Our leadership team offers years of experience in education combined with a passion for inspiring students to reach their greatest potential.
Administrative Team
Mrs. Rochie Berkowitz
Principal
Mrs. Rochie Berkowitz is the founding principal of Chaviva High School. She has been a girls’ high school teacher and mechaneches in Cleveland for over 20 years. She received her BA from Maimonides College and her teachers’ training and certification through Yavne Teachers Seminary and Ateres Bnos Yerushalayim. Mrs. Berkowitz is the 2015 recipient of the Jewish Education Center of Cleveland’s Ratner Goldberg Teacher of the Year Award. She founded Bnos Aliyah, an independent program for high school and post-high school girls looking to take ownership of their Torah learning outside a formal classroom setting. Her passion for chinuch habanos is driven by her love and admiration for her students, their struggles, and their successes. As Principal of Chaviva High School, Mrs. Berkowitz’s vision is to create an atmosphere of motivation and positivity in which students are encouraged to reach beyond their comfort zone to discover their greatness within. Mrs. Berkowitz also teaches Chumash to the 9th grade this year and is the 11th-grade mechaneches.
Mrs. Huvie Schabes
Director of Curriculum and Instruction
Mrs. Huvie Schabes has been involved in almost every area of Jewish education for over 30 years. She has held numerous positions at the elementary and high school levels, for both girls and boys, in Limudei Kodesh, as well as general studies. Mrs. Schabes trained in Project-Based Learning methodology, coaching, & leadership at PBL OHIO in Columbus through the Buck Institute for Education (now PBL Works). She applied these principles both as a teacher and as a PBLCoach. One of Mrs. Schabes's recent accomplishments in the creation of a PBL curriculum for the AMATZ Initiative to facilitate the teaching of the Six Constant Mitzvos to high school girls.
In her role as the Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Mrs. Schabes oversees the curriculum and assists staff in achieving and maintaining the appropriate levels of academic rigor with authentic student engagement and relevance. She also serves as a mentor and coach to our teachers to facilitate their continued growth and professional development.
Mrs. Schabes’ passion for education stems from her own desire to be a lifelong learner, which she hopes translates into sparking enthusiasm for all kinds of learning in all kinds of learners, watching them take ownership of and pride in their work, and ultimately seeing them apply that newfound confidence to all areas of their lives.
She is teaching Halacha 9 (Bein Adam L'chaveiro) this year.
Mrs. Amy Smith
Director of Operations
Born in Augsburg, Germany, to a US military family, Mrs. Smith settled in Cleveland with her husband and one baby in 2004. In the ensuing years, her family has grown to three, including two Chaviva alumnae. A writer and editor by trade, Mrs. Smith has held a variety of management and project management roles, including at the Jewish Review of Books magazine. Mrs. Smith is the author of a middle-grade reader on the Nuremberg Race Laws, passed in Germany in 1935.
She brings her business experience to Chaviva's fundraising, communications, and events, as well as streamlining and automating day-to-day operations. In addition, she teaches Senior Practicum and Financial Literacy.
Mr. Stephen Hopkins
Director of Student Advancement
Originally from New England, Mr. Hopkins has worked in education for 34 years as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He held leadership roles in Grades 3-12 in schools near Boston, St. Louis, and most recently in Northeast Ohio at Hawken School, Old Trail School, and Breakthrough Charter Schools. Throughout his career, he has worked on curriculum development, traveled extensively, and promoted students’ becoming knowledgeable global citizens. In addition to his work at Chaviva High School, he teaches science at the Yeshiva of Cleveland. He lives in Hudson, Ohio, with his Cleveland-native wife Deb, two adult boys, two dogs, and a cat. As the Director of Student Advancement, Mr. Hopkins facilitates our students' journey through high school and manages all state requirements, credits, transcripts, college courses, and ACT testing. Mr. Hopkins teaches the College Prep course in our Junior and Senior classes and is a member of our IPBL Team.
