Jason Zidell is a fourth generation Portlander who enjoyed MJCC's early learning program for preschool and kindergarten, day camp, B.B.Y.O...
Our People
Faculty & Staff
Laurel Akridge
Steve Albert
Sandi Anslow
Leslie Berman
Blair Borax
I teach because I love to help young people develop healthy relationships with the food we eat, the bodies we inhabit, the communities we belong to, and the earth we share. I strive to help young people reconnect with themselves and become who they truly are.
Richard Boyd
Kasey Breuier
Marcie Brewer
I teach because teaching is a gift. Middle schoolers are amazing. They are old enough to understand the true complexities of life, but young enough that they’re not yet jaded. They make me smile everyday, and I get to share all of my passions—literature, poetry, drama, history, social activism—with them.
Alyson Broberg
I teach because it is the best way to learn. I love learning from the students and staff at PJA.
Carla Caynon
Elana Cohn-Rozansky
I teach because I love learning and love to think of creative and meaningful ways to spark wonder and curiosity in young people. My hope is that my students will seek out and embrace opportunities to learn, grow, and expand their understanding of the world and their responsibility to it.
Sharee Conner
I teach because “We never know which lives we influence, or when, or why.”
― Stephen King, 11/22/63
Garrett Couch
Jenny Crego
I teach because connecting to children through books and storytelling is my passion. Exposing kids to a variety of literature that helps them see all the ways they can leave kindness imprints on the big world around them is what excites me.
Nicholas Dysken
I teach because it is so rewarding to see students reach their personal best through encouragement, inspiration, and challenge.
Shahar Eden
Megan Edmunson
I teach because this is a job where I am surrounded by open minds, new ideas, and and our best hopes for the future. The learning and growth I see on a daily basis is inspiring!
Irit Elchaiani
I teach because I love helping children realize that learning can be hard and that's okay! And nothing is better than having one of my students realize they’re stronger and more resilient than they ever thought possible.
Becky Ewer
I market for PJA so people can learn about how our school makes mensches!
Benjamin Foote
I teach because I can't not teach.
Jennifer Garrell
I teach because I enjoy working with children. Teaching is creative and interesting work and it fills my heart. In particular, I love finding ways to connect with each child.
Beth Germain
Sarah Glass
As Admission Director, I love sharing the powerful story of PJA with families.
Najwa H
Merrill Hendin
Allison Hernandez
Pilar Heston
I teach to see the joy on children's faces which gives me an infusion of energy and inspiration as I watch these children, that represent our future, develop and grow, knowing that I was a small part of that future, a better world.
Anna Hixon
Jana Hopfinger
I teach because I can't think of anything that better combines my love of Judaism, children, creativity and community. My work is varied, exciting and challenging and after 25 years of teaching, I'm learning new things from my students on a daily basis.
Michael Hyde
I teach because teaching and learning are endlessly fascinating - we can improve our world through curiosity, creativity, understanding and growth. Being a part of a leadership team that supports children, teachers, and our community to "think for themselves and work for the world" is energizing and personally fulfilling work. I can’t imagine doing anything else!
Daravanh Insixiengmay
l teach because it brings me joy and I am able to help shape the lives of my student.

Jim Juntunen
Lisa Katon
Maya Katri
I teach because I love to share the joy of education with children and to see their eyes light up with new learning!
Amy Katz
Natalya Kerner
Ellen Kipnis
I teach because it is who I am. It is my passion, my calling and my world.
Saul Korin
Katie Kornberg
Kim Krikorian
I teach because I know how important early childhood education is. Young children are not to be molded but people to be unfolded. I enjoy experiencing the wonder and awe of learning with small children. There are so many new things to learn from a group of citizens that are preparing for a future world.
Jade Lee
I teach because encouraging the confidence in children that they are being listened to, are supported, and are cared about, means everything. The views we hold of ourselves, and the world we live in, begin to develop during childhood, and the interactions and experiences we provide children as early educators are fundamental to their individual, and universal growth.
Larisa Lerner
Rosanne Levi
I work for PJA because it is not just a school, it's a community. Families and staff work together as one.
Denise Littlefield
Celinda Llanez
I teach because I want to plant the seeds in my students to be kind, always wonder and ask questions, to leave things better than they found them, to trust themselves when they make mistakes, and to try to do the right thing, even when nobody is looking.
