MS Meet the Staff

Your Subtitle text

Meet the Staff

Middle School Staff

Rabbi Yehoshua Gabbai - Principal of Judaic Studies
Rabbi Gabbai brought his 25 years of experience in Judaic education to Shalhevet over a decade ago. Rabbi Gabbai began his rabbinical studies at Yeshivat Kiryat Arbah in conjunction with completing his four years of Army service in the Israel Defense forces. After receiving his S’micha, he went on to receive his certificate of Masters in Teaching, Moreh Bachir, majoring in Talmud and Bible. In addition, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in psychology and received certification in Administrative Educational Leadership from Bar Ilan University in Ramat Gan. A two year course in development of child center individualized instruction at the Institute of Education technology (Matach) at Tel Aviv University rounded off Rabbi Gabbai’s extensive training in the Education Field.

Rabbi Gabbai’s varied accomplishments include everything from establishing a curriculum for Yeshivot to actual instruction of Hebrew programs. Having served in various Shlichuyot from Israel in many Yeshivot throughout the United States and Israel, Rabbi Gabbai brought his many skills and knowledge from all his accomplishments and has successfully integrated them into Shalhevet Elementary and Middle School.

Dr. Debora Parks - Principal of General Studies
Dr. Parks brings over 20 years of experience in education and 15 years in Jewish education. She is widely recognized as a leader in education. Prior to joining Shalhevet, Dr. Parks was the Director of General Studies for 10 years at Maimonides Academy, a K-8 Jewish Day School in Los Angeles. Previously, Dr. Parks was a Field Coordinator and Instructor at the Teacher Education Laboratory at the Graduate School of Education at UCLA, a Supervisor of Student Teachers, and an Instructor of Curriculum and Student Teaching Seminars. Dr. Parks received her Ph.D. in Elementary Education, Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in 1991. She also received an MA in Elementary Education, an M.A. in Special Education/Gifted and Talented, and a B.S. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Alabama in 1987, 1984 and 1983, respectively.

Sara Khoury Gichtin - Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies
Sara Gichtin, or as everyone refers to her, Morah Sara had one solid goal as she grew up in Natanya, Israel. Her dream was to become a teacher! She attended Beit Berl College for teachers where she received her Teacher’s Credential. Soon after, she moved to Los Angeles where she enjoyed a vibrant career as a master teacher in Judaic and Hebrew studies. For the past 19 years, Morah Sara touched students in almost every grade at Harkham Hillel Hebrew Academy. Most recently, Sara completed a Masters Degree in Education. In 2006, she joined the Shalhevet Staff as an Assistant Principal of Judaic Studies and as a teacher. Her daughter currently in 8th grade and is looking to join the Shalhevet High School. Sara brings to Shalhevet, along with her outstanding teaching, a passion and love for Judaism and Israel through music and dance.

Jonathan Gilbert - Assistant Principal of General Studies and Math Teacher
Shalhevet School welcomes Jonathan Gilbert as the new Assistant Principal for General Studies in our elementary and middle school. Mr. Gilbert teaches middle school math and has taught at Shalhevet for the past nine years. He is running an exciting and successful E2K program after school which challenges math minds to think outside of the box. He has been teaching since 1996. Mr. Gilbert taught special education for two years, high school for two years, and middle school for nine years. He holds a B.S. degree in math with a minor in education and an M.A. in Psychology. He was born in Long Island, NY and lived in Florida for twelve years before moving to Los Angeles in 1998. His passions include music and sports, as well as working with kids.

Rabbi Michael Abraham - Judaic Studies
Rabbi Michael Abraham was born in Italy and grew up in Bnei Brak, Israel. He learned for seven years in Yeshivat Nachalat Dovid, in Petach Tikvah, Israel. During his learning, Rabbi Abraham ran the yeshiva Ketana Camp of Nachalat Dovid for three years. He then got married and taught in Mikdash Melech High School in Jerusalem for a year. Rabbi Abraham moved to Los Angeles with his family, and taught Talmud, Mishna, and Dinim in Netan Eli Middle School for four years. Additionally, Rabbi Abraham was Natan Eli summer camp Director. He is currently teaching Torah, Navi, Mishna, Dinim, and Parashat Hashavouah in our Middle School.

Brie Aliabadi - Science
Brie Aliabadi is excited to be teaching middle school science at Shalhevet. Ms. Aliabadi comes to Shalhevet after having taught full-time in the biological and environmental sciences (over 25 different courses) at the college level for nearly a decade. Just before to coming to Shalhevet, she taught General Genetics and Biometrics at Cal. State University, LA. Prior to Cal. State U., she and her family lived in the Northwest, where she taught full-time in the Biology and Natural Resources programs at Mt. Hood College, and prior to that taught biology at Washington State University, Vancouver. Her teaching career began down here in California, where she taught at a number of colleges, including full-time as Assistant Professor of Biology/Environmental Science at Mt. San Jacinto College, and also served as its Science department chair and director of its Environmental Studies program. Ms. Aliabadi holds an M.S. in Biological Sciences (Ecology and Conservation Biology) from Illinois State University, a B.S. in Ecology, Evolutionary Biology, and Behavior from University of Maryland, and is currently working on her Ph.D. in Molecular Evolutionary Genetics at Washington State University/UCLA, studying the effects of global climate change on the molecular evolution of endangered fish populations. Ms. Aliabadi lives with her two children and a very hyper parrot.

Raelyn Bieda - Physical Education
Raelyn comes to Shalhevet with over a decade of experience as a personal trainer. She is certified in Pilates and has taught Pilates reformer and mat classes for eight years. She has also studied nutrition and has training as a weight loss consultant. Raelyn teaches our Middle School students physical education.