Educational Team
The Educational Team at Chaviva High School is comprised of highly qualified professionals who seek to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders in our community. By working as a collaborative unit, Chaviva's staff is able to create a culture and environment of collaboration, innovation, and excellence.
Limudei Kodesh
Rabbi Dovid Aaron Gross
Parshas HaShavuah
Rabbi Dovid Aaron Gross is the Rav of Kehillas Beis Doniel in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. He studied in the Talmudical Yeshiva of Philadelphia, Mir Yerushalayim, Beth Medrash Govoha, where he received semichah, and Kollel Ateres Chaim Boruch in Cleveland Heights. In addition, he is the Director of Bais Havaad Halacha Center’s Midwest Division. He has published Sefer Toras Chesed, a collection of essays from Rabbi Chaim Kreiswirth, The Five Minute Sermon on Chumash, The Five Minute Sermon Around the Year, 30 Days to Bar Mitzvah – An Illuminating Guide to the Mitzvah of Tefillin, 30 Days to the Pesach Seder and 30 Days to Simchas Torah.
Rabbi Gross is the official posek for Chaviva High School and teaches our weekly shiur on Parshas HaShavuah, which can be heard here.
Rabbi Simcha Zev Baum
11th Halacha
Rabbi Baum is the Rosh Kollel of Young Israel's Kollel. He previously served as Director of of Alumni at Yeshiva Beth Yehudah and as Rosh Chaburah of the night seder under Rabbi Doniel Neustadt in Detroit. He also taught at Bais Yaakov in Detroit. Previously, the Baum family lived in Ottawa, Canada, where Rabbi Baum earned smicha and served as Rabbi of the Young Israel. Rabbi Baum learned at Yeshiva of Long Beach and at Brisk.
Dr. Moshe Ornstein
12th Halacha
Dr. Moshe Ornstein learned in the Yeshiva of Philadelphia and the Mir Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. He then studied business and biology at Lander College for Men / Beis Medrash L’Talmud. He received his M.A. in biotechnology from Columbia University and his M.D. from Stony Brook University. He subsequently completed his medical training at the Cleveland Clinic. He currently serves as an oncologist, mentor, and medical school faculty member at the Cleveland Clinic, where he has received multiple teaching awards. In addition, he also teaches a night seder halacha chaburah at Yeshiva High School of Cleveland. Dr. Ornstein is very successful at developing and teaching a stimulating, interactive, and student-centered halacha curriculum that is both academically rigorous and fun!
Rabbi Menachem Tenenbaum
11th Tefilah
Rabbi Menachem Tenenbaum, originally of Baltimore, Maryland, received Semicha from Rabbi Zalman Nechemia Goldberg while learning in Yeshivas Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem. For over a decade he has been an engaging teen influencer. He is passionate about the Jewish people and everyone’s growth in their relationship with Hashem. He currently works as associate regional director of Central East NCSY, where he manages the programming in the five cities within the region. If you Google him and Ted Talk you will see he was scheduled to give a talk which got canceled due to COVID-19. He is also the author of 'Three Steps Forward,' a book on Prayer.
Mrs. Leah Ferder
Student Advisor
Limudei Kodesh Curriculum Development
11th Chumash, 12th Kesuvim
Mrs. Leah Ferder has been teaching junior high and high school students for close to 10 years and holds a bachelor's in Behavioral Science from Mercy College and a master’s in Education from Walden University. She hopes to impart her passion for learning and love of Torah to her students.
Mrs. Sarah Chava Greenblatt
10th Grade Mechaneches
10th Chumash, Performing Arts
Mrs. Greenblatt has worked with teens in and out of the classroom for over 10 years, including after-school enrichment programs and one-on-one mentoring. She graduated Seminar Yerushalayim with an Honors Teaching Certificate and obtained a bachelor's in Liberal Arts through TTI.
Mrs. Greenblatt also plays piano and has directed many school productions and smaller events.
She has a passion for growth in Torah learning and enjoys connecting with the girls and encouraging them to excel in their learning and spiritual growth.
