Meet the Wise School Faculty
We have an incredible team of teachers, faculty, coaches, and staff, all of whom contribute to making Wise School a place to learn deeply, be creative, experience wholeness, and make great happen! Meet them all below:
Kindergarten
A member of our kindergarten general studies team and an Odyssey of the Mind coach, Ms. Handelman grew up outside of Los Angeles. She has an undergraduate degree from Indiana University and a master’s degree in early childhood education from Pepperdine University. She has been teaching since 2015, with experience in kindergarten, second grade, and third grade. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her reading, playing with her dog, or traveling to places near or far!
A member of our kindergarten and Hebrew/Judaic teams, Ms. Katan grew up in South Africa and Israel and moved to the United States in 1997. She has her teaching credentials from J.S.U.P (Jewish Students University Program) in Johannesburg, South Africa. She taught at Jewish day schools there for five years. She has been teaching for the past 31 years, and has been at Wise since 1997. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her reading, drawing, at the beach, or relaxing by the pool.
A member of our kindergarten general studies team, Ms. Schaeffer grew up in the hot desert of Scottsdale, Ariz., and received her elementary education degree from the University of Arizona. She has been teaching since 2016, joining Wise in 2022. Along with teaching in Scottsdale and Los Angeles, she also taught in Melbourne, Australia for one year. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her taking long walks around Los Angeles, playing with her puppy, or cooking up a delicious meal.
A member of our kindergarten general studies team, Ms. Levin was born and raised in Los Angeles. She has an undergraduate degree in psychology and a master’s degree in Elementary Education with an emphasis in Language and Literacy from California State University, Northridge. She also has a Language and Literacy Leadership Specialist credential. She has been teaching since 2017, with experience in kindergarten and second grade, and as a reading specialist. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her reading, visiting the beach, or hiking on all the beautiful trails in the LA area.
Grade 1
A first-grade general studies teacher, Mrs. Snyder grew up in Los Angeles and earned her teaching degree from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in early childhood education from Pepperdine University. She has been teaching first grade at Wise for over thirty years. She loves teaching young children and enjoys it when she gets to see her former students grow up and come back to visit. When she is not in the classroom, she is spending time with her husband Lorin, their two children Jake and Jenna, and their dog Duke. Going to the beach is one of her favorite things to do.
A first-grade general studies teacher, Ms. Lewitt grew up in Agoura Hills and earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and her master’s degree in Education from UCSC. She has been teaching at Wise since 2018, with experience in both first and fifth grades. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her at Orangetheory Fitness or swimming in the ocean.
A first-grade general studies teacher, Ms. Lifton is a native New Yorker and graduated from Syracuse University. After raising her three beautiful children, she found that her true passion was teaching kids. She received her credential from Hebrew Union College and has enjoyed working at Wise since 2015. The Jewish community has played an important role in her life, and she is excited to give back. In her spare time, she can be found cheering on her son on the football field and spending time with her husband, daughters, and Golden Retriever, Wrigley, the princess of the family.
Ari Moss has been a first grade teacher at Wise School for seven years. She attended Jewish day schools for elementary, middle, and high school in Detroit, Michigan, and loves being able to now teach in such a familiar and warm setting. Ari attended Michigan State University where she received her bachelor of arts in elementary education, with a teaching masters in language arts, and minor in teaching English to speakers of other languages.
She now lives in Encino with her husband and one year old son, Calvin. When she is not in the classroom teaching, you can find her hiking with her dog, watching sunsets at the beach, attending an early morning Pilates class, or making jewelry.
She is excited to not only be a teacher at Wise School, but also become a Wise parent in 2025!
Grade 2
A member of our 2nd-grade general studies team, Ms. Cohen began her teaching career at Sierra Canyon, where she was an assistant in transitional kindergarten for three years and in fourth grade for a year. She then joined Wise School full-time, where she began teaching first grade for two years, and then transitioned to second grade, where she has been teaching for several years. She holds a Multiple Subject teaching credential from California State University, Northridge, as well as a master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been a Lego Robotics assistant coach and is now an Odyssey of the Mind coach. She is our Wise Learning Process coordinator, as well as the Primary Math Coordinator. While she is not planning curriculum, she loves to travel – specifically to national parks. She is an avid reader and baker and loves spending time with her rescue dog.
