MEET OUR STAFF

Head of School

Mrs. Yoti Golan was born and raised in Israel and moved to the states 16 years ago. Morah Yoti earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Mathematics from Ben-Gurion University, a Bachelor of Education from Levinsky College of Education in Tel Aviv, and a Master’s Degree in Curriculum Writing from Monmouth University. She served two years in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). In Israel, she taught History and Math to Israeli youth, and supervised a school for at-risk children. She has spent the past 16 years at SSDS in increasing levels of responsibility. Morah Yoti was Solomon Schechter’s Judaic Studies Coordinator for six years and expanded the program to ensure that our students were developing a connection to Israel through study, history, language, and prayer. Her daughter, Adi, is a member of the graduating class of 2010. As the Head of School, she continues to develop the Judaic Studies program while also ensuring that our students receive a full, well-rounded General Studies curriculum. Under her tenure as Head of School, many of our shared goals, including accreditation, developing a new Media Center, have been realized. With her guidance, the school will continue to bring The Hebrew Academy to the highest level educationally, technologically, and spiritually.

Assistant Head of School

Mrs. Klinek received her Bachelor of Arts from Montclair University in secondary Education and Spanish. She also earned a Master’s in Education and Guidance from Monmouth University and a Post Master’s in Administration and Supervision from Jersey City University. In addition to being the Assistant Head of School and Co-Chair of the Accreditation Committee, Lucy Klinek is the Spanish teacher for the middle school students. She designed and taught every level of Spanish, including AP, at Wall High School before retiring in 2007. While at Wall, she coached Cheerleading and Track, and headed the Student Council, the Spanish Club, the Academic Challenge Team, and the Mock Trial Competition. In the spring, Mrs. Klinek and her students often traveled to Spain and, at times, northern Africa to experience the culture that was taught in class. After retiring from Wall, Mrs. Klinek worked at Monmouth University as a supervisor of student teachers and, at the same time, taught Spanish three days a week at SSDS. Even though she enjoys her position as Assistant Head of School, she says that the best part of her day is when she is in the classroom teaching.