| Employee Name |
Position |
Email |
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School Counselor (Emotional & Social Support)
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labrams@hillelacademytampa.com
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Lydia Abrams
Role:
School Counselor (Emotional & Social Support)
Email:
labrams@hillelacademytampa.com
Lydia has been a part of the Hillel community as a parent first and joined the team as the School Counselor in 2014. Lydia loves to bring her knowledge of working with children and parents, individuals with special needs, therapy, mindfulness and more to her work at Hillel. Lydia grew up in the Tampa Bay Area, obtained her Bachelor of Social Work degree from USF in 1996, her Master of Social Work degree from Florida International University in 2000, and her LCSW (License in Clinical Social Work) in 2002. She loves being a parent to her two children (who are both Hillel Academy alumni). Lydia has experience in the areas of working with individuals with special needs, assisting parents of children with special needs, women’s issues, domestic violence, working with individuals with HIV/AIDS, as an advocate for adults with disabilities, and provided therapy and worked as the Clinical Director for Tampa Jewish Family Services for many years. In addition to her part-time work as the School Counselor for Hillel, Lydia also provides therapy for a local private practice (ProTherapyPlus), specializing in grief, depression, anxiety, parenting, couples/family therapy, and more. Lydia is an active member of Congregation Kol Ami. She loves to read, go for walks, and relax with her family and friends.
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6th & 7th Grades Math and Jewish Studies Educator
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jackman@hillelacademytampa.com
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Elementary Division Director and K General Studies Educator
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aalman@hillelacademytampa.com
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Director of Food Services
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kamoyal@hillelacademytampa.com
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1st Grade General Studies Educator
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kmarshall@hillelacademytampa.com
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Kari Bailey
Role:
1st Grade General Studies Educator
Email:
kmarshall@hillelacademytampa.com
Kari was born and raised in Bel Air, Maryland before attending the University of South Florida in Tampa. She graduated from USF in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education with an ESOL endorsement. She recently got her Reading endorsement as well. Kari spent 10 months teaching English in Israel, returning to Tampa in July 2014. Once returning to Tampa, she began teaching first grade at a charter school. This is her 8th year teaching first grade and she is excited to have joined the Hillel family.
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Interim Head of School
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abasham@hillelacademytampa.com
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Amy Basham
Role:
Interim Head of School
Email:
abasham@hillelacademytampa.com
Mrs. Basham is a lifelong learner with a true passion for science, mathematics, and education. She works
hard to bring fun, creativity, and academic rigor to her classroom each day, and is constantly
developing new methods to do so. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences,
with focused studies in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Genetics, and Mathematics. She also holds a
Master’s degree in Science Curriculum and Instruction, with additional emphasis in Informal Science for
Environmental Education. She has continued to pursue advanced graduate studies in the field of science
education, with a particular interest in curriculum development, teacher mentorship, project-based
learning, and methods for the reduction of science and math anxiety in teachers. Her thirst for learning
is never extinguished, and she works hard to inspire a similar love and excitement for learning in her
students.
Mrs. Basham is entering her 17th year as a science and math educator, with almost 14 of those years spent
as a proud member of the Hillel Academy family. Her positions with Hillel Academy have included middle
school science teacher, school science fair director, hydroponic and container garden manager, middle
school math teacher, and middle division director. In addition to teaching in the formal environment,
Mrs. Basham has been a private tutor for 18 years, developed science and math curricula for numerous
summer programs, and evaluated private schools for the Florida Council of Independent Schools.
Throughout the years, she has taught students from Pre-K through college seniors, but admits to having a
passion for middle school.
Above all, Mrs. Basham’s most important role is as the proud mother of two children who attend Hillel
Academy. She enjoys spending her down time traveling, cooking, baking, exercising, reading, shopping,
entertaining, and generally enjoying life with her children and husband of 16 years, who is a salon
owner in Carrollwood. Since 2004, Mrs. Basham’s philosophy has been that “the important thing in science
is not so much to obtain new facts as to discover new ways of thinking about them.” This quote,
originally penned by Sir William Bragg, is the perfect expression of Mrs. Basham’s approach to life and
teaching. She truly believes that you should never let a day pass without attempting to learn something
new, consider a new perspective, or dig just a bit deeper into your understanding of the world around
you.