A member of our 2nd-grade general studies team, Ms. Flores graduated from California State University, Northridge with a B.A. in child and adolescent development. Two years later, she completed her master’s program there in educational administration. While in college, she worked as an after-school counselor and teacher assistant. She has been teaching at the elementary level, specifically grades K-3, for the past six years, joining Wise in 2022. When not working, she enjoys immersing herself in a good book or traveling.
A member of our 2nd and 5th grade general studies teams, Ms. Lawson grew up in New York City, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from the State University of New York at Purchase College, and a master’s degree in childhood education from the City University of New York. In addition, she has a teaching certificate in elementary education. She recently moved to Los Angeles from the east coast and has been teaching since 2009. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her spending time with her family, reading a book, traveling, or rooting for the New York Yankees.
A member of our 2nd-grade general studies team, Ms. Lopez is a recent graduate of California State University, Northridge, where she obtained her B.A. in English Literature, and then received a certificate in teaching English as a second language. She started by teaching third grade at George Washington Elementary in Burbank, and joined the faculty at Wise in 2022. Aside from enjoying her time teaching, she spends much of her free time writing, as well as training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu.
Grade 3
A member of our 3rd-grade general studies team, Ms. Holden was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. She has been teaching since 2015, having previously taught first and second grades at Pilgrim School in Los Angeles. She attended Miami University for her bachelor’s in Early Education, and Loyola Marymount University for her master’s in Educational Studies. When she is not teaching, she loves to bake, craft, go to the beach, spend time with family and friends, and attend sporting events.
A member of our 3rd-grade general studies team, Ms. Meskin grew up in Los Angeles, where she earned an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and a master’s degree in teaching from Pepperdine University. She has been working in elementary education since 2019. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her traveling, finding adventure in any direction life leads her, or devouring sushi at her favorite restaurant.
A member of our 3rd-grade general studies team, Ms. Stepakoff started her teaching career in 2015. She has a bachelor’s degree in Child & Family Development from San Diego State University, and a master’s in Education with a specialization in gifted learners from USC. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her playing with her two young daughters and spending quality time with her family.
Grade 4
A member of our 4th-grade general studies team, Ms. Aghajani was born and raised in Tarzana, California. She has an undergraduate degree in Communications from UCLA and continued her educational journey in UCLA’s graduate program, earning her master’s degree in Education. She has been teaching since 2018 with experience across multiple subjects, including Social Emotional Learning, Community Building, and Creative Writing. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her spending time with her friends and family, watching the sunset at the beach, or attending musical concerts and shows.
A member of our 4th-grade general studies team, Ms. Broukhim grew up in Los Angeles and even attended Wise School for Kindergarten. She has an undergraduate degree from Chapman University. In addition, she received her master’s degree in Education and her certificate in Gifted and Talented Education from the University of Southern California. She has been teaching here at Wise since 2017. When she is not in the classroom, you can find her on the board of multiple charity organizations around Los Angeles. She enjoys spending time at the beach, watching sports, and traveling!
A member of our 4th-grade general studies team, Ms. Calvetti grew up in Agoura Hills and earned an undergraduate degree in special education from the University of Arizona and her teaching credential in K-8 general studies. She has been teaching for the past six years, but has been a teacher at Wise School since 2020. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her playing with her dogs, enjoying the pool, or traveling with her family and friends.
Grade 5
A member of our 5th-grade team general studies team, Ms. Itri grew up in Brockton, Massachusetts, and has a BA from Stonehill College in North Easton, Massachusetts. Upon moving to Los Angeles, she took several courses at UCLA and also pursued a degree in acting at a studio in Santa Monica. After teaching in Watts for a few years, she took a break to start a family. Upon returning to teaching, she brought her skills to Wise School, where she has remained for many years and was the 2012 recipient of the Milken Jewish Educators Award. During the past 20 years, she has put her theatre experience to good use by directing the popular spring musicals. When she is not in the classroom, you will find her lifting weights at the gym, speed-walking a few miles a day, coaching actors for roles, and soon reading books to her first grandchild
A member of our 5th-grade general studies team, Ms. Reese was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle. In 2005, she made the move to Los Angeles and transferred to California State University, Northridge, where she simultaneously earned her bachelor’s degree and (K-6) multiple subject teaching credential. She has been an elementary and middle school teacher since 2009, in grades 4, 5, and 8. In her free time, she is a volunteer coach for the Special Olympics Tri-Valley, for bowling and basketball. She is an active volunteer and parent mentor for TACA, helping families living with autism navigate the resources and supports available. She enjoys watching and playing sports, reading, traveling, and cooking healthy meals, and lives in the valley with her son, Julius.
