CJDS Senior Leadership Team
Susan S. – Head of School
Susan has over 25 years of experience as an educator, including more than 23 years in Jewish Day School education and administration. She served at Gross Schechter Day School in Cleveland, Ohio, from 2001-2013, eventually becoming the Interim Head of School. In 2013, she became the Head of School at B’nai Shalom Day School in Greensboro, North Carolina. Susan has developed curricula, managed staffing, and provided visionary leadership. She holds a B.S. in Elementary Education from Indiana University, a Master’s in Education from Notre Dame University, and is a graduate of the Day School Leadership Institute at the Jewish Theological Seminary. She also attended the Harvard Principal’s Program and completed fellowships focused on Jewish Experiential Learning and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In her free time, Susan enjoys spending time with her family, walking with her husband and dog, practicing yoga and Pilates, reading, and cooking.
Kristy K. – Business Manager
Kristy is a passionate leader in Early Childhood Education, bringing nearly two decades of experience to the field. Throughout her career, she has successfully managed childcare centers and inspired teams of committed professionals, always striving for excellence in education. Armed with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies from The Ohio State University and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, Kristy combines her expertise with a strong educational foundation. Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kristy is a devoted wife and mother of two. Kristy enjoys spending time with her family, reading, shopping, and, of course, cheering on her beloved Buckeyes!
Julie M. – Director of Admissions
Julie graduated from the Teaching All Learners program at Indiana University where she learned to implement effective strategies associated with teaching in classrooms with students having a wide range of abilities. She is credentialed with a dual license in elementary and special education. Julie is drawn to the developmental stage of eight- and nine-year-olds, when students are actively transitioning to a more intellectually abstract curriculum. She derives great satisfaction from witnessing the immense strides students take in reading and math at this stage of their education. Julie loves the collaborative atmosphere that permeates CJDS, and was drawn from the very beginning to its warm and welcoming faculty and staff. In her spare time, she enjoys playing golf and traveling. Julie is also a board game devotée, and is convinced that game-playing is a great tool for learning.
Sheri G. – Dean of Academics
Sheri has taught children ages Pre-K through 6th grade over the last three decades. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and was fortunate to be named Educator of the Year by the Columbus Council of Parent-Teacher Associations. Sheri has taught at The Columbus Academy, Wellington School, Columbus Public Schools, and served as the Director of the JCC New Albany Preschool for six years (2012-2018). She has enjoyed leading seminars and supervising student teachers for The Ohio State University. Sheri has proudly spent the last 10 years of her journey as a teacher leader in a Jewish setting. Sheri currently serves as the Director of Admissions and Recruitment and Academic Dean. In her life outside of school, Sheri enjoys spending time with her family. She also loves cooking, interior design, gardening and participating in various volunteer organizations.
Eran R. – Director of Jewish Life and Learning
Eran serves as Director of Jewish Life and Learning, the chair of the Judaic Studies department and teaches Hebrew language and Jewish Studies, grades 4 and 5. Born and raised in Israel, Eran began his professional career as an organizational and occupational psychologist evaluating educational systems and instruction, both in Israel and abroad. A former tank commander in the IDF, Eran is now passionate about being a Jewish Educator in Columbus, and promotes the love of learning with all his soul and all his might. Eran devotes countless hours to offering every one of his students a fully experiential, personally relevant, and intellectually rigorous Jewish education. He has developed numerous creative pedagogical and curricular resources, many of which have been featured in workshops in Columbus and beyond. Eran regularly incorporates creative play into his teaching methods and, accordingly, has amassed an impressive collection of masks and costumes to engage his learners in new and exciting ways all the time. He was awarded the Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education and the Lasday Jewish Educator of the Year Award (2010) and was the recipient of the CJDS Hokhmah award (2023), as the school celebrated its 25th anniversary. Eran is a founding member of the National Association of Teachers of Hebrew and is involved with developing and sharing educational materials across the field of North American Jewish day schooling. Eran is also active in the Jewish life of Columbus, serving on the steering committee of the Partnership Together Program (a program connecting Kfar Saba, Israel, and the Columbus Jewish communities), offering B’nai Mitzvah instruction, chanting Torah at a variety of synagogues, conducting children’s programs, serving and leading on community holiday planning committees, and acting in local community theater. Eran especially enjoys hosting friends in his home for meaningful Shabbat and holiday meals.