Social Studies Department - Faculty List

Mrs. Tamar Appel, Assistant Principal, has brought her passion for teaching to Ma'ayanot since 2004, when she became a teacher of Hebrew, American History, and Jewish History at the school.  She has served as Chairperson of the History, Jewish History, and Jewish Philosophy Departments, and she designed the school's Modern Jewish History curriculum.  She also administers the Tikvah High School Scholars program, an advanced course of study for select seniors, at Ma'ayanot. Mrs. Appel has a B.A. and an M.A. in History from the University of Pennsylvania, where she also completed her coursework toward a Ph.D. and won the Penn Prize for Excellence in Graduate Student Teaching.  She is committed not only to guiding students toward intellectual development, but also to helping them find their own personal paths as young Jewish women.
 

Mr. Alan Deaett teaches American History, World History and American Government at Ma’ayanot. He is also the adviser to the Stock Market Game. Mr. Deaett earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Amherst College. He also received a Master’s Degree in Social Science from William Paterson University. Mr. Deaett taught history at Glen Rock High School for forty-five years, where he served as Social Studies Department Chair. He earned New Jersey Governor’s Awards as Teacher of the Year in 1992 and 1996. He was also chosen as Social Studies Supervisor of the Year in 1987 by the New Jersey Council for Social Studies, and was chosen Teacher of the Year by the Glen Rock Educational Association in 1992. Mr. Deaett coached football at Glen Rock High School for over forty years, winning nine state championships. He has been named Coach of the Year by the National Foundation Hall of Fame (1988), Ridgewood News (1996 and 1998), New York Jets (1997) and the New York Giants (2003). Coach Deaett was inducted into the Football Coaches Hall of Fame in 2003 by the New Jersey Coaches Association.

Mr. David Lesser has been teaching Social Studies at Ma’ayanot since its inception, prior to which he was a teacher in the New York City public schools for thirty-five years. Mr. Lesser was Director of the Legal Studies Center and then History Department Chair at Truman High School in the Bronx. He has taught many subjects on all grade levels, including college and graduate studies in education, but his specialty is high school Social Studies. At Ma’ayanot, he has taught Ancient and European History, American Government, and is the originator of the Decades elective. He also serves as the Attendance Coordinator. Among Mr. Lesser’s awards are Teacher of the Year in Bronx County and the New York State Bar Association’s Law Youth Committee Distinguished Service Award.

Mr. Yaakov Samuels teaches ninth and tenth grade History at Ma’ayanot. He also serves as the adviser for Model U.N. and the coach for the Debate Team. Mr. Samuels received his B.A. in History from Rutgers University, and then went on to pursue graduate studies in education at New Jersey City University, earning his K-12 State Teacher Certification and designation as a “Highly Qualified Teacher of Social Studies.” He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership at Fairleigh Dickinson University. Previously, Mr. Samuels taught Middle School Social Studies within the yeshiva day school system, as well as Jewish History to high school students in various Hebrew schools. He enjoys incorporating technology into his lessons.