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Director of Advancement
|
jbegani@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Julie Begani
Role:
Director of Advancement
Email:
jbegani@hillelacademytampa.com
Julie is originally from the NY & DC areas and moved to Orlando to attend UCF. While at UCF Julie was very active in Central Florida Hillel which opened many doors within the Orlando Jewish Community. After graduating with a degree in Liberal Studies focusing on Jewish Communal Service and Non-Profit Management she went on to work for multiple agencies in Orlando including the Jewish Federation and the Jewish Community Center, serving as their Youth, Camp, and Events Director for 9 years. After getting married to her husband, Christopher, Julie became the Program Director at the Congregation of Reform Judaism for a short while before starting her own Event and Consulting firm, Julbilation Events, focused on Jewish life cycle events and fundraising. In 2020, Julie and her family moved to Tampa and quickly fell in love with Hillel! All three of her children attend the school. Julie is thrilled to bring the FABULOUS world of Jewish camping to Hillel as well as the all-new afterschool Enrichment Academy! With her experience in the event and fundraising world, Julie is looking forward to all the new possibilities in store for Hillel's future.
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Gesher/5th Grade Humanities Educator, Ed Plan Coordinator
|
cbraemer@hillelacademytampa.com
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4th Grade General Studies Educator
|
lcaine@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Lisa Caine
Role:
4th Grade General Studies Educator
Email:
lcaine@hillelacademytampa.com
Lisa grew up in New Jersey with her loving parents, Marilyn and Alan Daniels, and her two older brothers
and younger sister. After graduating from Montclair State College, she moved to Florida to be closer to
all her family members that had moved to the Sunshine State. Although Lisa began in the Retail
Merchandising field, she quickly realized her love was in teaching and decided to join University of
Florida and their incredible teaching program. Lisa began her teaching career in the Winter of 1991 in
Dade City as a first Grade teacher. That spring she was hired by Hillsborough County to teach at Broward
Elementary and remained there until 2006 when she joined the Hillel Family. While at Broward Elementary,
she taught 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th as well as served as the Media Specialist after receiving her Masters
Degree in Library Information Sciences. In 2003, she married Larry Caine and David was born in 2005
prompting her to rethink her teaching options. She interviewed at Hillel and felt the love and care each
teacher and staff member has for the children as well as the values being instilled, she knew this was
the place her family needed to be. In 2006, she joined the Hillel family as one of the First Grade
teachers. In 2016, she created and implement the Intermediate Science Curriculum for grades 2 - 5.
Lisa believes in each child and their abilities to grow and excel each day. Each child brings a special
light and unique ability to the class and to our school. She helps each child grow to be be capable,
independent learners that are in charge of their own learning through readers, writers and math
workshops, cooperative activities and inquiry. Students strive to achieve their personal best and
measure their achievements by their own growth and the growth of the class as a whole. We praise each
other, understand that growth comes from learning from our mistakes and build upon our strengths helping
each to achieve his/her personal goals and set new ones as we learn together throughout the year.
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2nd Grade General Studies Educator
|
dclark@hillelacademytampa.com
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K-2nd Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
|
scohen@hillelacademytampa.com
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Sylvia Cohen
Role:
K-2nd Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
Email:
scohen@hillelacademytampa.com
Sylvia was born and raised in Casablanca, Morocco. She attended Jewish day school from preschool to 12th
grade as well as Jewish seminary for Hebrew and Judaic studies. She then spent 2 years in Strasbourg
France and one year in Israel studying Hebrew and Tanach. Sylvia taught in Morocco before she got
married and moved to the USA 27 years ago. She speaks, reads and writes French (first language) Hebrew
and English and speaks Arabic fluently.
She is married and has 2 sons - David and Marc who are proud Hillel graduates! She started working at
Hillel in January 1998.
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Yanshufim (PreK) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
|
idayan@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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Parparim (1s) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
|
kesposito@hillelacademytampa.com
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3rd & 4th Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
|
cfriedman@hillelacademytampa.com
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Director of Jewish Life and Curriculum
|
kfriedman@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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Dean of Students & IT Director
|
mgamson@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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1st Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
|
ngani@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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3rd Grade General Studies Educator
|
cgeiger@hillelacademytampa.com
|
|
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Camp and Engagement Director
|
agross@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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5th-8th Grades Hebrew and Israel Studies
|
ihacham@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Idit Hacham
Role:
5th-8th Grades Hebrew and Israel Studies
Email:
ihacham@hillelacademytampa.com
Idit Hacham grew up in a small town in Israel. Both of her parents are educators, her sister is an
accountant and her younger brother is studying computer engineering. In 2003, she joined the IDF as a
Non-commissioned Officer of Education in the Israeli Navy. During her service, Idit developed curriculum
regarding Israeli society, culture and geography and led combat soldiers through their educational
classes, community volunteering, field trips and more. In 2006, she was chosen by the Jewish Agency as
Israeli cultural guide for a summer camp in New Jersey. Later on, Idit pursued her dream to be a teacher
and studied in Oranim College in Israel. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor in Education
General Teaching and Biology Science for Elementary School. During her studies she was also elected to
be the president of the Student government. After graduating in 2011, Idit was fortunate to be selected
again by the Jewish Agency for an international fellowship position as the Israel Fellow for the USF and
University of Tampa Hillels. During the time she lived in Tampa and while being involved in the Jewish
community, Idit met her husband Jay and today they have son name Ron. Idit continued her career in
education, working as the Youth Program Coordinator at the JCC and as a Hebrew teacher at Kol Ami. She
joined Hillel Academy in 2017 and is excited to continue her journey with the Jewish community here in
Tampa.