A member of our 5th-grade team general studies team, Ms. Schulman received her B.A. in English from the University of Florida and her master’s in teaching from the University of Southern California. For five years she was a 5th grade teacher at Bais Chaya Mushka School for Girls. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, baking, and organic gardening, as well as swimming with her family
Grade 6
A member of our 6th-grade team, Ms. Burch is an avid Jayhawk. She grew up on the plains of Kansas and moved to LA after getting married. She has a bachelor’s of science in education from Emporia State University and a master’s of science in elementary administration from Pepperdine’s Educational Leadership Academy. She has been in classrooms in both states since 1998, with experience in coordinating after-school enrichment programs for at-risk students and developing student-tailored educational plans as a director of education at Sylvan. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her wandering the mountains of SoCal on an epic adventure, creating ridiculous inanimate costumes for Halloween or Purim, or playing her violin for her five fish.
A member of our 6th-grade team, Mr. Loftus was raised in Washington, D.C. and grew up as the oldest in a family of five. He completed Teach for America along with his teaching credential. He received a bachelor of arts degree from George Mason University and a master’s in Education from Loyola Marymount University. He finds fulfillment in a variety of hobbies, including reading, snowboarding, and playing and watching soccer. Additionally, he enjoys cooking and spending meaningful moments celebrating Shabbat with his loved ones.
A member of our 6th-grade team, Ms. Shpall grew up in sunny Los Angeles but left the sun for the rainy Pacific Northwest to attend the University of Oregon. Go Ducks! While there, she studied in Israel and ultimately earned a bachelor of arts degree in Judaic Studies. She attended Pepperdine University and earned a master of arts in Education, as well as a California Multiple Subject Credential. She has been in the classroom since 2005 and joined the faculty at Wise School after teaching for four years in Los Angeles Unified School District. In 2023, she was awarded the Milken Family Foundation Jewish Educators Award. When she is not in the classroom, you can find her soaking up the sun by the pool, exploring LA’s hiking trails, or silently correcting people’s grammar.
Hebrew & Judaic Studies
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Ms. Bahat grew up in Israel, where she earned her undergraduate degree from Tel Aviv University and an additional degree in special education. She has been teaching for the past 26 years and feels that, through Hebrew, she can reach the hearts of children. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her spending time with her husband, David, and her grandchildren.
Our Hebrew Immersion teacher, Ms. Elcayam was born and raised in Israel. After serving for three years in the IDF, she attended Seminar Hakibutzim College, where she obtained a degree in Special Education and Hebrew Literature. She attended Queens College for a year, and then taught English at the elementary and junior high levels in Israel. Thirty-five years ago, she moved to California, worked at Wise School for six years, then in LAUSD for twenty years, where she became a National Board-Certified Teacher. She retired in 2021 and has been back with the Wise School staff since then.
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Ms. Fridman was born and raised in Jerusalem. She graduated with honors from David Yellin Teachers College in Jerusalem, where she received her B.A. in education and her masters degree in education at the American Jewish University. She previously taught English to third through sixth graders in Israeli public schools. She learned French and Spanish, served in the Israeli army, and received an award of excellence from the IDF for her service. She joined Wise School in 2002 and worked at the religious school as the Hebrew coordinator. She also taught Hebrew at The American Jewish University and at Los Angeles Hebrew High School. It is important for her to pass on to her students her love and devotion to Judaism, Israel, and Hebrew. She loves music and is a proud mother of Ariel and Daniel.
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Ms. Hershkovitz is originally from Israel, and moved to the United States in 2000. She began teaching in Jewish day schools in Memphis, Tennessee, where she and her husband raised their own two children in that town’s Jewish community. Through the years, she taught Judaic Studies and Hebrew for elementary and middle school. She served as the middle school coordinator for a few years and loved creating fun and special programs to enrich the curriculum and enhance love for our history and heritage. Now living with her husband in Thousand Oaks, she is excited and enthusiastic about teaching the Hebrew language to Wise students through stories, songs, and other creative ways. She loves baking and cooking, but mostly traveling.
