Leadership

Dr. Erica Rothblum has served as the Head of School at Pressman Academy since 2014. She received her Ed.D. in Educational Leadership from UCLA, she holds an MA degree in Teaching from Loyola Marymount, a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a Bachelor of Arts in American Studies from Barnard College. Prior to working at Pressman Academy, Erica was a Teach for America Corps Member; taught in both the suburbs of Boston as well as at Camino Nuevo Charter School in Los Angeles; and worked as the Director of General Studies and then as the Head of School at Beth Hillel Day School in Los Angeles. In addition to her full-time commitments in schools, Erica has served as a peer coach, lead teacher, grade level chair, mentor teacher and as a teaching supervisor at the American Jewish University. And her proudest role is as the mom to three — Maya (Class of 2024), Jack (Class of 2028) and Nomi (class of 2030). She is thrilled to be at Pressman Academy, where excellent academics and a commitment to Jewish values merge to create the future generations of leadership.

e-mail: erothblum@pressmanacademy.org

Angie has been an Early Childhood Director for 32 years and has been pursuing a MA degree in Early Childhood Education (as a lifelong learner it is taking her that long). Over the years Angie has brought many new and innovative programs to our school including Outdoor Classroom Project, Hebrew Immersion, A physical education program called Exerskills, STEAM, Yoga and meditation for teachers and kids, Conscious Discipline, a staff book club, and our incredible Music, Movement, and Masterpieces program for parents and toddlers. She has presented at several professional conferences including the NAEYC (National Association for the Education of Young Children). Angie served two terms as President of the Early Childhood Directors Network for the BJE (Builders of Jewish Education) and currently sits on the leadership team for the network. Angie’s time at Pressman has been filled with growth, play, and love; she considers it a blessing to be part of the Pressman school family.

e-mail: abass@pressmanacademy.org

Shara Peters received her BA in Modern Jewish Studies from CSU Long Beach, her teaching credential through the DeLeT program at Hebrew Union College, and her MA in teaching from American Jewish University. She is also an alumna of the Day School Leadership Training Institute through the Jewish Theological Seminary. In 2019, Shara was recognized as a Pomegranate Prize winner, a prestigious award given to Jewish educators from The Covenant Foundation in recognition of their exceptionalism as emerging professionals in Jewish educational settings across the country. Prior to joining the Pressman team, Shara served as Head of School at Adat Ari El Day School and has also taught at Sinai Akiba Academy, Tarbut v’Torah, and Heschel Day School. Shara is passionate about curriculum and loves looking for opportunities to integrate Project-Based Learning and Design Thinking into Jewish day school education. She is thrilled to be a part of the Pressman community.

e-mail: speters@pressmanacademy.org

Yonatan earned his B.A. in Jewish Philosophy and Cognitive Science from Hebrew University, an M.A. in Jewish Education from Hebrew University, and MBA from California State University in Northridge. In addition, he holds teaching certifications in Jewish Philosophy and Hebrew Language. In 2013, Yonatan was recognized as a Pomegranate Prize winner, a prestigious award given to Jewish educators from The Covenant Foundation in recognition of their exceptionalism as emerging professionals in Jewish educational settings across the country. Prior to working at Pressman Academy, Yonatan served as the Co-Director of Jewish Life at de Toledo High School and taught Judaic studies, leadership, and Israel curriculum for the past 10 years. Yonatan and his wife are the proud parents of three children- one current Pressman student, and two alumni! 

e-mail: yrosner@pressmanacademy.org

Inez received her Bachelor of Education degree from the Johannesburg College of Education, South Africa and her Masters in Marriage and Family Therapy from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena.  She taught in the elementary school for 10 years and then in the middle school as a Counselor and Life Skills teacher. She was the Middle School Principal for five years and has moved into a new position of Director of Wellness. She is a recipient of the Milken Educator Award and a certified Council trainer. As a collector of stories, Inez loves listening to stories of resilience as students, parents and teachers journey through these school years.  One of her favorite mottos in life is from Maya Angelou: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”

e-mail: itiger@pressmanacademy.org

Rabbi T. graduated from the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill with Honors and Distinction in History with a focus on African-American and Jewish-American History, writing his Honors Thesis on the relationship between African Americans and Jewish Americans. He received his MA in Elementary Education from Columbia University. He studied in numerous Yeshivot before receiving Smikha while studying with Chabad and Rabbi Sholom Rodal and Rabbi Daniel Channen. He received his Ed.D in Jewish Education from Gratz College with High Honors while receiving the L. Bernard Rabinowitz Memorial Award.  His focus was on the role Judaism and spirituality play in helping recovering addicts. Chaim is a certified EMT, has his Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential for grades TK-12th and has a 4th degree Black Belt in Hap Ki Do, Tae Kwon Do, and Ho Shin Moo Do. He was named on the Mensch List from the Jewish Journal. He is grateful for the opportunity to teach Torah every day.

e-mail: ctureff@pressmanacademy.org

Sarah received a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Media Studies from the University of California at Berkeley and went on to earn her California State Teaching Credential from DeLeT (Day School Leadership Through Teaching) at Hebrew Union College, Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles.  Since beginning her work at Pressman Academy in 2008, Sarah has had the opportunity to work with many different grade levels and subjects from 2nd-grade general studies to middle school math to her current role as the Director of Operations. Sarah grew up in Los Angeles, attending Adat Ari El, a school much like Pressman Academy, from Kindergarten through 5th grade.  This experience instilled in her a love of Jewish learning and a feeling of comfort when surrounded by a warm Jewish community. The genuine camaraderie at Pressman Academy makes it feel like home.

e-mail: stannenbaum@pressmanacademy.org

Erica received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN with a degree in English and Mass Communication.  Erica hails from a long line of educators and spent her first three years post-grad working for a non-profit Theatre Education company before returning to school to get her Master of Science degree in Educational Technology. Following graduation, Erica worked as a technology aid in Minnesota, consulted with various private schools as a technology consultant and spent a brief stint at CalTech in Pasadena before coming to Pressman Academy in September 2013.  Erica loves coming to work every day and has not given up hope that by surrounding herself with so many native-speaking Hebrew teachers she will still be able to learn another language!

e-mail: ehuls@pressmanacademy.org

Deenie graduated from Barnard College with a degree in History and Creative Writing and studied twentieth century American Jewish History at NYU as a Wexner Graduate Fellow. Before joining Pressman, Deenie spent nearly a decade in senior leadership roles at non-profits in the education sector where she specialized in fundraising, message development, campaign communications, and strategic planning. She was a co-founder at 50CAN: The 50-State Campaign for Achievement Now and also worked with Students Matter, the non-profit behind the landmark education lawsuit Vergara v. California. When she’s not working to sustain and amplify Pressman Academy, Deenie loves spending time with her husband and three children, interior design, cooking, politics, and television.

e-mail: dsilberstein@pressmanacademy.org