Administration Department - Faculty List

Mrs. Rookie Billet, Principal, has earned a reputation as an inspirational teacher, a beloved high school administrator, an eloquent public speaker and educator, and an insightful community leader. In over three decades of involvement in formal and informal Jewish education, Mrs. Billet is known to her students and colleagues as a wise, caring mehanekhet, and a strong, devoted leader and mentor. Her classroom experience includes teaching courses in Tanakh, Jewish Thought, Halakha, Hebrew Language and Literature, and Algebra at the high school level, and a medley of sociology courses at the college level. She holds a B.A. from Brooklyn College, Phi Beta Kappa; a B.Ed. and Hebrew Teacher’s Diploma from Yeshiva University; and an M.A. from the NYU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. She studied in the Israeli program at Michlalah and was a fellow in the Senior Educators Program at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. Prior to her tenure at Ma’ayanot, Mrs. Billet served as Assistant Principal at Stella K. Abraham and Yeshiva University High Schools.

Mrs. Rachel Feldman, Administrator, received her B.A. in English Communications from Stern College for Women, and also studied at B’not Torah Institute, Jerusalem

Ms. Elana Flaumenhaft, Assistant Principal, has been a teacher of Tanakh for over a decade at Ma’ayanot, and also serves as Director of Student Activities. Ms. Flaumenhaft is an honors graduate of Stern College for Women, and also holds a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School. She is presently completing her Master’s Degree in Bible at the Bernard Revel Graduate School, and is working on a Doctorate in Educational Administration from Azrieli. Ms. Flaumenhaft is a recipient of the prestigious Grinspoon-Steinhardt Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Known affectionately as “Ms. F.” by her students, her passion is evident every day in the classroom, where she engages the minds of her students, challenges them to develop critical thinking skills, and shares her love of learning Torah. Through student activities, Ms. F. brings our Rosh Hodesh programming and Shabbatonim to life, and infuses our many special programs and school trips with her special ruach.

Mrs. Evelyn Gross, Associate Principal, acts as Director of the Guidance Team, teaches A.P. Psychology, is involved in creative programming for the mehankhot, and uses her counseling skills wherever they are needed. A warm, innovative, insightful team player, Mrs. Gross is completing a thesis toward her doctorate in school and clinical child psychology. Previously, she served as a psychologist and as a member of the administrative team at the Yeshiva of Flatbush Middle Division for seven years. She also holds a Master’s Degree and Advanced Certificate in School Psychology, as well as an Advanced Certificate in School Administration and Supervision

Mrs. Rivka Kahan, Assistant Principal, teaches Tanakh and Talmud at Ma’ayanot. She holds an M.A. in Bible from Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University, and Certification in Talmud and Jewish Law from the Drisha Scholars Circle. She also studied at Nishmatin Jerusalem and has a B.A. from Barnard College.  Mrs. Kahan is Tanakh Chair, coordinates our Halakha curriculum, and is involved in all aspects of administration, including professional development, recruitment, and academic planning. Mrs. Kahan will be the Principal of Ma’ayanot beginning in September 2010. 

Mrs. Ruth Wang Birnbaum, Associate Principal, is in charge of academic life and is a master teacher of English Language, Literature, and Writing who came to Ma’ayanot after twenty years of contributing to every aspect of academic and social life at Shulamith High School. A dynamic, creative, student-centered professional, Mrs. Birnbaum earned a Master’s Degree from CUNY, and is an A.B.D. in English Education at New York University. She also holds a New York State Principal’s Certificate in School Administration and Supervision. Mrs. Birnbaum has been recognized as New York State Council of Education Teacher of the Year. She is a former member of the Board of Education at ASHAR and served as its chairman for the 2004 and 2005 academic years.