Faculty Profiles
Our teachers bring a broad range of education and experience to the classroom. All members of the faculty are accredited and attend ongoing training workshops. In addition to classroom teachers, the school employs academic enrichment instructors for specialized subjects.
- Emily Zappa- Administration
- Jenifer Civalier- K/1st
- Lindi Samakosky- 3rd/4th
- Leah Zilberman- 5th/6th
- Janet Weiss- Art
- Rod Holmes- P.E.
- Schterni Dietch- Judaics
- J. Scholar- Hebrew
- Interlingua- Spanish
Emily Zappa: Day School Administrator / Choir Teacher
The EVJCC has always been a second home to me. I have been involved with the JCC since I was eight years old—first as a camper, a junior counselor, a counselor, and for the past seven years, a day school teacher. My husband, Derek, and I are so happy to have our son Jackson and daughter Maya, attend the JCC as well.
I received a bachelor of science from the Northern Arizona University. My major was early childhood education with an emphasis in early childhood development.
My teaching career began at a private school in Paradise Valley called Tesseract. I came to teach at the JCC in the year 2001. Each year I've rotated teaching 2/3 grade combos and 3/4 combos.
Before majoring in education, I majored in vocal performance. I've always had a love of music and jumped at the opportunity to begin a choir at the Day School. I think music education is a very important subject for every child to receive.
Email:
Jenifer Civalier: Kindergarten / 1st grade
Jenifer Civalier holds a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University as well as a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Phoenix. Recently she became a new mom and although she has been enjoying all of the time spent with her son, she enjoys helping students' reach their academic and developmental goals.
Jenifer was born in New York and has lived in Southern California as well. She started student teaching in first grade at the Awakening Seed five years ago and has also taught first and second grades in the public school system in Phoenix. Jenifer is married and lives right here in Chandler. This is Jenifer's second year with the Day School.
Email:
Lindi Samakosky-Wach: 3rd - 4th grade
At the age of seven, I immigrated to the US from Cape Town, South Africa. Growing up in a Jewish household where the Jewish traditions were always celebrated, and attending Jewish Day Schools in Virginia Beach and San Diego, has instilled in me the culture and values of Judaism. I have always been encompassed in a Jewish lifestyle and will one day continue with my own family.
After graduating from the University of Arizona with a Bachelors of Arts in Elementary Education, as well as a minor in Judaic Studies, the decision to teach at the EVJCC was easy. Being able to work in a Jewish environment is very important to me. Although my immediate family lives in San Diego, I love that for the past six years I have come to work every day with a sense of comfort, community, and family.
Email:
Leah Zilberman: 5th - 6th grade
Leah is an Arizona native that originally hails from Tucson. Upon completion of her Bachelors degree in Elementary Education at Northern Arizona University she got married, moved to the East Valley and began teaching. She spent four years teaching in the Queen Creek School District and then moved across town to teach in the Washington School District at Sunnyslope Elementary School. She took time off to stay home with children, Max and Adam both of whom attend the EVJCC Day School.
She has been at the EVJCC first as a parent and then as part of the teaching staff since 2002. She has taught Kindergarten and second grade at the JCC but has taught every grade level K-5 at least once in her teaching career. Leah is thrilled to be back on the Day School staff and is looking forward to working with the 5th and 6th graders this year.Email:
Janet Weiss: Art
Originally from Iowa, I have a B.A. from Iowa State University in Art Education. My area of speciality is Ceramics and 3-D design. I moved to Arizona with my husband 23 years ago so that makes me practically a native, and we have two sons. I first came to to JCC 19 years ago as a parent to register my then two year old son in the Pre-School and never left.
I started teaching Pre-School here about 16 years ago and loved every minute of it. But, when the EVJCC Day School opened their doors, I was thrilled when they asked me to teach Art. So now I do both.
I love to teach Art because it provides an opportunity to augment creative expression, self discovery, and self esteem. What other subject can you teach where there are no "wrong answers"?
Email:
Rod Holmes: P.E.
Bio coming soonSchterni Dietch- Judaics
Bio coming soon