Faculty & Staff
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Rabbi Nicki Greninger was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Dartmouth College with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Human Development and Teaching. She was ordained as a Rabbi in 2008 from the New York campus of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, where she also earned a Masters of Arts in Religious Education. Rabbi Greninger won numerous awards at HUC-JIR, including those for Bible, Midrash, Hebrew, Talmud, liturgy, homiletics, Jewish education, and social action. Rabbi Greninger is especially passionate about liturgy, prayer, worship, and ritual, and she wrote her rabbinic / education thesis on the topic of tefillah education. Over the years Rabbi Greninger has served in many different capacities as a Jewish educator: camp counselor and program director, religious school teacher and director, b’nai mitzvah tutor, youth group advisor, and teacher of adults. In addition, she served as the program director of Dartmouth Hillel, as coordinator of the HUC-JIR Soup Kitchen, and as a student rabbi at congregations in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, New York, New Jersey, and California. Rabbi Greninger is married to Dr. Daniel Greninger, and they have a 1 year old son, Oren.
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(925) 284-9191
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Teacher Bios
Aya Gonen (1st Grade Lead Teacher)
Aya Gonen has been teaching first grade at Temple Isaiah for 4 years. This year she also teaches in our Mitkadem program for 4th-6th graders during weekday classes. Aya joined our community after teaching at CCJDS for eight years. She loves teaching, learning and growing with children. Aya was born in Israel and speaks Hebrew fluently.
Danielle Hershon (Assistant Teacher)
Danielle Hershon will be joining Suzan as an assistant teacher this year. She is a senior at Monte Vista High School and attended Religious School at Temple Isaiah. She spent a semester in Israel last year and is currently a student in Temple Isaiah’s Teen School (“Noar Night”). Danielle has many years of experience as a camp counselor at Camp Kefli and as a TA in Religious School.
Jill Jacobson (2nd Grade Lead Teacher)
Jill Jacobson is once again working at Temple Isaiah after a long hiatus, teaching second grade. She has two teaching credentials and a Masters in Education-Special Education. She works part time as a substitute teacher for the Walnut Creek School District, teaching grades K-8th. Jill keeps busy raising 3 teens and editing for her husband Alan. She has taught in various synagogues throughout California over the past 25 years.
Suzan Kotch (Lead Kindergarten Teacher)
Suzan Kotch is returning for her second year teaching Kindergarten at Temple Isaiah. She has her Masters in Social Work from Cal with an emphasis in Early Childhood Development. During the rest of the week she works as a social worker with young children for the County of Alameda. Suzan has taught Religious School for several years at Temple Isaiah and elsewhere and has been teaching for five years in Temple Isaiah’s Teen program.
Marissa Rodgerson (7th Grade Teacher)
Once a student and participant at Temple Isaiah’s Religious School and Youth Groups, Marissa returns to the Bay Area and is excited to be co-teaching 3rd, 7th, & 8th grades and to once again be part of the Temple Isaiah community. Outside of the classroom you may find her strolling through a local farmers market, discovering new places, or entertaining friends and family!
Charna Schakow (5th Grade Lead Teacher)
Charna Schakow has been teaching fifth grade at Temple Isaiah’s Religious School since September, 2001. Prior to that, she taught 4th grade at Congregation Beth El’s Religious School in Berkeley for eleven years. She began her teaching career in the Boston area in 1976, teaching English, reading, and history to junior high school students. After moving to California, she taught eighth grade English and U.S. History in Albany Middle School and then Reading Resource, ESL, and second grade at Havens Elementary School in Piedmont. Charna was also a docent and outreach presenter at the Judah L. Magnes Museum in Berkeley for 23 years, and is currently serving as a Commissioner on the Museum’s Commission for the Preservation of Pioneer Jewish Cemeteries and Landmarks.