|
|
Business & Operations Manager
|
bkettler@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Bill Kettler
Role:
Business & Operations Manager
Email:
bkettler@hillelacademytampa.com
Attended college at Ohio University’s Honors Tutorial College and obtained his degree in
Psychology in 3 years, then returned and obtained his degree in Communications in 2 more.
Using both degrees, he entered the sales field out of college, eventually landing in the Title
Insurance industry in Ohio. Noticing a lack of good title services in the area and the inflated
costs, Bill started his own agency in 1999, Expedient Title, which became one of the top title
insurance agencies in Central Ohio within three years. In 2011, Bill took a buyout offer from the
agency.
Following this Bill became the Director of Operations for a firm out of Chicago. He worked this
hi-paced job for a number of years, but realized he wanted more control over his future after
sales fell short there and the business was forced to close. Determined to find the correct job,
where he could do more to help people on a daily basis, Bill located the job availability at Hillel
and thought it would be a great fit. After the interview and getting to meet the other
administrative staff, he knew he was right. He was offered the position and has been Director of
Operations and Business for Hillel ever since.
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Art
|
glevert@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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Parparim (1s) English Educator
|
nmarte-mendez@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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MS Division Director and 6th-8th Grades Social Studies Educator
|
bpeters@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Burl Peters
Role:
MS Division Director and 6th-8th Grades Social Studies Educator
Email:
bpeters@hillelacademytampa.com
Burl Peters grew up in the Tampa area, moving to Lutz when he was in 3rd grade. He is a proud alumnus of both Gaither High School and University of South Florida (with his degree in History). He now lives in Spring Hill, Florida with his wife Ann and their house full of pets. Mr. Peters is in his 18th year of teaching. He spent the first 14 years as 5th grade and middle school math teacher at Hillel. After leaving Hillel for a charter school, he returned to Hillel to pursue teaching his passion: Social Studies. In his time away from school, Mr. Peters enjoys doing DIY projects and volunteering at his local animal shelter.
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ELC Support Staff
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iprice@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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Kipodim (2s/3s) Lead Teacher
|
rpustylnikov@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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ELC Director
|
framos@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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3rd Grade and MS Yeshiva Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator
|
drivkin@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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Director of Admissions (Advancement)
|
ssamuel@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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8th Grade Algebra, Foundations of Alg 2 Educator
|
cselig@hillelacademytampa.com
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1st Grade General Studies Educator
|
ashaw@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Anne Shaw
Role:
1st Grade General Studies Educator
Email:
ashaw@hillelacademytampa.com
Anne grew up in a small town in Northwestern Pennsylvania where she graduated from Edinboro University of
PA with her Bachelors in Elementary Education and Early Childhood Education. Shortly after graduating,
she moved to Tampa with her husband and was fortunate enough to be offered her first teaching job in
Hillsborough County. Anne has taught at both public and charter schools in grades Kindergarten and 1st.
Now entering her ninth year of teaching, she is excited to have joined the Hillel family as the 3rd
grade teacher.
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Executive Associate
|
ashemesh@hillelacademytampa.com
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Bus Driver
|
spatero@hillelacademytampa.com
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Bus Driver
|
cstacy@hillelacademytampa.com
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ELC Support Staff
|
mstern@hillelacademytampa.com
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7th & 8th Grades Spanish Educator
|
hvaldivia@hillelacademytampa.com
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Dagim (3 yo) English Educator
|
cverble@hillelacademytampa.com
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Facilities Supervisor
|
twallace@hillelacademytampa.com
|
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Middle School ELA
|
jwittcoff@hillelacademytampa.com
|
Jessica Wittcoff
Role:
Middle School ELA
Email:
jwittcoff@hillelacademytampa.com
She received her BA in English with a collateral program in secondary education from Kean University in New
Jersey. She started her career teaching high school English in Newark, New Jersey. She located to Tampa,
Florida, in 1985. After taking time off to raise a family, she returned back to teaching and was
fortunate to be employed by Hillel in 2002.
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Gesher/5th Grade STEM Educator
|
dwoodruff@hillelacademytampa.com
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