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Faculty and Staff

Lydia Abrams

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.

Josh Ackman

Josh Ackman

Role: 6th & 7th Grades Math and Jewish Studies Educator

Email: jackman@hillelacademytampa.com

Angela Alman

Angela Alman

Role: Elementary Division Director and K General Studies Educator

Email: aalman@hillelacademytampa.com

Keren Amoyal

Keren Amoyal

Role: Director of Food Services

Email: kamoyal@hillelacademytampa.com

Amy Basham

Amy Basham

Role: Principal of Teaching and Learning

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.

Julie Begani

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.

Rabbi Marc Blatt

Rabbi Marc Blatt

Role: MS Yahadut Jewish Studies Educator

Email: mblatt@hillelacademytampa.com

"Who is wise? One who learns from everyone" Pirkei Avot 4:1
Rabbi Marc Blatt was born on Long Island, NY and grew up in Orlando, Florida. Ordained from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, Rabbi Blatt has been an educator for almost his entire life. Rabbi Blatt has worked in numerous religious schools in Orlando, New York, Los Angeles, and Baltimore, spent 9 summers at Camp Ramah Darom, California, and Poconos, and spent 3 years teaching Jewish Texts at Charles E Smith Jewish Day School in Rockville, Maryland. He loves teaching his students about the wonder and beauty of Judaism, preparing them to become the next generation of Jewish leaders. He is a total Comic Book movie geek, as well as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and Star Trek. He loves trivia, playing retro (Nintendo and Sega) video games, and camping in the great outdoors. He is married to Rabbi Rachel Blatt and proud abba (father) to Hannah, Tova, and Rafi.

Caitlyn Braemer

Caitlyn Braemer

Role: Gesher/5th Grade Humanities Educator, Ed Plan Coordinator

Email: cbraemer@hillelacademytampa.com

Lisa Caine

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.

Donna Clark

Donna Clark

Role: 2nd Grade General Studies Educator

Email: dclark@hillelacademytampa.com

Sylvia Cohen

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.

Ilana Dayan

Ilana Dayan

Role: Yanshufim (PreK) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: idayan@hillelacademytampa.com

Danielle Capella Diaz

Danielle Capella Diaz

Role: Yanshufim (PreK) English Educator

Email: ddiaz@hillelacademytampa.com

Kim Edelson-Esposito

Kim Edelson-Esposito

Role: Parparim (1s) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: kesposito@hillelacademytampa.com

Ashlyn Esposito

Ashlyn Esposito

Role: ELC Support Staff

Email: ashlynesp@icloud.com

Chaya Friedman

Chaya Friedman

Role: 3rd & 4th Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: cfriedman@hillelacademytampa.com

Kate Friedman

Kate Friedman

Role: Director of Jewish Life and Curriculum

Email: kfriedman@hillelacademytampa.com

Mike Gamson

Mike Gamson

Role: Dean of Students & IT Director

Email: mgamson@hillelacademytampa.com

Noa Gani

Noa Gani

Role: 1st Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: ngani@hillelacademytampa.com

Chloe Geiger

Chloe Geiger

Role: 3rd Grade General Studies Educator

Email: cgeiger@hillelacademytampa.com

Anne Griswold

Anne Griswold

Role: Music

Email: agriswold@hillelacademytampa.com

Amy Gross

Amy Gross

Role: Camp and Engagement Director

Email: agross@hillelacademytampa.com

Rebecca Guindine

Rebecca Guindine

Role: 3rd Grade General Studies Educator

Email: rguindine@hillelacademytampa.com

Rebecca received her degree in elementary education in August of 1999 from USF. She began her teaching career in 1999 at Clair-Mel elementary, where she taught first and third grades until 2001. In August of 2001 she joined the Hillel family and taught fourth grade, welcomed her first child, and then returned to Hillel August 2003. Rebecca has taught grades first through fourth and 5th and 6th grade math classes. She was also librarian for two years. Hillel is her second home and she loves spending her days here!

Idit Hacham

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.

Bill Kettler

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.

Stan Kosmoski

Stan Kosmoski

Role: 6th-8th Grades Science Educator

Email: skosmoski@hillelacademytampa.com

Gilon Levert

Gilon Levert

Role: Art

Email: glevert@hillelacademytampa.com

Kari Marshall

Kari Marshall

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.

