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Our Staff

Marsha Aaronson is the Superintendent of the Walworth Barbour American International School in Israel and the Jerusalem American International School. Marsha Aaronson was appointed Middle School Principal at the American International School in 2001 and in 2005 assumed the Superintendency.  Mrs. Aaronson has also been in US and international education for the past 35 years serving at various postings as principal, assistant principal and guidance counselor.


Susan Guggenheim is the Principal at the Jerusalem branch of Walworth Barbour American International School and has been at JAIS since its opening in August 2001. She has Principal Certification from the University of S. D., a Masters in Special Education from Loyola College in Maryland, and a BS in Elementary Education and Special Education from the University of MD, College Park.  Mrs. Guggenheim has been in education for over 30 years. As administrator of JAIS she has been instrumental in the schools continued growth and development.


Shellye Horowitz is the elementary guidance counselor for both AIS and JAIS. She has a BA in Social Science and an MA in Psychology from Humboldt State University in Arcata, California.   Her post graduate certificate in Educational Administration is from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington.  Shellye has 15 years experience in a variety of positions including: Elementary School Counselor, Middle School Counselor, Peer Counseling Coordinator, Conflict Management Coordinator, Substitute Principal, Life Decisions Teacher, and HIV Prevention training. 


Yvette Hankin is the Pre-Kindergarten teacher.  She obtained her B.Ed. Degree from Leeds University, England and then moved to London where she taught for five years as a kindergarten, first grade and fifth grade teacher.  After moving to Israel, she studied a variety of early childhood education courses at Seminar Hakibbutzim in Tel Aviv.  Prior to teaching at JAIS, Mrs. Hankin taught for 16 years as the senior care manager for children between the ages of 3 months and 6 years on a kibbutz (a community village.)


Jodi Hirsch teaches kindergarten. She has a BA in Education with
a specialty in Early Childhood from Yeshiva University and a Masters of Science in Education with a specialty in Science from Hunter College of New York. She has taught in New York and Denver as well as in Israel with over 15 years of experience. Mrs. Hirsch also served as the Educational Director of FutureKids Jerusalem, an international computer learning center, for two and a half years. Mrs. Hirsch has been with JAIS since its beginning in 2001.



Jennifer Ryan teaches first grade. She has a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching from the Australian Catholic University, Melbourne Australia. She has eight year of teaching experience in a variety of grade levels including kindergarten, first, second, third, and fourth grade. Ms. Ryan has taught in Australia, England, the United States and now Israel. She has also worked as a curriculum co-ordinator of Environmental Education and the Arts.

Lisa David teaches the second grade. She has a B.A. in Economics, and a M.A. in Early Childhood/Elementary Education from New York University.  Originally from New York City, Mrs. David has over ten years teaching experience. Mrs. David was nominated for the Sally May First Class Teacher Award and represented her school district in the National Competition.


Lisa Putnam teaches third and fourth grade. She has been teaching for eight years and has taught younger elementary students in preK as well as older students in fifth grade. Ms. Putnam has a BS in Early Childhood Education and Elementary Education from Southern Wesleyan University. She has acquired an additional 18 graduate hours in the Special Education Emotional and Behavior Disorders. In addition, she has completed the graduate hours from Furman University in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages). She has traveled to many countries and has volunteered in Israel.

Susan Needle teaches the fifth/sixth grade. She was born in England and completed a B.Ed degree (elementary curriculum) at North London Polytechnic and an MA from the Open University. Ms. Needle has a combination of over thirty years teaching experience in England and Israel. She has taught various grades levels as well as serving
as elementary co-ordinator at the Anglican International School Jerusalem and curriculum co-ordinator and grade 5 teacher at Tabeetha School, Jaffa.



Jenny Bayer teaches art. She has a Masters in Art Education from Teachers College at Columbia University in addition to a Masters in Jewish Art and Material Culture from the Jewish Theological Seminary and a BA in "Environmental Perception and Design" from the University of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Bayer has taught in elementary and high schools, museum settings, teacher training institutes, elder hostel programs and day camps in New York.  Jenny joined the JAIS faculty in January, 2006.  Jenny also teaches a drawing course to post-high school students entitled "Making Art in Context: Exploring the Rhythms of Jerusalem." language and Israeli culture.
She has a B. Ed. with a specialization in English.  She is fully licensed by the Ministry of Education and has been teaching English and Hebrew for the past five years.  Born in South Africa, Daniella has been living in Israel for over 20 years.


Bill Bozin teaches music pre-kindergarten through 6th grade at JAIS.  He has a Bachelor's degree with a double major in Music Education and Performance and a Master's degree in Music Education from Roosevelt University in Chicago.  Mr. Bozin has over twenty-five years experience teaching in the Chicago and River Forest, Illinois public school systems, as well as privately in Efrat, where he currently resides.  Bill directed his own professional band for 20 years before moving with his family to Israel in 1996.


Ruth Heberling teaches Computer Technology. She comes to us from Oregon,USA, where she was a system administrator and computer teacher for a K-8 private school. She has also taught various core subjects to 3rd-12th grade students in a large homeschool co-op in Oregon for 8 years. Mrs. Heberling earned a BA in both Biology and Geography at the University of California, and completed the graduate program at Multnomah University.

Jerrold Hyman teaches physical education at JAIS. He earned his B.S. in Human Performance and Fitness at UMASS/Boston with a teachers certification in physical education K-12. He has amassed 29 credits toward an M.Ed in education from Lesley University. Jerry has taught adapted and general physical education in the private and public sectors of Massachusetts. Summers, Jerry has spent directing, designing and implementing swimming programs at summer camp. In addition to teaching, Jerry owns and operates Elite Fitness Israel, a personal fitness training, massage therapy and private swimming business.



Daniella Novick is the swimming instructor.  She received her teaching   certification from the Wingate Institute of Sports. She previously was a member of the Jerusalem swim team and competed on a national level. Ms. Finkelstein has been teaching swimming for over four years at various pools in the Jerusalem area.



William Saben received his teaching certification from the Wingate Institute of Sports. He has been teaching swimming for over four years at various pools in the Jerusalem area.


Shani Levin Landau is a prek assistant. For several summers she was a camp counselor for young children. Shani worked one year in an elementary school assisting both normal and special needs children.

Rahel Weiner is an assistant in the pre-kindergarten class. She graduated with honors from Kingsborough College with an Associates Degree in Liberal Arts. She completed two years of National Service, the first at The Center for Child Development in Jerusalem where she worked with children with disabilites, and the second in The Gaucher's Disease Clinic in Sha'arei Tzedek Hospital where she worked with the patients.  Rahel's experience also includes working in child care in private settings.


Malka Degani teaches ELL (English Language Learners) and Resource. She has a BA from Thomas Edison State College in N.J. and a MA in special education and early childhood education from Daemen College, Amhurst, N.Y. She has taught general education and special education, as well as worked for the NYS headstart as a Special Ed teacher in an integrated class. Before Mrs. Degani got married and moved to Israel, she spent many hours as a SEIT (special education itinerary teacher) teacher helping children with special needs develop and reach their greatest potential.

Batya Gorman teaches swimming. As a certified and licensed swimming instructor for over ten years, she has coached numerous swim teams including special needs, beginners, intermediate and advanced college level and Olympic level swimmers. Ms. Gorman has taught various Red Cross courses such as American Red Cross American Heart Association firstaide, cpr-pr, and babysitting. She will be competing for the Israeli Swim Team at the World Maccabiah Games in July 2009. Her goal is to compete in the London Olympics in 2012 in the 100 meter women's breastroke event.