Lynne Meyerowitz
I teach because I believe in the power of education. My own teachers have and continue to influence my life and I similarly aspire to positively impact the lives of my students.
Bekkah Morgan
Sara Morton
Nicole Moylan
I teach because I want to create an environment where each individual child feels welcomed and special. Everyday is a new adventure with my two year olds! I’m so grateful to have the privilege of witnessing important milestones.
Fabiola Munoz
Bess Nation
I teach because I truly believe that every child is a capable learner. I'm driven and delighted by the way a student's face lights up when their hard work pays off with an "Ah Ha" moment.

Han Ngo
Gita Pastala
I teach because working with middle schoolers energizes and inspires me everyday. Mathematics is the tool, because I find great joy in it, but teaching is my destiny. My goal is to help every student discover the great joy in Mathematics, not only the ones for whom it comes easy, but especially for the one who believes it’s not for them.
Alex Perrin
I teach because the children of today are the future of tomorrow. It is our responsibility to help the future generation reach their full potential and change their world for the better.
Susanna Perrin
Caley Peterson
Liz Phillips
I teach because of all the joy it brings to me each and every day. From the smallest of moments to the biggest of victories, I love and cherish my time with my students!
Stephanie Rankin

Chris Roberts
I work at PJA because I believe that community can play a large part in people's lives. For me, community was what brought me back when I found myself spiraling out of control - when you have others you can lean on for support, it can mean the difference between recovering from hardships or letting those hardships define and control you.
Maryjane Rocker
Matt Rosenberg
I teach to help students gain the ability to be critical thinkers, who can solve real-world problems both inside and outside the classroom.
Erika Saiers
Cheryl Salgado
Karen Sapoznikow
I fundraise for PJA because I believe that everyone should be able to take advantage of all this school has to offer, regardless of their financial situation. Mensches come from all walks of life. Our ability to offer scholarships enriches our student body and makes our community stronger.

Kim Schneiderman
I teach because I believe in the power of music. Music is an opening. It creates connections. It sparks memory. It motivates. It helps us realize that we are a part of something greater than ourselves. Witnessing students explore and discover new parts of themselves through music is sacred work. They are the music makers, and through them, I believe in the healing of the world.
Alex Schroeder
Renee Schwartz
Lucy Schwimmer
I teach to provide a strong social, emotional, and academic foundation for every child.
Alisa Scudamore
I teach because my students show me how to remain creative and open while making art. Their ideas and energy renew my optimism for our world.
Adrianne Sharrock
I teach because I believe that educational beginnings based on curiosity and kindness create not only an engaged learner, but an open and confident person who can also help and teach others.
Heather Simpson
Linda Singer
I work at PJA because this has been my community since I was a student here the first year it started as Hillel Academy in 1961. As a former student, parent, board member and now staff – I love PJA.
Molly Sloan
I teach because I am a ready collaborator who loves all things library. Connecting kids, teachers and parents to the right resource at the right time is what makes me tick!
Remy Steckel
Mary Steinberg
Sue Stone
I teach because I love children and hope to guide and assist them to reach their potential.
Miriam Stroud
Debbie Sweeney

Laura Wagner
I teach because I believe that kids can make a difference.
Harriet Wingard
Tatiana Zawadzki
I teach because... Little people are my passion!! I truly feel inspired learning from them - every day is a new beginning, a new journey that unfolds a new path creating new memories and welcoming new adventures. If only we slow down, observe and listen we are able to support already creative minds. I’m honored to be an Early Childhood teacher and to witness as each little person welcomes their “Firsts”.
Administration
Steve Albert, Executive Director
B.S. Haverford College. Ed. M. Harvard University. M.S. Portland State University. Steve is passionate about music and theater, and he enjoys singing as well as attending concerts and plays. He also enjoys hiking, kayaking, and skiing, and he likes to travel – especially to visit his grown children who are scattered around the country. He spends more time than he should caring for his saltwater reef tank at his home, which he shares with his wife, Janie, and dog, Lola. Steve’s favorite thing about PJA is the strong sense of community and the genuine care expressed by individuals for one another. This mirrors the collaboration that exists at all levels – from students to teachers to parents to school leadership – and creates a foundation that fosters learning and service on campus and off.