Natali Marte-Mendez

Natali Marte-Mendez

Role: Parparim (1s) English Educator

Email: nmarte-mendez@hillelacademytampa.com

Allison Oakes

Allison Oakes

Role: Head of School

Email: aoakes@hillelacademytampa.com

Allison grew up in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where she attended the Broad Street YMWHA for nursery school; Solomon Schechter Day School - Stern Center for elementary school; and Akiba Hebrew Academy for middle and part of high school until her parents retired to Boca Raton, Florida. She received her bachelor's and Master's degrees in elementary education with a specialization in middle grade science at the University of Florida and while teaching, studied at Florida International University and then received her certification in education leadership and administration. Allison has served communities in South Florida, Texas, North Carolina, and now Tampa. Allison's most important job, though, is being a mom to her three children, all students at Hillel Academy.

Burl Peters

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.

Isabella Prince

Isabella Prince

Role: ELC Support Staff

Email: iprice@hillelacademytampa.com

Rae Pustylnikov

Rae Pustylnikov

Role: Kipodim (2s/3s) Lead Teacher

Email: rpustylnikov@hillelacademytampa.com

Fran  Ramos

Fran Ramos

Role: ELC Director

Email: framos@hillelacademytampa.com

Dvorki Rivkin

Dvorki Rivkin

Role: 3rd Grade and MS Yeshiva Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: drivkin@hillelacademytampa.com

Stephanie Samuel

Stephanie Samuel

Role: Director of Admissions (Advancement)

Email: ssamuel@hillelacademytampa.com

Charyn Selig

Charyn Selig

Role: 8th Grade Algebra, Foundations of Alg 2 Educator

Email: cselig@hillelacademytampa.com

Anne Shaw

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.

Amber Shemesh

Amber Shemesh

Role: Executive Associate

Email: ashemesh@hillelacademytampa.com

Brigitte Slack

Brigitte Slack

Role: Athletic Director and PE Educator/Coach

Email: bslack@hillelacademytampa.com

Galina Smirnov

Galina Smirnov

Role: Kipodim (2s/3s) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: gsmirnov@hillelacademytampa.com

Stephanie Spataro

Stephanie Spataro

Role: Bus Driver

Email: spatero@hillelacademytampa.com

Chrissy Stacy

Chrissy Stacy

Role: Bus Driver

Email: cstacy@hillelacademytampa.com

Madison Stern

Madison Stern

Role: ELC Support Staff

Email: mstern@hillelacademytampa.com

Hanani Valdivia

Hanani Valdivia

Role: 7th & 8th Grades Spanish Educator

Email: hvaldivia@hillelacademytampa.com

Cheryl Verble

Cheryl Verble

Role: Dagim (3 yo) English Educator

Email: cverble@hillelacademytampa.com

Angela Vilvovsky

Angela Vilvovsky

Role: Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator

Email: avilvovsky@hillelacademtampa.com

Tim Wallace

Tim Wallace

Role: Facilities Supervisor

Email: twallace@hillelacademytampa.com

Kathy Wasserman

Kathy Wasserman

Role: Resource Educator

Email: kwasserman@hillelacademytampa.com

Marcus Williams

Marcus Williams

Role: After School Educator/ELC Support Staff

Email: mwilliams@hillelacademytampa.com

Jessica Wittcoff

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.

