Our people
Meet the people who guide academic learning, Jewish life, and the day-to-day experience of school.
School leadership
Head of School
Rabbi Dov Dukhovny, a San Francisco native, studied at the yeshivos of the Mir (Brooklyn), R. Zvi Kaplan, and Beth Medrash Govoha, and has a BA in mathematics from Rutgers-New Brunswick. He moved to Palo Alto in 2017 to join the Jewish Study Network, and opened The Shalem School in the fall of 2020. He took the position of Interim Head of School this summer.
K–8 Principal
Hilary is originally from California’s Central Valley, and spent the last 20+ years teaching and/or leading in public, secular independent, religious private, and international schools. Hilary earned her BA from the University of San Diego and her M.Ed. from the University of the Pacific. She holds a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a California Administrative Services Credential.
Early Childhood & Family Center Director
Yana Tiv brings over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience to her role as Preschool Director. With an extensive background in special education, a California Site Supervisor credential, and master’s degrees in Education Management and Jewish Early Childhood Education, she leads with a deep commitment to student empowerment and family partnership.
Assistant Principal
Lori Meyers brings a background in classroom teaching, curriculum design, mentorship, and school leadership to her role as Assistant Principal of Teaching and Learning. Before entering education, Lori spent many years in high tech as a writer and trainer, leaving the corporate world to follow her passion for teaching. Lori holds a Master of Education from Touro University, a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, and a Bachelor of Arts in English from UC Berkeley.
Judaics Department Chair
Sarah Felsen grew up in the Bay Area, and has lived in New York and Israel. She received her master’s degree in Reading Disabilities from Teachers College at Columbia University. She has taught first grade at SPHDS for 21 years, and has also taught Middle School Judaics.
Hebrew Department Chair
Michal Kopelman was born and raised in Israel, where she developed a deep passion for education. There, she taught high school students and managed the 10th-grade division. Over 20 years ago, she moved with her family to California and began teaching Hebrew at SPHDS. Her role has evolved over the years; she now teaches Hebrew in middle school and also manages the Hebrew department, collaborating with her colleagues to enhance our curriculum and support student learning.
Middle School Lead
Wendy Gibb is an educator in her 28th year of teaching. She has been a science instructor to students ages 8 through 13, and has also been a teacher mentor to both beginning and advanced teachers throughout her career. Her favorite subject to teach is any biology-related science.
Director of Student Services
Mindy Cramer’s connection to SPHDS began in 1993, when her oldest child started preschool in Room 1. All four of her children are preschool graduates, and three attended through 8th grade. She later taught ELL and fourth grade at the school. As Director of Student Services, Mindy shares her passion for how the brain learns to read with students, parents, and staff. She is trained in Orton-Gillingham, Slingerland, Multi-Sensory Math, and EBLI, and holds a degree in Economics from Brandeis University. For Mindy, SPHDS is not only where she works but where her heart lives. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
Admissions Director
Tamar Halliva is the Director of Admissions at SPHDS, where she has been part of the staff since 2024. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Accounting from Bar-Ilan University and has professional experience in financial auditing and claims processing for a government agency in Israel. Tamar moved from Israel to the Bay Area in 2023. She is also a proud SPHDS parent of current students and a graduate.
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