Administration
Rabbi Perry Tirschwell was raised in a passionately Zionist home. His Jewish day school journey began as a transfer student from public school in ninth grade. After studying at Yeshivat Har Etzion and graduating from Yeshiva University, he earned his smicha (ordination) at RIETS and a Masters in School Leadership and Supervision from the Graduate School of Education of the College of New Rochelle.
After serving a number of years as a Judaic studies classroom teacher, RPT (as he is known by his students) subsequently served in the positions of Department Chair, Director of Judaic Studies and Assistant Principal, teaching throughout. Rabbi Tirschwell was then given the unique opportunity to create and head the first Jewish high school between Miami and Atlanta- the Katz (formerly Weinbaum) Yeshiva High School in Boca Raton.
In his spare time, Rabbi Tirschwell organizes the Torah Educators Network, which brings together leaders of Jewish day schools from throughout North America to share best practices and innovative ideas. Rabbi Tirschwell’s wife Miriam is a speech therapist in public schools, they live in Palo Alto and are the proud parents of five daughters, four sons in law, and a growing number of grandchildren.
Hilary Andaya comes to SPHDS with over fifteen years of experience in education in public, private religious, private secular, and international schools. As a classroom teacher, she taught grades 2-5, with the bulk of her years spent in 4th and 5th Grade. She loves helping grow students' sense of independence and confidence. As a school leader, Hilary is excited to be part of SPHDS' growth in all ways. With the school's three distinct departments: General Studies, Judaics, and Hebrew, there is a tremendous opportunity to integrate material and collaborate to make the learning even more engaging. In addition, with the added layer of social-emotional learning and modeling, SPHDS students and teachers are fostering a rich and nurturing environment that will produce well-rounded, confident, and kind students.
Hilary is originally from Stockton, California in the Central San Joaquin Valley. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of San Diego, a master's degree from the University of the Pacific, and holds both a California Teaching Credential as well as a California Administrative Services Credential. She's excited to be back in the Bay Area after teaching in Hong Kong, New York, and Hawaii over the last few years. When Hilary has down time, she enjoys good food with good friends, and a good book.
Lily is a passionate educator with over two decades of experience in early childhood education. Her journey began in Lima, Peru, where she taught dance and creative movement to young children. It was during this time that she discovered my love for working with them and fostering their creativity. Her background in philosophy and the arts has deeply influenced her approach to education, shaping her belief in the importance of critical thinking, self-expression, and exploration.
After moving to the United States, she pursued formal studies in early childhood education, earning a Studio Art and Early Childhood Education certificate from Montgomery College in Maryland. For the past 16 years, she has had the privilege of working at the Google Children's Centers, where she wore many hats – from studio art teacher and curriculum specialist to site director.
Lily leads workshops at conferences on topics such as curriculum design, professional development, and the importance of adult learning in early childhood education. She’s a strong advocate for the Reggio Emilia approach, which has deeply influenced her educational philosophy.