There have been many new additions to the Girls’ faculty at YULA High School. Though it is not unheard of for teachers to work at both schools such as Ms. Green did for over 30 years, YULA’s merger has led to a rise in the number of  “crossover teachers.”

For starters, YULA Girls’ Division now shares YULA Boys’ head of school, Rabbi Arye Sufrin. Even with his busy schedule, Rabbi Sufrin still finds time to teach classes at both schools, lead student activities, and organize weekly Friday kumzitzes at both schools. He is not the only Rabbinic staff member to now teach at the Girls’ Division, as Rabbi Joseph Schreiber and Rabbi Nissan Ahoobim now teach Chumash classes there as well. While Rabbi Schreiber commented on how refreshing it is to teach to a new group of students at the Girls’ school, he has one misgiving about working at both schools, “it’s only for one period two times a week, and to get to know the girls [in that short time], is really hard.” 

While there are teachers who work at both divisions, the Girls’ Division has received some outside additions to their staff, as well. Ms. Maya Steinborn, a new English teacher, earned her BA in History, MA in Human Rights Education, and MED in Curriculum & Instruction. She enjoys working at YULA, noting the high level of devotion students dedicate to learning, and considers the motivated environment, “a breath of fresh air.”

Another recruit, Dr. Elianna Rome, assumed the position of guidance counselor and has been focusing on “connecting with as many girls as possible.” Dr. Rome received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Phillips Graduate Institute, and she has a lot of experience working with young adults dealing with mental health issues. She explains that she was drawn to YULA because she loves working with high school students, and she appreciates having “similar values to the school.” Read Dr. Rome’s Faculty Focus here.

Also new to YULA Girls is the PE teacher and volleyball coach, Natalie Livermore. Yaelle Shaye (‘22) praised “the faith she has in her athletes” and that she uses her background in coaching to share with her athletes how to “keep [their] heads in the game even when [they] are under pressure.” 

YULA High School Boys’ Division has welcomed Rabbi Granick, Mr. Brendan O’Malley, Dr. Philip Streich, and Mrs. Hilary Kaplan. Rabbi Aaron Granick, from Suffern, New York, studied for ten years in various Yeshivot around Eretz Yisroel. At the YULA Boys’ division, he teaches one of the most advanced Gemara classes — the 11th-grade Beit Midrash Track. After taking his first steps on campus, Rabbi Granick described the YULA atmosphere as “more friendly and welcoming than I [could] have imagined.”

Dr. Streich, an engaging college professor who has written several books on political science, received his BA from UC Riverside, his MA from the University of Michigan, and his Ph.D. in political science from Rutgers University. YULA is honored and delighted to welcome Dr. Streich to the History and Math Departments. 

Mrs. Kaplan is the newest addition to YULA’s English Department. She received her BA from Yale University, her MFA from San Francisco State University, and her MS from Brown University. Both Mrs. Kaplan and the other new teachers explain that what defines YULA is its friendly atmosphere and dual curriculum. 

The Boys’ Division has also added teachers from the YULA Girls staff to their own faculty, a change caused by the recent merger. Rabbi Dr. Menachem Hecht strengthens the Israel and Jewish History studies at YULA Boys’ Division, while Director of Athletics, Ms. Alexandra Novak, has brought new teams and equipment to the YULA High School Athletic Department. Read Mrs. Novak’s Faculty Focus here.

Thanks to the merger, YULA welcomes all of its teachers, new and old, and looks forward to a year of growth!