Becky Ewer, Marketing and Creative Director
Becky is the Marketing and Creative Director for the Mittleman Jewish Community Center and Portland Jewish Academy. She started working here in 2005 and loves the family feeling of the MJCC and PJA. Becky grew up in Seattle. She graduated with a B.S. in Business from Skidmore College and a Masters of Science in Arts Administration from Boston University. Becky is passionate about music as she has played the violin since the age of seven and is married to a professional violinist! She and her husband Greg Ewer founded the local nonprofit, 45th Parallel. Becky enjoys playing with her two children, cooking, knitting, and travelling. As a breast cancer survivor, Becky serves as a mentor to other women who are newly diagnosed.
Beth Germain, Chief Financial Officer
B.S. Finance - University of Illinois, MM (MBA) Accounting from Northwestern University – Kellogg School of Management
Beth is responsible for all aspects of financial management and budgeting. Beth has held CFO positions in real estate development companies in both Chicago and Portland from 1989-2002. Beth joined the PJA Finance Committee in 1999, became Treasurer of PJA in 2000 and was hired as Controller in 2002. Beth is married to John and they have two sons, Payton and Louie, who are both PJA graduates. "PJA has been my strongest connection to the Jewish Community and I am grateful to have it be such as large part of my life." Beth enjoys living in the Pacific Northwest and being outdoors skiing, walking and boating as well as being indoors doing yoga and puzzles.
Sarah Glass, Director of Admission
Sarah grew up in Portland. At the age of 18, she moved to New York City where she earned her BA from Barnard College of Columbia University. After college, she taught in a public school in Brooklyn for three years before returning to graduate school to earn a Masters in Urban Planning from NYU. All three of Sarah's children attended PJA. "I love sharing the story of PJA with families. This is a school that truly lives by its core values. Our students learn to think critically, work together to build community, and know that they can make a positive impact in our world."
Charlotte Gund, Assistant Director of the Afterschool Department
Charlotte was born and raised in Riverdale, NY. She graduated Oberlin College with a Bachelors in Biology, and later, a Masters in Early Childhood Education. She has lived in Portland for seven years now, six of which she has spent working in the PJA Afterschool Department! In addition to providing a meaningful, inclusive environment for kids to grow and learn in after school hours, Charlotte enjoys running races, reading, studying languages, and exploring different parts of Oregon with her partner, Rick.
Natalie Haskins, Director of PJA Afterschool Programs
Born and raised Northeastern Oklahoma, Natalie grew up exploring the foothills of the Ozark mountains, riding horses, climbing hay bales and playing music on her dad's family farm. In the spring of 2006, Natalie and her husband, Tim, relocated to Portland, Oregon where Natalie has continued her love of exploring the great outdoors. When not hiking or investigating coastal tide pools, Natalie can be found tending her vegetable and medicinal herb gardens, riding a bike with her dogs racing alongside her or reading several books at once. She also still very much enjoys playing music. Natalie studied Early Childhood Education at the University of Oklahoma and has worked in Afterschool with PJA since 2006. She teaches because she believes every child deserves a safe and supportive learning environment during their out of school time.
Merrill Hendin, Principal
Merrill grew up in Brooklyn, New York where she attended Jewish day school through high school. She graduated with a BA in English from the State University of New York at Binghamton and worked at a Jewish day school in Brooklyn before moving to Vancouver, BC, where she completed the graduate education program and received her teaching certification through the University of British Columbia. Merrill and her husband lived in Haifa, Israel, where she taught English to adults, seniors and children in a variety of settings. When her young family returned to the United States, they made Portland their home and their PJA lives began. Merrill taught Hebrew and Jewish Studies at PJA before taking time off to raise her growing family. Her involvement at PJA has taken many forms over the past 29 years as she became involved as a lay leader and then for the past 12 years, has served as a member of the PJA administration as the Director of Hebrew and Jewish Studies, Assistant Head of School, and for the past 8 years, as the school's Principal. Jewish education has always been an integral part of Merrill's life and when she and her husband were looking for a place to live after he finished medical school in Israel, at the core of the decision was to ensure that wherever they moved, there would be strong Jewish education and community for their family. PJA was home to all three of their children and remains an integral part of the Hendin family's lives.

