Administration

Tom Elieff
Head of School

Tom Elieff began his tenure as Head of School in 2008, following 22 years of independent school leadership. Before coming to BYDS, Mr. Elieff served as Head of School at The Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, a preschool through grade eight community day school. From 2001 to 2005, Mr. Elieff was the Head of Upper School at St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas, and from 1986-2001, Mr. Elieff served several administrative positions at Lake Forest Academy in Illinois, concluding his tenure there as Interim Headmaster. Mr. Elieff holds an undergraduate degree in International Relations and Economics from Brown University and a master’s degree in English from Northwestern University.

Mindy Rosenthal
Elementary School Principal

Mindy Rosenthal has served as Elementary School principal at BYDS since 1998. Mrs. Rosenthal began teaching in BYDS’s 4th grade upon graduating from college and was later promoted to Hillel principal and then preschool principal before advancing to her current position. She earned her masters degree in Private School Administration from University of St. Thomas and her bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Texas.

Riana Sherman
Early Childhood Principal

Riana Sherman joined the teaching staff at Beth Yeshurun Day school in 2008, serving as a first grade teacher and then a Kindergarten teacher. Mrs. Sherman was appointed Director of the Early Childhood summer camp and has continued in that position for three years. Prior to her work at Beth Yeshurun, Mrs. Sherman taught first grade at Stafford Primary and worked as an Activities Coordinator at Congregation Emanu El, planning and implementing family education programs for all grades. Mrs. Sherman recently completed her master’s degree in Administration with a focus on School Leadership from Grand Canyon University and has a bachelor’s of science degree in Human Development and Family Sciences from the University of Texas at Austin.

Sharon Knafo
Judaic Studies Director

Mr. Knafo was born in Israel and grew up in Jerusalem and in the South of Israel. Before attending college, he served in the Israeli Tank Force for three years. Sharon earned his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Bar-Ilan in Sociology, and his Master’s degree in Sociology from Ben-Gurion University , Teaching Diploma from Ben-Gurion University, as well as completed Day School Management and Leadership Studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York. Sharon is currently a doctoral student at the University of Memphis, College of Education.

Sharon spent 11 years in Memphis, Tennessee (at the Solomon Schechter Day School), where he served as the Judaic Studies Principal and as an Assistant Head of School, leading the Hebrew and Judaic department.

Mr. Knafo’s educational philosophy emphasizes the connection between the students and their Jewish heritage through modern learning and experience. Mr. Knafo believes that a Jewish day school can provide excellent Jewish and General studies programs that embrace diversity and use unique and innovative methods that are exceptional and needed in today’s global education. Sharon and his wife Dina moved to Houston in the Summer of 2010 and their children are students at BYDS.

Robyn Burck
Director of Admissions

Robyn Burck joined the teaching staff as the Elementary School computer teacher in 2008. She has been in the field of teaching for eight years. She graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Science and a minor in marketing. She has now advanced to her current position, Director of Admissions.
.
.

Marci Gilbert
Director of Marketing and Advancement

Marci Gilbert came to Beth Yeshurun Day School in Spring 2011 for a newly created position, Director of Marketing and Advancement. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology. After college, she gained five years of marketing experience at a local Dallas magazine, and then in a marketing role at a legal search firm in Houston. At BYDS, she will oversee the fundraising initiatives of the Annual Gala, Annual “All in for BYDS Poker Tournament,” and the Annual Giving Fund.

Cecilia Garfinkel
Business Manager

Cecilia Garfinkel became part of the staff at BYDS in 2003. She graduated from the University of Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a business degree in 1993 and further distinguished herself by becoming a CPA in 1994. Before she moved to Houston, she gained over ten years of progressive experience as an accountant and manager. She worked for various private companies, including retailers, schools and private customers..
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
.