Don Woodruff

Don Woodruff

Role: Gesher/5th Grade STEM Educator

Email: dwoodruff@hillelacademytampa.com

Employee Name Position Email
Lydia Abrams School Counselor (Emotional & Social Support) labrams@hillelacademytampa.com
Josh Ackman 6th & 7th Grades Math and Jewish Studies Educator jackman@hillelacademytampa.com
Angela Alman Elementary Division Director and K General Studies Educator aalman@hillelacademytampa.com
Keren Amoyal Director of Food Services kamoyal@hillelacademytampa.com
Amy Basham Principal of Teaching and Learning abasham@hillelacademytampa.com
Julie Begani Director of Advancement jbegani@hillelacademytampa.com
Rabbi Marc Blatt MS Yahadut Jewish Studies Educator mblatt@hillelacademytampa.com
Caitlyn Braemer Gesher/5th Grade Humanities Educator, Ed Plan Coordinator cbraemer@hillelacademytampa.com
Lisa Caine 4th Grade General Studies Educator lcaine@hillelacademytampa.com
Donna Clark 2nd Grade General Studies Educator dclark@hillelacademytampa.com
Sylvia Cohen K-2nd Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator scohen@hillelacademytampa.com
Ilana Dayan Yanshufim (PreK) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator idayan@hillelacademytampa.com
Danielle Capella Diaz Yanshufim (PreK) English Educator ddiaz@hillelacademytampa.com
Kim Edelson-Esposito Parparim (1s) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator kesposito@hillelacademytampa.com
Ashlyn Esposito ELC Support Staff ashlynesp@icloud.com
Chaya Friedman 3rd & 4th Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator cfriedman@hillelacademytampa.com
Kate Friedman Director of Jewish Life and Curriculum kfriedman@hillelacademytampa.com
Mike Gamson Dean of Students & IT Director mgamson@hillelacademytampa.com
Noa Gani 1st Grade Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator ngani@hillelacademytampa.com
Chloe Geiger 3rd Grade General Studies Educator cgeiger@hillelacademytampa.com
Anne Griswold Music agriswold@hillelacademytampa.com
Amy Gross Camp and Engagement Director agross@hillelacademytampa.com
Rebecca Guindine 3rd Grade General Studies Educator rguindine@hillelacademytampa.com
Idit Hacham 5th-8th Grades Hebrew and Israel Studies ihacham@hillelacademytampa.com
Bill Kettler Business & Operations Manager bkettler@hillelacademytampa.com
Stan Kosmoski 6th-8th Grades Science Educator skosmoski@hillelacademytampa.com
Gilon Levert Art glevert@hillelacademytampa.com
Kari Marshall 1st Grade General Studies Educator kmarshall@hillelacademytampa.com
Natali Marte-Mendez Parparim (1s) English Educator nmarte-mendez@hillelacademytampa.com
Allison Oakes Head of School aoakes@hillelacademytampa.com
Burl Peters MS Division Director and 6th-8th Grades Social Studies Educator bpeters@hillelacademytampa.com
Isabella Prince ELC Support Staff iprice@hillelacademytampa.com
Rae Pustylnikov Kipodim (2s/3s) Lead Teacher rpustylnikov@hillelacademytampa.com
Fran Ramos ELC Director framos@hillelacademytampa.com
Dvorki Rivkin 3rd Grade and MS Yeshiva Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator drivkin@hillelacademytampa.com
Stephanie Samuel Director of Admissions (Advancement) ssamuel@hillelacademytampa.com
Charyn Selig 8th Grade Algebra, Foundations of Alg 2 Educator cselig@hillelacademytampa.com
Anne Shaw 1st Grade General Studies Educator ashaw@hillelacademytampa.com
Amber Shemesh Executive Associate ashemesh@hillelacademytampa.com
Brigitte Slack Athletic Director and PE Educator/Coach bslack@hillelacademytampa.com
Galina Smirnov Kipodim (2s/3s) Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator gsmirnov@hillelacademytampa.com
Stephanie Spataro Bus Driver spatero@hillelacademytampa.com
Chrissy Stacy Bus Driver cstacy@hillelacademytampa.com
Madison Stern ELC Support Staff mstern@hillelacademytampa.com
Hanani Valdivia 7th & 8th Grades Spanish Educator hvaldivia@hillelacademytampa.com
Cheryl Verble Dagim (3 yo) English Educator cverble@hillelacademytampa.com
Angela Vilvovsky Hebrew & Jewish Studies Educator avilvovsky@hillelacademtampa.com
Tim Wallace Facilities Supervisor twallace@hillelacademytampa.com
Kathy Wasserman Resource Educator kwasserman@hillelacademytampa.com
Marcus Williams After School Educator/ELC Support Staff mwilliams@hillelacademytampa.com
Jessica Wittcoff Middle School ELA jwittcoff@hillelacademytampa.com
Don Woodruff Gesher/5th Grade STEM Educator dwoodruff@hillelacademytampa.com