Administrators

Margolin Hebrew Academy/Feinstone Yeshiva of the South takes great pride in its educational administration for its academic achievement, on-the-job experience, and professional accomplishments.

Rabbi Dr. Gil Perl, Dean, is beginning his second year at MHA/FYOS. His impressive academic credentials, along with his organizational skills, outstanding teaching abilities, and motivational expertise are bringing the school to new educational and professional heights.

Rabbi Dr. Perl has a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania with a double major in Intellectual History and Asian and Middle Eastern Studies. He went on to complete a Master's and Doctorate at Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations. He received smicha from Yeshiva University's Rabbi Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary, where he served as an instructor of Jewish History in Yeshiva College and was honored as Professor of the Year for 2005-2006. Rabbi Perl also served on the administration of YU's boy's high school, first as the Director of Admissions and then as the Associate Head of School. Before coming to YU, Rabbi Dr. Perl served as an instructor of Jewish Law at the Prozdor Hebrew High School in Newton, Massachusetts, and later as Head of the Jewish Law department. He was also an award winning Teaching Fellow at Harvard University.

Rabbi Dr. Perl, and his wife, Melissa, our Assistant Principal, have three children. Shmuel Meir and Racheli are now students in our elementary school, and Binny will join them next year.

Mrs. Shelley Kutliroff, General Studies Principal for Grades 7 - 12, was middle school administrator from 2003-2006 and served as Interim Dean for the 2006-2007 academic year. She has taught at MHA/FYOS for 16 years in the two times she has lived in Memphis.

Her students, parents, and other faculty easily recognize her natural abilities to motivate students and provoke thoughtful discussions in the classroom. Mrs. Kutliroff has a keen understanding of pre-teens and teenagers and the academic and emotional pressures they face. Her kind words and warm heart provide solace to many a struggling adolescent.

Mrs. Kutliroff has a B.S. degree in Secondary Education from Boston University and an M.A. degree in Political Science from the University of Rhode Island. In 2004 she received the Holocaust Teacher of the Year Award from the Tennessee Commission on Holocaust Education. She has also received recognition from Johns Hopkins University as an Outstanding Teacher of Gifted Students, and the MHA/FYOS Isha Chasidah Award.

Mrs. Sandra Gersten, our General Studies Principal for Pre-K - Grade 6, has been a teacher at Margolin Hebrew Academy since 1985. During that time, she coordinated the Hebrew language program and was Assistant Principal for three years. She resumed administrative responsibilities in 2003 when she stepped into the position of General Studies Principal for the elementary school.

She also continues to teach Navi to girls in grades 7-8. Her base in the community, her teaching experience in the school and the good relationships she shares with both parents and teachers gives Mrs. Gersten a unique ability to bring continual improvement to an already outstanding program.

Mrs. Gersten has a BA from Touro College in NY, and an MS in Education from Adelphi University, also in NY. Prior to moving to Memphis with her husband in 1985, she taught special education classes for the NYC Board of Education, and summer school at Mishkan in Brooklyn.

Mrs. Gersten and her husband, Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys Mashgiach Ruchani, Rabbi Yonason Gersten, have six children, one in the elementary school, one in the junior high, and one in the high school. Their older three sons are in various post-high school programs around the world.

Mrs. Melissa Perl, Assistant Principal for Guidance and Professional Development, brings a strong background in Jewish education to her important role at our school. She adds a vital component to the school by overseeing and coordinating professional development initiatives and making sure that the academic, social, emotional, and religious needs of our student body are being met. In addition to her other duties, Mrs. Perl also teaches in our high schools.

Mrs. Perl holds a Bachelor's degree in Judaic Studies and Psychology from Stern College for Women, a Master's degree in Tanach from Bernard Revel Graduate School, and is currently a doctoral candidate at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Education and Administration. She served as the Director of Torah Guidance, Director of Israel Guidance, Special Programs Coordinator, and instructor of Tanach at Frisch Yeshiva High School in Paramus, New Jersey and at Maimonides High School in Brookline, Massachusetts.

Mrs. Perl is the mother of Shmuel Meir, Racheli, and Binny and is married to our Dean, Rabbi Dr. Gil Perl.

Mrs. Charna Schubert, Early Childhood Director, joined our administration in a newly created position this year. To make sure that every aspect of our program is in line with the latest research in child development, Charna is working diligently to enhance our ECE program by updating methods of instruction, optimize our classroom set up, and work closely with our ECE faculty in integrating our General and Judaic Studies curriculum.

