Our Team
Faculty & Staff
Eitan Bar Or
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
ebaror@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Elementary Hebrew & Judaic Studies
Education
- BA Education, Moreshet Yakov College
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is a special place because ALL the colors of Jewish identity are represented here. Rarely do you find a school that embodies this type of diversity.
Tal Bar Or
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
tbaror@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Elementary Hebrew and Judaic Studies
Education
-
BA, Special Education, Talpiyot College
What I Love About Akiva
I love teaching our students because we feel so much like a family.
Carolyn Benick Brown
Staff
(615) 432-2554
cbenickbrown@akivanashville.net
Position
Business Manager
Vardit Binstein
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
vardit@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Elementary Hebrew and Judaic Studies & Technology Lead
Education
- B. Sc. Industrial and Management Engineering, Ben Gurion University
- Master’s of Business Administration, Ben Gurion University
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is like a family for me, I enjoy seeing the children grow and make huge progress in language.
Annette Calloway
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
acalloway@akivanashville.net
Teacher
4th Grade ELA & Art
Education
- BA English/Speech Communication, Lipscomb University
- M.Ed. Education, Vanderbilt University
Certifications
ELL
Rotem Cohen
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
rcohen@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Elementary School Hebrew and Judaic Studies
Education
-
BA, Psychology and Art Telhi College
Behavior Analysis Certification
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is like my second home. It’s like a big solid ground that gives you the opportunity to grow and be a better person.
Emma Cribb
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
cribb@akivanashville.net
Teacher / Coach
Physical Education, Cross Country and Track Coach
Education
- BS Biology, Columbia University
- MBA Business Administration, Fairleigh Dickinson University
Certifications
- Strength & Conditioning Specialist
- Personal Trainer
- Cycling Coach
- Yoga Instructor
What I Love About Akiva
Teaching kids to embrace an active lifestyle. Giving all kids a chance to be athletic. I love playing & sports!
Laura Deitrick
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
ldeitrick@akivanashville.net
School Counselor
Education
Certifications
Annie Douthit
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
adouthit@akivanashville.net
Teacher
1st Grade General Studies & ELA Lead Teacher
Education
- BA Economics, Bates College
- M.Ed Elementary Education, Vanderbilt University
Certifications
- Reading Specialist Endorsement
What I Love About Akiva
I love when a child’s face lights up when he/she figures out a new strategy, solves a challenging problem, or improves on a project.
Susan Eskew
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
seskew@akivanashville.net
Teacher
4th Grade General Studies & STEAM Lead Teacher
Education
- BS Elementary Education 1-8, Middle Tennessee State University
- BS Special Education K-12, Middle Tennessee State University
Certifications
Highly Qualified Status Grades 3-8
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is an environment that purposefully creates moments of wonder and what if, why not now, and how can we achieve more. We value and provide opportunities for communicating effectively, innovative thinking and to demonstrate confidence in one’s abilities and the abilities of their team. We prepare our students for the community and world they will lead.
Julie Fortune
Staff
(615) 432-2552
jfortune@akivanashville.net
Position
Director of Admission and Outreach
Education
- BLS Religion in Society, University of Memphis
- MALS Philosophy of Religion, University of Memphis
- MA Religious Studies, Florida State University
Certifications
-
Highly Qualified Status in All Middle School Subjects, Special Education K-12
-
Reading Specialist Endorsement
What I Love About Akiva
I love being apart of a community and a school that ensures that every child is loved, supported, and challenged in new ways every day. Unlike any other program I have worked in, Akiva does everything possible to ensure that ‘the whole child’ is being nourished.
Jennifer Hosey
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
jhosey@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Kindergarten General
Education
- BS Elementary Education K-6, Middle Tennessee State University
What I Love About Akiva
I feel blessed to be at Akiva because of the teamwork amongst the faculty members and the ability to tailor our curriculum to meet each child’s needs.
Kelly Love
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
klove@akivanashville.net
Teacher
3rd Grade General Studies & ELA Lead
Education
- BA, Reading, Dual Minors: Education & Women’s Studies, University of Texas at El Paso
- MA Curriculum and Instruction, University of Phoenix
Certifications
- Reading Specialization 6-12
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is a place that encourages students and teachers to follow their passions. The small class sizes make it easy for teachers to give students the help and attention they deserve.
Rena Malkofsky-Berger
Faculty & Staff
(615) 356-1880
rena@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Middle School General Studies, Math Lead, & Librarian
Education
-
BA Psychology and Biological Studies, University of California at Davis
-
MA Education/Developmental Psychology, University of California at Berkeley
What I Love About Akiva
At Akiva, everyone is supported to become their best self—students and teachers alike.
Daniella Pressner
Staff
(615) 356-1880
dpressner@akivanashville.net
Position
Head of School
Education
-
BA Religion and Dance, Barnard College, Columbia University
-
MA Jewish Studies, Vanderbilt University
- Continued Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
- Current Member of Yeshivat Maharat Kollel Track
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is this unusual community that puts every child at the center. It is a place where children are nurtured and loved and a place where they are challenged to be curious, to wonder, to take risks and to have moral courage. I am inspired every day by the children, the parents and the faculty. It is a community and a family and a space for every child’s spark to be ignited.
Ellen Smyth
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
ecloyd@akivanashville.net
Teacher
2nd Grade General Studies
Education
- BA Religious Studies, Wofford College
- MAT Early Childhood Education, Converse College
What I Love About Akiva
I love working in such a supportive and collaborative environment where the safety and nurturing of our students’ growth is at the forefront of what we do. I love getting to know each child and fostering their passions.
Wylie Stemple
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
wstemple@akivanashville.net
Teacher
5th/6th Math & History
Education
- BS Aviation Flight and Aircraft Systems, Ohio State University
- Educational Licensure Middle School Math & Social Studies, University of Dayton
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is an amazing school. I have never before worked in an institution that pairs amazing kids with such a teamwork centered faculty. Everyone feels supported and we work towards a common goal of making each day great!
David Williams
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
dwilliams@akivanashville.net
Teacher
5th/6th Grade General Studies
Education
- BS Education, Vanderbilt University
- MA Secondary Education, Vanderbilt University
Certifications
Highly Qualified Status in ELA, Geography, and Social Studies
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is special because our small class sizes give teachers the ability to truly help each and every student.
Shanna Wilons
Faculty
(615) 432-2555
swilons@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Learning Specialist
Education
-
BA Judaic Language and Literature, Emory University
-
MA Early Childhood and Elementary Education, Oglethorpe University
Certifications
Special Education in the General Education classroom
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is a special place that nurtures all types of learners. I enjoy being part of the process and watching as students gain confidence and learn to advocate for their own needs.
Michal Zidkyahu
Faculty
(615) 356-1880
mzidkyahu@akivanashville.net
Teacher
Middle School Hebrew and Judaic Studies
Education
-
BA Psychology, Criminology, Sociology, Bar Ilan University, Israel
-
MA Expressive Arts Therapy, Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Certifications
- Certified Psychodramatist
- Creative Arts Therapist
What I Love About Akiva
Akiva is a microcosmos of the Jewish community of Nashville. It is small, diverse, warm and inclusive. I appreciate that it lets me take part in and support the process of building an academically, and emotionally strong future Jewish community.
Testimonials
What Our Families are Saying
"At Akiva, we made the absolute best choice for our children and our family. There is no other school in the country we would rather send our children to."
Contact Us
P: 615-356-1880
F: 615-356-1850
info@akivanashville.net
809 Percy Warner Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37205
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