Academic Programs

LEISA GLASS 
Director

Leisa Glass comes to us from Sharon, MA where she currently serves as the Director of Early Childhood Education at Temple Israel. She has been in the early childhood field for more than 30 years, teaching for over 25 years, and then 6 years ago joining Hertz Nursery School at Temple Israel. Leisa is passionate about helping children discover their world through creative play, experiential learning, and cooperative work. She feels it is essential to ignite a love of learning and help each child develop a positive sense of self. In her work, she strives to teach the whole child, challenging and inspiring them intellectually, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

SARA COHEN 
Assistant to the Director

Sara grew up in an Orthodox home in Brooklyn, NY. Her parents, one a Holocaust survivor, both immigrants, stressed the importance of Jewish education, strong family units, and hard work. Their devotion to Judaism and its traditions, unwavering and deep-rooted, has guided Sara throughout her life. Sara came to Brotherhood Synagogue with her husband, Stephen, to celebrate their aufruf in 2004. Not long after, with two young children, they became members of the community. Sara studied buying and merchandising at FIT, simultaneously working as a buyer. For the past 25 years, she held various positions both in retail and wholesale markets. Sara hopes to bring her management and customer service skills to her present role. She is excited to be further involved in the Brotherhood community.

NEHAMA McCORMACK
Teacher 

Nehama grew up in  a large family in Jerusalem, Israel. Her family is deep rooted in Jerusalem's history living there for over 5 generations. She moved to a Kibbutz when she was 14 years old and later spent three years as an officer in the Israeli Air Force. Following her time in the Air Force, she moved to New York, where she has lived ever since. Her years teaching children in the Kibbutz inspired her to want to work with children & her Jewish faith guides her in her daily life.

HAYLEY McCULLOCH
Teacher

Hayley has taught preK-12 students of varied abilities in socio-economically diverse communities with the DOE where she designed and implemented a culturally inclusive humanities curricula. In public, private, and charter schools, she has gained a wide knowledge of effective pedagogy based on student centered learning, culminating in 20+ years' experience as an artist and educator. Hayley is a NYCTF recipient, and completed her MS in Education at CUNY’s CCNY, and received a BA in Studio Art at Hunter College, with a minor in Creative Writing.

LEAH WEISS
Teacher

Growing up in South Florida, Leah’s first professional experience was as an assistant teacher for many years at the JCC Preschool she had attended when she was younger. Leah then moved to New York City and accepted a role as an assistant teacher at the Rockefeller University Child and Family Center that she held for over five years working primarily with 2 and 3-year-olds. Leah has always enjoyed working with children and being involved in the Jewish community and is thrilled to be blending both of those passions together as a teacher at Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School. Outside of teaching, Leah is proud to serve as a board member for Jewish Women International’s Young Women’s Impact Network. Her hobbies include exercising, adventurous eating, being in the presence of dogs, and spending time with friends and family. Leah holds a BA in Jewish Studies from the University of Florida and has completed graduate coursework in Special Education through Penn State University.

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NAOKO MORIYAMA-ROBBINS
Movement

Naoko was born and raised in Hiroshima, Japan. After arriving in the United States in 1988 she established the Japanese parenting and nursery school program for Japanese-American children at the Educational Alliance. At the same time, she established her Creative Movement and Ballet at Peridance. Now she teaches at several venues including the 92nd Street Y, Park Avenue Synagogue, and Peridance. Naoko is also a master trainer and owner of Gyrotonic® on Broadway.

JUDY BLUMENTHAL 
Interim Director

Judy has worked in the Early Childhood field for fourteen years and couldn’t imagine working in any other profession. She has expertise in working in Reggio classrooms and schools and finds that the ultimate way to inspire children’s learning is to open them up to the inspiration of their environment. Judy is delighted to join the Brotherhood Community and looks forward to starting the school year with us.

RIVKI DIAMONT
Teacher 

Rivki began teaching preschool in Center City, Philadelphia, after studying in a girls' teaching program in Jerusalem. She moved to New York in 2007 and resides in Brooklyn with her husband, Yossi, and their four wonderful children, Mendel, Henna, Dovid, and Ari. Rivki went to Touro College where she earned her B.A. in Liberal Arts (concentrating in psychology, early childhood, and special education) and later received an M.A. in special education. No stranger to the Brotherhood Synagogue Nursery School, Rivki has worked here since 2007. For her first three years, Rivki worked as Director's assistant, after which she started teaching in the Yellow Room. 

ANNABELLE MARTIN
Teacher

Annabelle was born and raised in NYC. She attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she received her BA in Sociology and certificate in Social Work.  Upon graduating, she spent time abroad working with children ages 4-17. Annabelle returned to New York in 2017 and has been teaching children ages 2-4 since. She earned her MA from Bank Street College of Education in Infant and Family Development and Early Intervention. Annabelle is thrilled to be back teaching at Brotherhood Nursery School. 

SAMMI STRAHL
Child Therapist

Sammi Strahl, LCSW, is a clinical child therapist who has developed expertise working with young children through a social-emotional and play-focused lens. As the founder of BeHive Therapy, a private practice in NYC, Sammi offers personalized in-home and at-school therapy services to kids ages 2-10, tailored to meet each child's unique needs. From play therapy to facilitated social groups and 1:1 social skill-building sessions, Sammi creates opportunities for kids to learn and grow in a safe, structured, and fun environment.

JILLIAN ZUCKERMAN  
Teacher

Jillian was born and raised in New York City. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Studies and a certificate in Rehabilitation Psychology. Post undergrad, Jillian accepted a teaching position at a local preschool in Madison and upon her return to New York City taught briefly at the JCC Turning Two’s program. Jillian started teaching at Brotherhood Nursery School in 2022, while also attending Graduate School at Hunter College. During the Spring of 2024, she earned a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Jillian’s free time is usually spent taking yoga classes, trying new NYC restaurants, and walking around the West Village. Jillian is entering her third year in the Red Room.