This year, Ms. Benhamou and Ms. Rachel Shandalov have taken on new roles at YULA High School. Ms. Benhamou is now the Interim Principal of General Studies at the boys’ school, overseeing all General Studies classes and teachers, while continuing her role as the Principal of General Studies at YULA Girls. Ms. Rachel Shandalov is now not only the Assistant Principal and Director of College Guidance at YULA Girls but also at YULA Boys, working closely with students to ensure they are happy in their classes, challenged academically, and achieving their educational goals – ultimately helping them find the best college fit. They’re both excited to build new relationships with teachers and students while making sure to balance their time evenly between both schools.

The new roles of Ms. Shandalov and Ms. Benhamou has created a dynamic shift at both the boys’ and girls’ schools.

Leah: Girls Perspective

The new roles of Ms. Shandalov and Ms. Benhamou are noticeably impacting the girls campus. With both no longer working full-time at the school, students are finding it harder to rely on their immediate availability. It is especially hard for the 12th grade class, as Ms. Shandalov is the guidance counselor and AP Psychology teacher and for 10th grade, as Ms. Benhamou teaches AP European History. Maya Banafsheha ‘27 shares her thoughts, stating, that “sometimes it can be challenging to reach Ms. Benhamou as we have questions from that morning’s AP Euro class, and due to her new role she is not there in the afternoon to help us in person.” However, their new roles across both schools also promise a constant flow of communication and collaboration in administration, ensuring that both campuses benefit from their insights and leadership. While their absence on the girls campus has made it difficult for students to receive immediate help, it will allow for both the girls and boys administration and campuses to become more cohesive. 

Dovi: Boys Perspective 

The arrival of Ms. Benhamou on the Boy’s campus as interim General Studies Principal as well as the expanded role of Ms. Shandalov, has brought significant advantages to YULA. Although Mr. Saint Laurent will always be appreciated for his wisdom and dedication to the school, by having experts guide both schools, we benefit from a unified approach to helping students succeed in their educational goals. This shared leadership allows for consistency in academic and college guidance processes across campuses, enabling a more efficient system. Eager for the new opportunities this new system will hold, Aryeh Hofer (26) said “Ms. Benhamu was an incredible AP Euro teacher and she is now using her organization skills to help us with our classes and scheduling”. About Ms. Shandelov, he shared “She has already educated me and other juniors about the college application process and offered meetings to discuss the correct path”. Overseeing a larger pool of students equips Ms. Benhamu and Ms. Shandelov with broader insights that can enhance decision-making for the benefit of all students across both campuses. With this approach, both schools can utilize the expertise that they bring.