in their own right. He loves building and fixing things, graphic design, and the great outdoors! He is thrilled to be working with the team at GOA. | |
 | Lilach Gur Hebrew Faculty, Upper School Lilach Gur received her BEd from Kaye Academic College in Science and Hebrew and received a MEd in Special Education from the Center of Academic Learning. Additionally, Ms. Gur earned a teaching certification from the Israeli Ministry of Education. Ms. Gur has more than 20 years of experience teaching middle and high school students in both the U.S. and Israel and most recently served as a Hebrew teacher at Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County. | |
 | Dr. Bar Guzi Hebrew/Judaic Studies Faculty, Upper School Bar Guzi is a teacher of Hebrew and a scholar of modern Jewish thought and history. He received a BA in philosophy from Tel Aviv University and a Ph.D. in Jewish Studies from Brandeis University. He joins Golda Och Academy having taught high school and college students in both the U.S. and Israel. | |
 | Deborah Haas Guidance Counselor, Lower School Deborah Haas is a school counselor who loves working with elementary students. She holds a BA in psychology from Suny-Binghamton University and M. A & M.ED in counseling from Teachers College-Columbia University. Additionally, she is certified as an Anxiety and Stress Management specialist as well as a Mental Health specialist. She is joining GOA from the Bridge which provides school-based counselors in Caldwell/West Caldwell. She participated in the Guinness Book of World Records for the largest arms-linked toast. Another fun fact is that Game of Thrones is her favorite TV show. | |
 | Kate Hymowitz Lower School Faculty Kate Hymowitz is originally from Brookline, MA. She received her BFA from RISD in Providence, RI. For the last nine years, Kate has worked at Temple Ner Tamid as a Pre-K teacher and prior to that, she worked at the Geyer Center Y in Montclair. Working in early childhood education, she especially loves the innocence and wonder of four year olds. Kate is married, a mother of three, and lives in Montclair, NJ. One fun fact about her is that she knows how to weave, print or hand dye any fabric. A second fun fact is that her Hebrew name is Chaia and her last name starts with Chai so you might say my name is “double chai.” | |
 | Spencer Leeds Learning Support Coordinator Spencer Leeds is thrilled to be joining the GOA team as our Learning Specialist Coordinator. He has his Bachelor's Degree from SUNY Cortland and his Masters from Lehman College with advanced certificates in both Special Education and School Administration.Over the last 10 years he has held a variety of roles within the NYC Department of Education including a Special Education Teacher, IEP coordinator, and Assistant Principal. Spencer loves sports, especially baseball and football (he's a huge Jets and Yankees fan)! He is also a history buff. In fact, his family will often do trivia during family dinner. Spencer is excited to bring his skills and expertise to the GOA family. | |
 | Juliana Lynch Arts Faculty, Upper School Juliana Lynch holds a degree in Music Education from NYU Steinhardt. She is a classically trained vocalist and sings with several choirs. She is a four-time North American Jewish Choral Festival Fellowship recipient and has taught music in public schools, synagogues and at summer camp. | |
 | William Ruhl Science Faculty, Upper School Bill Ruhl is excited to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a high-school physics teacher by joining the Golda Och community. Bill’s first career, culminating in 10 years as a Verizon executive, took a winding path…as do most of his life’s adventures! He earned a BA at Dartmouth College and continued his studies at Dartmouth’s Thayer School of Engineering, earned a BE and ME. After a few years working in corporate America, Mr. Ruhlearned a MBA at the NYU Stern School of Business to better understand human systems. He is looking forward to joining GOA and working in the Upper School teaching High School physics. | |
 | Sue Shapiro Arts Faculty, Upper School Sue Shapiro graduated from TCNJ in 2010 with a BA in Art Education. She has more than 10 years of experience working as an art teacher, having taught nearly every grade level. Ms. Shapiro is excited to join the GOA community and looks forward to sharing her passion for art with her students. | |
 | Anna Shpilsky ’18 Lower School Faculty Anna Shpilsky went to the University of Maryland and graduated this past May with a degree in Early Childhood Education and Special Education. She is an alumna of Golda Och Academy! This past year, she completed her student teaching at Greencastle Elementary School in Silver Spring, MD in a 2nd grade classroom and had the most amazing experience. Anna speaks Russian at home and did ballet for 16 years. | |
 | Michael Yeshion Arts Faculty, Upper School Michael Yeshion is thrilled to be joining the GOA team as a member of the Arts faculty. With over 15 years as a professional equity actor and 10 years managing a private photography studio in NYC, he looks forward to sharing his creative knowledge with the students. Mr. Yeshionhas a BFA in Acting from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University. Fun fact -- he is a new dad and loving every moment with his sweet 3 month old girl, Emma! He has also sung with the Muppets at Carnegie Hall! |
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