Who’s Who
Our Professional Staff
The professional staff of the Department of Education of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism will work with you and your school to align your program with your mission and strengthen your school in the ways that you need.
Dr. Elaine R. S. Cohen
works as the primary resource person and consultant to the Solomon Schechter Day School Association and to its affiliated schools. A former Head of School of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Essex and Union in New Jersey, she is in charge of placement services, plans national and regional conferences and seminars, edits Shibboley Schechter, the newsletter for Schechter leaders, and guides schools through their various transitions as the need arises.
Maxine Handelman
is the early childhood specialist of the Department who works from Chicago. With expertise in the Jewish education of pre-school children, she consults with schools, parents, rabbis and teachers about curriculum, programs and developmental issues. She meets with and coaches early childhood educators seeking to deepen the Jewish content of their school’s program as well as the knowledge base of their teachers.
Wendy Light
is a former educ ational director of a large congregational school in Philadelphia, Wendy works intensively with all the synagogue schools in North America that are affiliated with the United Synagogue. She guides them through placement when they are seeking a new educational director and counsels prospective candidates in search of a new position. She prepared and distributes a weekly posting of professional leadership vacancies each week during the placement season, from November through June. Wendy is also in charge of the Framework for Excellence project, raising the bar of expectations for student learning and helping congregational schools meet the new standards.
Susan Wyner
came to United Synagogue in 2008 after a career as a congregational school director. She oversees and facilitates the New Directors Institute for education directors of congregational schools, which brings together new leaders and prepares them for the challenges of their position. She also is responsible for the Ednotes list serve, providing information on administration, holiday programming, the latest educational research and news from the Conservative Movement. Sue serves as a consultant to synagogue schools across North America and has had a significant impact on the professional growth and development for hundreds of teachers and principals. Based in Cleveland, Sue is available to communities throughout the USA and Canada Through on-site visits and technology, she trains Jewish educators in the transmission of knowledge, strategies for effective teaching and administration, understanding about student learning, and curriculum support.
Consultants
Dr. Deborah Miller
Associate Director of the Melton Center for Jewish Education at the Jewish Theological Seminary is also associated with our Department. Debby was the project director of MaToK, the TaNaKh curriculum for Solomon Schechter Day Schools, now in use in more than 40 SSDS schools and increasing numbers of community day schools. Dr. Miller gives an annual series of workshops for teachers new to MaToK, and this year, will lead seminar for MaToK veterans who want to share their practice and improve it.
Dr. Saul Wachs
has been working as a mentor teacher in the area of Tefillah and spirituality for more than twenty-five years. A professor at Gratz Cllege in Philadelphia and a hazzan by training, Dr. Wachs has had an impact on many hundreds of teachers and scores of Solomon Schecher Day Schools through his consulting visits across North America. A special arrangement with the SSDSA enables a number of affiliated schools to bring Dr. Wachs to their community each year where he works with the faculty on professional development in the areas in which he specializes and shares his expertise in model classes with children and in meetings with boards of trustees
The Slate of Directors, 2008-2010
President of the Board: Rabbi Larry Scheindlin
Dr. Robert Benedon
Andy Cohen
Jane Taubenfeld Cohen
Dr. Judith Lax
Richard Lehrman
Dr. Steven Lorch
Rabbi Mitchel Malkus
Jon Mitzmacher
Avi Baran Munro
Dr. Michael Novey
Larry Pachter
Alex Paley
Julie Platt
Rabbi Jim Rogozen
Rabbi Larry Scheindlin
Professional Staff:
Dr. Elaine R. S. Cohen, USCJ, Solomon Schechter Day School Association Executive
