Lori is excited to bring the renowned Kesher Afterschool Program to Temple Emanuel and to work with the Religious School on Hebrew learning and curriculum development. Lori joined Kesher Newton in 2017 and served as Executive Director for the past two years. Prior to that, she was Kesher’s Director of Curriculum, Learning, and Inclusion; Hebrew Coordinator; and a teacher. Lori reinvigorated Hebrew proficiency principles at Kesher and moved its Yahadut curriculum to full project-based learning.

Lori has extensive experience coaching teachers as well as developing and creatively implementing Hebrew and Judaic studies curriculum. For 40 years, she has taught children from preschool through 8th grade in day school, supplementary school, camp and tutoring settings. She has a background in Jewish pluralistic settings, including Kesher Newton, the Jewish Community Day School of Greater Boston (JCDS) and Gann Academy. As a teacher and a parent, Lori has worked with children with many different learning styles and is well-versed in differentiated instruction and inclusion protocols. She lived, worked, and raised four children in Israel; two of her daughters and her grandchildren live there still.

Lori holds a Master of Arts in Teaching in Elementary Education with a concentration in Hebrew additional-language instruction from the Delet Program at Brandeis University. She also earned a Master of Social Work degree from Simmons University and a BA from Wesleyan University in Women’s Studies and Religion.

In her spare time, Lori enjoys reading, theater, and spending time with her family and friends.