A member of our Judaic Studies team, Ms. Mizrahi grew up in Seattle and later moved to Los Angeles, where she earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Judaism in Jewish Studies, a bachelor of arts from the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, and a master’s degree in education and administration from the University of Judaism. She has been teaching for the past 25 years, with experience in teaching Judaic Studies and coordinating tikkun olam projects and programs. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her spending time with family, baking delicious treats, or traveling to new places.
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Ms. Orevi was born and raised in Jerusalem. She earned both her BA and MA in physical education and dance at CSUN, and a certification in teaching Hebrew and Judaic Studies at the University of Judaism (AJU) here in Los Angeles. She has been here at Wise School since 1995, having taught not only Hebrew and Judaic Studies, but also Israeli folk dance, and has been teaching for more than five decades. All five of her children attended Jewish day schools, with two of them being alumni of Wise School. She loves to spend time with her children and grandchildren, and is an avid hiker with friends and family.
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Mrs. Raymond grew up in Los Angeles and spent extended periods in Israel. She has a bachelor’s degree in child development with a minor in psychology. She also holds a combined master’s degree in educational psychology and marriage and family therapy. She holds both an LMFT license and a California teaching credential. She is very proud to acknowledge that she has been a part of the Stephen Wise schools for the last 42 years – from parenting through elementary! When she is not at school, you can find her reading, spending time with her family, or doing online therapy. or doing online therapy.
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Rabbi Richards was raised in the San Fernando Valley. He is the middle of three siblings, having an older brother who is a scientist in Seattle and a younger sister who is an artist in Los Angeles. He grew up in the Conservative movement, attending Hebrew school and Hebrew High at Shomrei Torah Synagogue. Outside of his own Jewish learning, he has spent significant time teaching Hebrew school, tutoring Bar and Bat mitzvah students, and helping to run a Jewish day camp. He earned his B.A. in Judaic Studies at UC San Diego, and then spent a year studying at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem before completing a five-year program at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in Los Angeles. He then moved to San Antonio, Texas to serve as associate rabbi at Congregation Agudas Achim. Three years later, he moved back to Los Angeles. He loves theater, sports, music, and spending time with people. His true joy comes from hearing other people’s stories and sharing his own.
A member of our Hebrew/Judaic team, Ms. Stone has been at Wise since 2013. She has a bachelor of arts degree in social science and interdisciplinary studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She completed her master’s degree in education at the American Jewish University in Los Angeles. Born and raised in Israel, she is a native Hebrew speaker. She enjoys working with children and following their academic and personal growth. A mother to two wonderful daughters, she enjoys traveling, walking in nature, reading, knitting, and quilting.
Specialists
A member of our STEAM team and Visual Art teacher to grades K – 6, Ms. Clumeck is a Los Angeles native, with 20+ years of experience teaching, creating, and presenting her artistic and educational endeavors while traveling and collaborating with wonderful communities and inspirational colleagues around the globe. She has worked with several synagogues, schools, and Jewish community organizations across Southern California, as a teacher of Judaica and a specialist in the Arts. She received her bachelor’s degree from UC Irvine in Theatre Arts. She furthered her studies and performed with the Thornlea School of Drama at the University of Exeter, and had the opportunity to act, dance, and sing on stages in the UK. She is passionate about all of the multidisciplinary arts she practices, and has graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Hollywood, practicing her craft as a chef from Los Angeles to New York, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Prague, to name a few.
A member of our STEAM team and Music teacher to grades K – 6, Mr. Goldblum completed his bachelor’s of music at the University of Michigan, his masters of music at the Manhattan School of Music, and has studied at the Music and Arts University of the City of Vienna. As a Teaching Artist he works with Youth Orchestra Los Angeles, the L.A. Philharmonic’s El Sistema-modeled initiative, and with the HOLA Intergenerational Orchestra. Over the summer he leads an interdisciplinary performance workshop for YOLA and the Crescendo Summer Institute in Hungary, and conducts the Jr. Philharmonic at the Kadima Conservatory of Music. As a bassoonist, he’s appeared with the Sarasota, Moritzburg, and Bowdoin Music Festivals, the American Youth Symphony, The Orchestra Now, and the Neue Philharmonie München, with performances at Carnegie Hall, the Musikverein in Vienna, the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing, and Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.