Mrs. Zeldy Mandel
11th Navi, 12th Penimi
Mrs. Zeldy Mandel is a 20-year teaching veteran who has also run the teen program at Camp Malka for more than a decade. She holds an MA in Education from Walden College and has lived in Cleveland for the last 10 years. Mrs, Mandel is passionate about showing girls how to gain deep Torah ideas from the sefarim of our mesorah.
Mrs. Fayga Nathan
12th Chumash
Mrs. Fayga Nathan has been teaching middle and high school girls Judaic Studies for close to 15 years. She has taught Halacha, Jewish History, Parsha, and Orchos Tzaddikim. Mrs. Nathan has also conducted summer learning programs for high school girls. Mrs. Nathan was a Judaic studies coordinator at Segula for seven years. She is an alumna of Bnos Chava Seminary in Jerusalem and received an Associate of Arts degree from Lakeland Community College. Mrs. Nathan is passionate about facilitating a positive and profound connection between her students and the Torah.
Ms. Faigy Nussbaum
9th Navi, 10th Navi
Ms. Faigy Nussbaum is a graduate of Bais Yaacov Derech Hatorah and Bnos Shoshana Seminary. She is passionate about bringing Navi to life in the classroom by making our mesorah's stories and lessons understandable and relatable to high-school girls.
Mrs. Shushi Potash
10th Mussar, Algebra II
Mrs. Shushi Potash, a Cleveland native and Yavne graduate, earned her Bachelor of Architecture in 2021 from CUNY Spitzer School of Architecture in NYC. After spending time in Brooklyn and Miami, she has returned to Cleveland, where she works as an architectural designer and teaches math and mussar at Chaviva High School. Shushi is excited to engage with students and bring math to life in the classroom.
Mrs. Adina Sorscher
9th Kesuvim, 9th Grade Mechaneches
Mrs. Adina (Firestone) Sorscher, Class of 2021, is the director of Cleveland's Junior NCSY and is pursuing a Master's degree in social work at CSU. She also runs youth programming at JFX alongside her husband. Adina is delighted to return to the Chaviva classroom as an educator.
Mrs. Malky Wolman
12th Mechaneches
10th Kesuvim and 12th Navi
Mrs. Malky Wolman has taught many kodesh subjects for over 15 years in New York, Toronto, and Cleveland. She enjoys high school girls and loves teaching, directing plays, running extracurricular programs, and learning from her students. Mrs. Wolman's goal for her students is to expand each girl's passion for Torah life and learning and feels privileged to be a part of the Chaviva team
Ms. Yael Schultz
9th Mussar, Chessed Coordinator
Ms. Yael Schultz is a graduate of Beatrice Stone Yavne High School. She is excited to teach the sefer Olam HaMiddos to Chaviva's students.
General Studies
Mrs. Ahuva Belsky
Special Program Director
STEM, Coding, Biology, Anatomy
Ahuva Miriam Belsky holds a bachelor's degree in Biology from Touro College, and a master’s degree in Science Education from Rutgers University. She has taught Biology, Chemistry, Earth Science, Engineering and Advanced Placement Biology at various high schools including Be’er Hagolah Institute, Reenas High School, Ilan High School and Fuchs Mizrachi School. She enjoys the intellectual rigor of the classroom as well as the opportunity to work with young women at this important stage in their lives.
Mrs. Natasha Cohen
Geometry and HS Algebra I
Mrs. Natasha Cohen holds a master’s degree in education with a concentration in mathematics from John Carroll University. She has been teaching for twenty years. Mrs. Cohen's teaching style is interactive because she believes in engaging students in the learning process. In her lessons, Mrs. Cohen stresses understanding and encourages creative problem solving rather than “memorizing and following steps”. She is excited to be a part of the Chaviva family.