Charna has a B.A. in Early Childhood Education from Stern College for Women and an M.S. in Elementary Education from Hunter College. She was a pre-school and kindergarten teacher at several New York area schools and developed and implemented curricula for Early Childhood classes. She also led a number of workshops and parent/teacher conferences in these schools. Charna is very excited to be joining the dedicated MHA/FYOS staff and having the opportunity to contribute her expertise in the creation of an ECE program of true excellence.

Charna and her husband, Eric, moved to Memphis several years ago with their children, Jason and Becky. Jason is in the MHA kindergarten class this year.

Rabbi Josh Spodek, Menahel of Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys, is joining our administration this year. He has served as a Judaic Studies teacher, the Director of Student Programs, and the Alumni Director at the Weinbaum Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton, Florida for the past six years where he was personally mentored by Rabbi Perry Tirschwell, one of the country's leading high school principals. Rabbi Spodek has a Masters degree in School Administration and spent eight years learning in Yeshivat Sha'alvim prior to his arrival in Boca. His combination of creativity and organizational skills are sure to bring a new sense of enthusiasm and inspiration to CYHSB as it continues on its path of excellence.

He and his wife, Tova, and their four children are excited about their move to Memphis and are looking forward to being part of the community!

Rabbi Yonason Gersten, Mashgiach Ruchani of Cooper Yeshiva High School for Boys (CYHSB), has been with MHA/FYOS for over 20 years. He came to the school in 1985 as a Torah studies teacher for grades 7-12 and served as CYHSB menahel for the past 11 years. In his new role, Rabbi Gersten will continue to teach, guide, and inspire our students.

He will also continue to teach Talmud, Chumash, Halacha and Jewish Philosophy. Rabbi Gersten's primary enjoyment is interacting with students. He is known for his analytical method of learning that promotes depth and clarity, and his rational approach to Jewish philosophy that addresses many of the questions on the minds of today's students.

He is the innovator of many student activities such as "An Evening of Divrei Torah" and the "Annual Steak Dinner." The affection and respect he has gained from students was evident when they honored him at their 2002 Steak Dinner.

Rabbi Gersten received Smicha from Yeshiva B'nei Torah in Far Rockaway, NY, a BA in Liberal Arts from Adelphi University, and an MS in Educational Leadership from the University of Memphis.

Prior to working in Memphis, he worked with handicapped children in Ohel Children's Home and at Camp HASC (Hebrew Academy for Special Children) in New York. He is married to MHA/FYOS General Studies Principal, Sandy Gersten.

Mrs. Anat Kampf has been Menahelet (administrator) of Goldie Margolin High School for Girls since 2000 and taught second grade in the elementary school for many years. Mrs. Kampf is like a second mother to the high school girls, especially the out-of-towners. Her energetic personality, positive attitude and fine middot make her a wonderful role model for them. She believes in the girls and encourages each one to reach her potential. The girls in turn respect her and know that she is their best advocate.

Mrs. Kampf was born in Jerusalem, Israel and grew up in Jerusalem and Brooklyn, New York. She attended the Shulamith High School for Girls in Brooklyn and continued her studies at Touro College, Indiana University/Purdue University at Indianapolis and the University of Memphis. She completed the Art and Craft of the Principalship course at Harvard University's School of Education as well as the Intensive Training for Principals course at Yeshiva University's Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration. She is currently studying for her M.A. from the Azrieli School.

Mrs. Kampf and her husband, Cantor Ricky Kampf, have five children, one in Stern College in New York, one in the GMHSG, two in our elementary school, and their latest addition, Jack, who was born early this year.

Rabbi Akevy Greenblatt, Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies, is beginning his third year at the school. For the past two years, he has been Interim Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies and Coordinator for Judaic programming and curriculum development.

Rabbi Greenblatt has a wonderful rapport with his students and he and his wife, Chavi, have opened their home to them for various activities including onegs and Shabbat meals.

He is a graduate of Queens College where he majored in economics. He has smicha from Derech Ayson Rabbinical Seminary, Yeshiva of Far Rockaway. He attended Yeshivat Sha'alavim in Israel, has a Masters of Education from the University of Hartford and a Principal's Certification from Seton Hall University. Rabbi Greenblatt has held teaching positions in both elementary and secondary schools in Oak Park, Michigan, Hartford, Connecticut, and Calgary, Alberta.

The Greenblatt's twin daughters, Sarah and Sima, are in the 7th grade in our elementary school.