Our Athletic Director and one of our physical education teachers, Coach Herold was born and raised in Los Angeles. He started as an after-school sports counselor and a football, basketball, and baseball official. He was the Director of the City of Beverly Hills Preschool program for eleven years. He started at Wise School in 1999 as a part-time after-school coach, becoming a full-time P.E. teacher/coach in 2010. In 2013, he was promoted to Assistant Athletic Director, then Athletic Director in 2020. When he is not at Wise, he enjoys watching sports, playing golf, collecting sports memorabilia, and spending time with his wife, family, and friends.
A member of our STEAM team, our Director of Technology Integration, and our Robotics Coach, Ms. Hoffman grew up in Southern California. She has an undergraduate degree from the University of Southern California and a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction, with an emphasis on Technology, from California State University, Fullerton. She has been teaching at Wise for the past twenty years. Prior to teaching at Wise, she was a teacher at American schools in Madrid, Spain, and Alexandria, Egypt.
A member of our STEAM team, our Coordinator of Odyssey of the Mind, and our Project Studio teacher, Mr. Meth was born and raised in Brooklyn, where both of his parents were educators in the New York City school system, and it is from them that his passion for education was kindled. He attended Kingsborough and Brooklyn College before moving to San Francisco in 1990 to pursue a career in photography and commercial production. In 2002, he had a unique opportunity to create the Project Studio program at Wise School. The program uses project- and inquiry-based learning to extend grade-level social studies curriculum. He is also the Odyssey of the Mind program coordinator here at Wise, served on the LA Basin Regional Board for eight years, and is currently a member of the Southern California Odyssey State Board. He and his wife, an avid triathlete, have one son together, who is a talented junior tennis player. In their spare time, they can often be found cheering him on at tournaments or running around the court with him.
Our school librarian, Mr. Robertson for the past two decades has worked extensively with schools throughout the Los Angeles area. From pre-k to high school, he has taught a variety of subjects – English, graphic design, yearbook, and Latin, to name a few – but his main occupation throughout that time has been as a school librarian. His passion for children’s and young adult literature is unparalleled, and his expertise has led him to become a library consultant in recent years – helping local schools renovate and remodel their libraries along with their library programming. His deepest fulfillment comes from working in a close-knit community to inspire the next generation of readers by sharing books, stories, games & activities, which is what drew him to Wise School. On the weekends, you may still find him at the place he started many years ago – at Children’s Book World (on Pico Blvd.), where he now likes to spend Saturday Morning Storytimes with his three-year-old son.
Our 4th – 6th grade science teacher, Ms. Rubin is a recent transplant to California. She graduated from West Chester University (Teacher College) in Pennsylvania with a B.F.A. and taught Art in Philadelphia. At Rowan University in New Jersey, she secured her elementary teaching license, with an emphasis in science education. She has over 30 years of teaching experience, including many years as a director of multiple children’s museums. Before moving to California, she was living in Massachusetts and working as a grade 5-6 science teacher. When she is not teaching, she loves to take her dogs on walks/hikes, she is passionate about cooking and movies, and she cannot get enough good books to read!
A member of our physical education team, Coach Sarmiento graduated with associate’s degrees in STEM and Social & Behavioral Science from Pierce College, where she competed at the intercollegiate level in both swimming and water polo. She worked as an instructor and lifeguard for Camp Wise. She has recently served as an assistant coach for the Wise swim team and coached swimming for our P.E. classes. She graduated from California State University, Northridge with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, and is currently exploring their master’s program in Sport Psychology. Her favorite hobbies include cooking, reading fiction novels, photography, and sports (watching and playing).
Our kindergarten – 3rd grade science teacher, Ms. Snyder grew up in Encino and Oak Park, and is now settled in Simi Valley with her husband and their mini-goldendoodle Penny. She has a liberal studies undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and a master’s degree in STEAM education from the University of San Diego. She has been teaching for the past fifteen years, eleven of those being here at Wise School. When she is not in the classroom, you may find her out on long walks with her dog, binging new TV shows with her husband, or enjoying a large basket of chips and salsa at her favorite Mexican restaurant!
A member of our physical education team, Coach Verdi has been coaching basketball, football, soccer, and volleyball at Wise since 2008. He joined our faculty full-time as a PE teacher in 2020. He played basketball for one of the most competitive AAU programs in the country and played both football and basketball at the varsity level in high school. Nowadays, he spends more time on the tennis court and golf course. Besides playing sports, he enjoys watching his favorite teams like the New York Giants, Yankees, and Lakers.