Ms. Anna Downing
Academic Advisor
U.S. History and U.S. Government
After teaching in northern Michigan for a year, Miss Anna Downing returned to Cleveland, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts with History and Young Adult Education from John Carroll University. She is passionate about teaching History and Government at Chaviva. Miss Downing's appreciation of all the different ways students learn and her excitement about helping young women reach their full potential informs her work as the Academic Advisor.
Mrs. Sarah Rena Grodko
SIP: Student in Progress
Mrs. Sarah Rena Grodko has experience as a teacher both in the classroom as well as in an individualized, small group setting. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in liberal arts with a focus in psychology and education from Charter Oak State College. Mrs. Grodko is a licensed K-12 Intervention Specialist and completed her Master of Education Degree through Notre Dame College in December of 2018. Mrs. Grodko believes in the importance of educating each student based on her unique abilities and is eager to help meet each Chaviva student’s diverse needs through effective research-based teaching practices.
Ms. Yocheved Halpern
Pre-Algebra, Algebra
Ms. Yocheved Halpern, originally from Atlanta, has spent the past couple of years living in Israel. She attended Bais Yaakov Havineini and returned there as a madricha while pursuing a degree in Computer Science from Maalot Yerushalayim. She moved to Cleveland this year in order to follow her dream of teaching, both in Chaviva and Yeshiva Derech Hatorah. She has worked with young children, teaching in a Chabad Sunday school for three years, and headed numerous high-school activities. She is excited about bringing Chaviva's educational vision to life.
Mrs. Bracha Hendeles
Pre-Calculus and Statistics
Mrs. Bracha Hendeles received her bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Cleveland State University and is a graduate of the CSUteach program, which places an emphasis on student-centered and inquiry-based learning. She has experience as a math teacher in both the public and private school systems. Mrs. Hendeles is passionate about engaging students in math through activities, discussion and real-world problems. She is excited to be part of the Chaviva team and to foster a love of math in her students.
Mrs. Quinlan Hlavaty
Leadership, Health, Physical Education
Mrs. Quinlan Hlavaty holds a Master of Science Degree in Health Promotion & Education, is a certified Community Health Educator Specialist, a certified Nutrition Health Coach, and is trained in Group Fitness and Youth Fitness. She has worked in education for ten years, teaching high school Science, Nutrition, PE, and Business. Before coming to Chaviva, she taught at Atara Girls High School in Cincinnati for eight years. In Leadership, she emphasizes self-knowledge as a tool to unlock potential. In Health and PE, she focuses on the foundations of nutrition and fitness through a lens of balance, self-love, and longevity. She is passionate about building confidence in young women, and her goal is for each student to leave her class feeling empowered and capable of taking on new challenges.
Mrs. Karen Marocco
5K Training, Physical Education
Karen Marocco is a certified yoga and mindfulness teacher. She has taught yoga for 15 years. On the mat, she teaches yoga as a way to increase strength and flexibility, soothe and calm the nervous system, and build the mind-body connection. Off the mat, she coaches teens on how to use the tools of mindfulness to more skillfully manage stress, anxiety and challenging emotions.
Mrs. Madeleine Taylor
English
A graduate of John Carroll University, Madeleine Taylor earned her Bachelor's of Arts in English literature and adolescent education and recently joined the Chaviva High School staff as the English Language Arts teacher for grades 9 through 12. Miss Polcyn strives to encourage student advocacy by always looking for new ways for students to apply themselves and their breadth of knowledge when reading literature, and she looks forward to a fun and productive year.
Mrs. Julie Weingarten
Chemistry
Mrs. Julie Weingarten graduated from Cooper Union in New York City with a degree in chemical engineering. She spent time as the rebbetzin for Young Israel in Forest Hills before moving to Cleveland this past summer of 2022. Mrs. Weingarten taught a variety of science courses in 2 middle schools while in New York. Her goals are to open up a world of appreciation for Hashem's creation and understand how unique and complicated it truly is. She hopes to bestow a love of learning upon her students and watch them engage with the world around them.