Michal Davis - Judaic Studies
Michal Davis has been teaching at Shalhevet Middle School for 10 years. Previously, she taught Hebrew and Judaic Studies at Yula High School for 2 years and at Ohr Eliyahu for 6 years. Michal was born in Israel and moved to Los Angeles in 1990. She graduated from Bar Ilan University majoring in Education and later on she went to pursue a career in marketing, public relations and advertising. She worked for the newspapers Yediot Ahronot and Laiesh in their advertising department. At Shalhevet, Michal has been in charge of the Neta Program for the past 5 years. She has attended numerous trainings in the program both locally and nationally. Michal has a lot of love for teaching and her students.

Rachel Espana - Judaic Studies
Rachel Espana is in her fourth year at Shalhevet teaching General and Judaic Studies. Rachel has been teaching Judaic Studies for over 10 years at the elementary, middle and high school levels. She is passionate about Jewish outreach and is very involved in the Happy Minyan of Los Angeles. She also is the founder and president of their sisterhood. Rachel spent 4 years studying in seminary in Jerusalem. She completed the advanced programs in Judaic Studies at Neve Yerushalayim College for Women, and received her teachers training from Beth Jacob Jerusalem Teachers Seminary. Rachel is highly creative and enjoys incorporating her background in graphic design into the classroom.

Yisroel Koch - Art
Yisroel Koch received the “Best of Show” Award at the 21st Annual Sedona Arts Center Exhibition in June 2001. In the spring of 2002, he began teaching “Painting Exploration and fundamentals” as a member of the teaching faculty at the Sedona Arts Center. His commissioned works are held in several distinguished private collections across the US and Israel. Yisroel is a graduate of The Art Academy of Los Angeles and is a musician and actor of many years. His acting career spanned many years of theatre in New York and Los Angeles at the famed Lee Strasberg Studio. Additionally, he was a composer/ actor/board member of the LaMama Hollywood theatre Productions. This is his fourth semester at Shalhevet.

Alexis Newman - Math, General Studies
Being a Shalhevet Alumna, Alexis is truly dedicated to the Shalhevet ideology and philosophy. After having graduated Shalhevet high school in 2000, Alexis spent a year abroad in Israel at Bar Ilan University. Upon returning to the states, Alexis finished her BA and teaching credential at Cal State University, Northridge. It was there that she discovered her admiration and enthusiasm for teaching as well as being in a school environment.

Rabbi Meir Sabo - Judaic Studies
Shalhevet Graduate, Rabbi Meir Sabo, joins our school as a Middle School Judaic Studies teacher in Talmud, Torah, Navi, Parsha and Dinim. He earned his degree from Shaonan Education Academy in Jerusalem and Haifa. He also holds special honors for Rabbinical Status from Rabbi Yehoshua Weisman, Rosh Yeshivah of Maalot and the Biale Rabbi of Jerusalem. Prior to his move back to the states, Rabbi Sabo taught in Yeshivat Maalot and the High School Yeshiva of Givat Shmuel in Israel. In addition to his teaching, RHe shows a deep passion for singing and Judaic learning and has already become well loved by his students.

Sarit Sabo - Judaic Studies
Mrs. Sarit Sabo is currently in her first year teaching at Shalhevet. She was born in Israel and attended Bar Ilan University where she graduated with a B.A. in Jewish philosophy and Hebrew Language. She enjoys playing her guitar, singing and is passionate about teaching and working with students. Her goal is to ensure that is child is proud of his/her Jewish heritage.

Dina Sokoloff - 5th Grade General Studies
We are very excited to have Dina Sokoloff teaching fourth and fifth grades at Shalhevet. Dina hails from South Africa and has been teaching at Jewish Day Schools for the last ten years. In South Africa, Dina majored in history, psychology, and education at a top University. After Dina arrived in the United States, she earned a Master’s Degree in Teaching as a Profession, and also the distinction of becoming a Nationally Board Certified Educator. Along with her many years of experience in education, her energy and warmth combine to motivate our elementary school students to excel in all their classes.

Ronnie Winbush "Coach Flava" - Physical Education
Ronnie, born and raised in Los Angeles, graduated Crenshaw High School and attended Azusa Pacific University. As a professional basketball player, he spent eight years traveling to places around the world including Hong Kong, Mexico, Brazil, France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. He also spent a brief time with the Magic Johnson All Stars. Following his professional basketball career, “Coach Flava” taught and coached at El Rodeo Elementary School for two years. He is currently teaching the Elementary and Middle School students, grades Pre-1 through 8. In addition, he is coaching the Middle School Boys’ and Girls’ Basketball teams and is the Head Coach of the High School Varisty Basketball team.

Ilana Zadok - History, General Studies
Having heard about the warm Shalhevet community from her husband, an alumnus of the first graduating class of Shalhevet High School, Ilana first became a faculty member in 2001. She came to Shalhevet from New York where she attended Queens College, obtaining a BA in English and Secondary Education. Consequently, she received her teaching certification by New York State. In addition, Ilana serves as the Faculty advisor for the school yearbook, holds a monthly Enrichment Book Club meeting, and has created an after school tutoring program matching High School with Middle School students. She is passionate about her subject matter and arouses the same passion in her students through creative and engaging lesson plans. Ilana also believes strongly in continuing education and has attended Schools Attuned, based on work of Dr. Mel Levine and is now assisting her students to learn and succeed in the classroom. As a product of Jewish Day Schools and an active member of the Jewish Community of Los Angeles, Ilana is highly committed to Jewish Education and the future of Shalhevet.