Allison Hernandez, Assistant Director of Early Childhood Programs
Allison was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She received her Masters Degree in Early Childhood Curriculum and Instruction from Portland State University. Previously, she lived in New York City and worked as both an educator and an acrobat. She lives with her family in Beaverton, Oregon, and in her free time enjoys running obstacle course races, gardening, and spending time with her family. Allison joined the PJA community in 2016, and believes that young children are capable, contributing citizens of our world.
Michael Hyde, Director of General Studies
Amy Katz, Director of Jewish Life
Amy Katz has been working in Jewish Education for over 20 years. She taught in Jewish Day Schools, synagogue schools, and Jewish summer camps in Wisconsin, Canada, Los Angeles, Boston, and San Francisco before moving to Portland in 2004. Amy taught Hebrew and Jewish Studies for seven years at PJA before becoming the Director of Jewish Life. Amy's favorite thing about PJA is forging strong connections with students and faculty and encouraging everyone to learn a little more about the beauty of Judaism. Her favorite part of each week is Middle School tefilah. She lives in Northeast Portland with her husband, two teenagers, and her dog Sox. Amy graduated from Beloit College with degrees in Creative Writing and Literary Studies, and has a Master's in Jewish Education from Boston's Hebrew College.
Saul Korin, Development Manager
Saul Korin, MBA, is the Development Manager for the Mittleman Jewish Community Center and Portland Jewish Academy, where he builds relationships and enables philanthropic dreams. He is active in Havurah Shalom where he makes Purim happen, and occasionally DJs Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs on the side. Saul graduated from the George Washington University in Washington, DC, and as an MBA in Nonprofit Management from the American Jewish University in Los Angeles.
Erika Saiers, Director of Early Childhood Education
Erika grew up in central Pennsylvania. She attended Green Mountain College in Poultney Vermont and earned a BS in Elementary Education and Teaching with a concentration in Recreation and played collegiate soccer. During her senior year at Green Mountain she attended the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) where she spent 3 months in the PNW mountaineering, sailing and rock climbing and decided that Oregon was where she was destined to be. She packed up a small pickup truck, spent a month traveling the country and has been rooted in Portland ever since, now calling the PNW home. In Portland Erika earned her MEd in Educational Leadership and Administration from PSU and continues her love of exercise coaching the PJA middle school cross country team, hiking and biking. Both of Erika's children attended PJA as "lifers" meaning they started as infants and graduated 8th grade and believes this community is truly a wonderful environment to grow up in.
Board Members
Danelle Romain is an attorney in private practice specializing in government relations at The Romain Group (TRG).
Richard Barker is a Wealth Management Advisor and Senior Portfolio Advisor with Merrill Lynch...
Steven is an attorney with Davis Wright Tremaine LLP’s Media and Intellectual Property group...
Amy Blauer grew up in Seattle and has lived in Portland for over 20 years...
Marni was born in Brooklyn, raised in Philadelphia and came to Portland in 1982 with her husband, Hank Kaplan...
Barry Benson is originally from Massachusetts has been a Portland resident for the last 15 years..
John is an active member of the MJCC, a member of the PDX Business Breakfast Advisory Group, a member of the Board’s Facilities Committee,
Joyce has recently retired after forty years in the field of education...
Larry Gloth is an East Coast transplant who grew up in Massachusetts where he attended UMASS Amherst before joining the U.S. Marine Corps and moving West...
Michelle is an active member of the MJCC, where her two daughters attend Day Camp and swim lessons. Her children also attend PJA
Gail Mandel is Deputy Director of the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education (OJMCHE). Prior to joining the
Carol is originally from Arkansas. She graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with a Doctorate in Pharmacy
Erik Richmond grew up in Arizona and came to Portland in 1986 to attend OHSU School of Dentistry and became an Oral and Maxillofacial surgeon...
Tamar currently serves as co-head of Kehillah, PJA’s Parent’s Association. She has been actively involved in the PJA Giving Circle, is a member of the MJCC,
Jonathan is a fourth generation Portlander and graduate of PJA's first eighth grade class who spent his formative years at the MJCC...
Ahuva is a printmaker and painter who was born in Tel Aviv, Israel. She graduated from the University of the Negev, Israel with a B.A in behavioral sciences