Mrs. Yocheved Wylen
5k Training, 12th Mussar
Mrs. Yocheved Wylen was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She moved to Cleveland during high school and discovered a love for running shortly after. Over the years, Mrs. Wylen has been coaching individuals for marathon races across US, Canada, and Israel, including Team Lifeline and now trains our girls for their 5K. She loves sharing her passion for running and teaching them how to apply the commitment, consistency, and other skills they are learning to their everyday lives as well.
Support Staff
Chaviva High School's holistic approach to education incorporates support in multiple areas of our student's growth. We are proud to have a team of professionals focused on helping our students achieve success both academically and in their social-emotional development.
Mrs. Leah Ferder
Student Advisor
Ms. Anna Downing
Academic Advisor
Mrs. Madeleine Taylor
Student Academic Coach
Administrative Support
Mrs. Amy Schwartz
Office Administrator
Mrs. Amy Schwartz brings a wealth of experience to her role as Office Manager at Chaviva High School. With 10 years of experience as the adminstrative assistant at Temima High School in Atlanta, she has honed her skills in managing school operations and supporting educational environments. Mrs. Schwartz spent seven formative years living in Israel, where she completed high school and pursued three years of seminary studies at Sharfman's and Maalot Yerushalayim. Having moved to Cleveland seven years ago to deepen her connection to Yiddishkeit, Mrs. Schwartz now enjoys spending time with her family, including one grandchild who is the light of her life. Known for her passion for knitting, she has crafted over 50 blankets for family members.
Ms. Shelby Jones
Administrative Assistant
Shelby Jones, born and raised in Tennessee, initially pursued a degree in Musical Theatre at Marymount Manhattan College, she shifted her focus in 2021, moving to Columbus, Ohio, to explore a career in Music Therapy. During her break from studies, Shelby gained valuable experience working as an Administrative Assistant and Preschool Teacher at Columbus Torah Academy and Gan Ephraim Preschool. These roles honed her administrative and educational skills and also deepened her understanding of children, teaching, and Judaism. Shelby found fulfillment in creating engaging learning environments and building strong relationships with students and staff. Shelby moved to Cleveland in the summer of 2024 to pursue her Bachelor’s degree in Music Therapy at Cleveland State University. Shelby is excited to contribute her diverse experiences and skills to support the school’s mission and community. She looks forward to helping foster a nurturing and enriching educational environment and continuing to grow in her professional journey.
All staff members have passed a comprehensive background check as a condition of employment.
Educational Consultant
Chaviva High School is fortunate to have Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum serve as our Educational Consultant.
Rabbi Yitzchak Feigenbaum has been educating adolescents and young adults for over forty years. Born in Cleveland, he spent many years studying in Eretz Yisroel and received his smicha from HaGaon HaRav Beinush Finkel zatzal, Rosh Yeshivas Mir, Yerushalayim.
Rabbi Feigenbaum was the first Mashgiach of Aish HaTorah in Jerusalem when it was founded, and in 1978 founded Yeshivat Darche Noam/ Shapell College of Jewish Studies - a yeshiva for university-aged young men with little formal Jewish education. During that time he authored "Understanding The Talmud - A Systematic Guide to Talmudic Logic and Methodology". In 1987 he and his family moved to Toronto, where he taught in a variety of High Schools for both boys and girls, lectured for Aish HaTorah and Or Sameach, and served as the Scholar in Residence for schools and shuls across North America.
In September 2000 he became the founding Principal of Tiferes Bais Yaakov High School for girls. Besides serving as Principal, he personally taught Chumash to 9th Grade and taught his unique Hashkafa course to 10th, 11th and 12th grades. Over the past two decades, he has mentored teachers and principals, counseled young people across the world, and lectured extensively in schools, shuls, and camps in North America, England, Eretz Yisroel, and the former Soviet Union.
One of his missions is to empower all teachers with tools and hashkafos so that their students will not merely have Torah in their life, but will have life in their Torah!
To learn more about Rabbi Feigenbaum and access his shiurim online visit www.rabbiyfeigenbaum.com