Rodeph Sholom School - UWS Private Jewish Day School

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Jake Elvig

Early Childhood Associate Teacher


Jake is a Kindergarten Associate Teacher who returned to Rodeph Sholom School in 2025 after previously serving as a floater and long-term substitute. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Arts with a minor in Dance from the University of Northern Colorado. Beyond his work at the school, he is an accomplished performer and teaching artist, having worked with Disney Theatrical Group and Queens Theatre on various educational programs. Jake also performs as a principal dancer with Born Dancing and creates his own theatre and dance works across multiple genres, including musical theatre, concert dance, and immersive new works.

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Abby Eshaghpour

Early Childhood Associate Teacher

Abby joined Rodeph Sholom School in 2019 as a leave replacement and has worked as an educator with students who need extra support since 2007. She began supporting students as a volunteer reading tutor in public schools, then worked in New York City private schools as a support teacher and assistant teacher. She has also created and implemented a reading curriculum for the Literacy Division of the Jewish Child Care Association. Abby holds a Bachelor of Science from Duke University and a Master of Arts in Literacy from Bank Street College, and her passion is supporting children in developing their foundational academic skills. Before discovering her passion for education, she had a fifteen-year career in textile design and women’s fashion. Abby still enjoys any kind of art project and has painted several ketubahs.

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Shantelle Facey

Early Childhood Associate Teacher

Shantelle joined Rodeph Sholom School in 2023. She holds a Master of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development and a Bachelor of Arts in English Creative Writing with a minor in Psychology. She is pursuing a Master of Arts in English Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) and will be graduating in 2025! What excites her most about Rodeph Sholom School is being part of a community where she feels right at home with her unique perspective. While Shantelle loves being a social butterfly, she also enjoys quieter moments wrapped in her own chrysalis with a cup of tea and the Sims fired up on her laptop.

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Joseph Fahy

Director of Security

Joseph joined Rodeph Sholom School in 2021. He holds a master’s degree in public administration. What he loves most about Rodeph Sholom School is the community. In his free time, Joseph is a huge sports enthusiast.

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Lydia Federman

Early Childhood Associate Teacher

Meri Fine

Hebrew Head Teacher

Meri Fine joined the Middle School in 2019 after many years teaching and coordinating a highly successful Hebrew program in the Elementary Division at Rodeph Sholom School. She is enthusiastic about curriculum development, has a strong understanding of children, and a joy for teaching Hebrew. Born and raised in the Israeli Kibbutz Givat Haim, Meri earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from The Jerusalem Academy for Music and Dance and a teaching certificate from the Israel Ministry of Education before moving to New York City. Her educational career encompasses diverse experiences, including coordinator of the Mechola-Gilo Dance Center, an elementary school teacher in the Israeli school system, and a counselor for high needs youth in Tel Aviv. Meri is the proud mother of two, and she believes her perspective on raising children in New York City has been a valuable resource in her relationships with and teaching of Rodeph Sholom School students.

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Kaley Finegan

Elementary Art Teacher

Kaley joined Rodeph Sholom School in 2022 after working as an Associate Teacher in the Early Childhood Division and teaching art at the Rodeph Sholom School Summer Camp for two years. Prior to this she spent many years as a working artist and teaching children and adults in art schools. She completed her Master of Arts in Visual Art Education at Hunter College.

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Marc Fried

Chief Financial Officer

Marc joined Rodeph Sholom School in 2003. He holds a Bachelor of Science from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a Master of Business Administration from the Johnson Graduate School of Management at Cornell University. What he loves most about Rodeph Sholom School is the community. Marc is a long-suffering fan of the New York Islanders and the New York Jets. There’s always next year!

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Veronica Garrison

Early Childhood School Nurse

Veronica joined Rodeph Sholom School in 2023 as the school nurse after working in education since 2014. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Barnard College, Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University. Veronica is an experienced Pediatrics/PICU nurse from Brooklyn and an educator at heart, having taught at the elementary school level before transitioning into nursing. She believes education and wellness are closely intertwined—that a wholesome environment where children are cared for physically, intellectually, and spiritually drives creativity and growth. What excites her most about Rodeph Sholom School is serving as a resource for students, staff, and parents within this caring community. In her free time, Veronica loves to cook and host dinner parties, dance, read, and rock climb.

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