Meet Our Faculty and Staff:
Dr. Roberta Louis Goodman, RJE, is in her first year as Education Director at NSCI. She earned her Masters in Jewish Education from Hebrew Union College’s (HUC) Rhea Hirsch School of Education and a Doctorate in Adult Education from Teachers College/Columbia University. She serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of Jewish Education for Siegal College of Judaic Studies in Cleveland. Roberta has worked in Jewish education for over 25 years in a wide variety of roles and organizations including as a consultant. Her publications include curricular materials for students and teachers, research, and articles in the areas of faith development and spirituality, evaluation, adult education, Jewish educational personnel, grant writing, and early childhood education. She is a past president of NATE (National Association of Temple Educators), past chair of the HUC Alumni Association, and served on the URJ and HUC Boards of Directors. Roberta is a product of NSCI’s religious school and TYG and OSRUI. She lives in Glencoe with her husband, Bob and two children, Shoshana and Evan.
Tamar Berman has worked as an educator for the past nine years. She holds a PhD in music from Northwestern University, a B.Sc. in Information Systems and a Masters in Business Administration, both from the Technion, Israel Institute of Technology. Tamar performs as a vocalist, has published research papers in the fields of music and technology, and has taught classes in music, technology, business and Hebrew. She lives in Highland Park with her husband Gidon and two children, Roy (9) and Adi (5.5). This is her fourth year in Jewish Education and first year at North Shore Congregation Israel.
Perri Courtheoux is a trained teacher and reading specialist. Born in Connecticut, she is a graduate of The Loomis Chaffee School in Windsor, Connecticut, has a B.A. in English and French from Connecticut College in New London, CT and a Masters in Education from Duke University in Durham, N.C. She has taught at St. Mary's Country Day School in N.C., The Harris School in Chicago and The University of Chicago Laboratoy School in Chicago. She also supervised student teachers in the MST program at the University of Chicago. When her older daughter was born, she decided to work part-time and began teaching religious school. She taught at K.A.M. Isaiah Israel in Hyde Park and here at NSCI for the past 22 years. She and her husband, Rick, are Temple members and they volunteer as Deans of the faculty of Karav, an outstanding youth program at N.S.C.I. They have 2 daughters who grew up in Glencoe, were educated and confirmed at this Temple and were leaders in our youth program.
Beverley Freedman has a BA in Educaiton and is accredited for grades K-3. She has taught in other Northh Shore Synagogues as we as North Shore Congregation Israel. She has taught in the Chicago Public and Dayton, OH, Public school systems as well as mentoring first year teachers. She has taught 3 and 4 year olds in the Glencoe Park District Pre-school for many years. She and her husband were staff members on KARAV whish is a special NSCI program for high school students. All her children were active in teh Temple Youth Group. Her sons and daughters had their B'nai Mitzvah and were confirmed at NSCI. Lynn Friend - Art, Individualized Instruction Teacher
Lynn Friend has an MSW from Loyola University and a BS elementary education from University of Illinois. She has been teaching for 30 years everything from art to Hebrew to Jewish studies. Lynn developed this individualized class to meet the needs of any student who is in need of a more individualized approach to learning.
Individualized instruction is offered in both Hebrew and Jewish Studies. Students use this setting for many reasons, some to catch up on missed work, some to provide a small group setting, some to address learning issues and some to address advanced learning. Students learn in a resource room type setting. Each student has their own goals covering all major prayers and Jewish study topics. Instruction is with small groups, one-on-one instruction, computer programs and learning games. We strive to provide a multi sensory approach to learning. High School Machonicks help teach in the classroom providing instruction and excellent role models. Mrs Friend has both an education and social work background. 
I’m Dena Gilman and I am very excited to be back at NSCI this year. In the past I have been a student, a machonik, youth group president and a teacher as well. I recently lead the 8th graders in Mitzvah Corps at NSCI. I am excited to be back with the age I love 5 & 6 year olds. For the past 3 years I taught kindergarten on the Northwest side of Chicago. My teaching belief for 5/6 year olds is to have fun and be creative. I currently live in Highland Park with my fiancé and rescue pup, Frannie. Aside from babysitting and planning a wedding I have been active in the set-up of a new dog rescue on the northside of Chicago. 
Mrs. Glimer has been teaching for four decades after receiving a Bachelors Degree
in Education from Roosevelt University. Her beginning years were in
the inner city schools of Chicago which today she considers an invaluable
experience both educationally and socially. She then branched out into Jewish Education which she considers her true love and was the assistant director to
a Sunday school for children from the former Soviet Union. She later
received a Masters Degree in Curriculum Development from National Louis University. She has attended a women's college in Jerusalem
every summer for the past seventeen years. She lives in Skokie with her
husband, visits her two granddaughters in Brooklyn and dog sits for
her daughter who is a veterinarian in Chicago.
Orit Gordon teaches 5th grade Hebrew classes. 
Betty Hainsfurther has been involved in education for more than 30 years, and this is her 15th year teaching at NSCI. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Betty earned her Bachelors of Science in Education and Dental Hygiene degrees from The Ohio State University. She also holds a Masters in Public Health from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Masters of Arts in Teaching from National Louis University. In addition to her long-time commitment to Jewish Education, Betty also continues to be active in many Jewish community volunteer activities. Betty and her husband, Tripp, have been members of NSCI for 25 years. They live in Highland Park and have two children, Sara and Adam, who are products of the NSCI religious education programs. 
Arlene Horwitz teaches Judaica classes in 4th and 6th grade.
Leslie Hyman has been a music teacher and member of N.S.C.I. for the past 33 years. She went to Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and majored in music ed, and has taken several courses in Jewish music through the Board of Jewish Education (now CFJE), including one taught by noted Reform movement composer Jeff Klepper. She has served on the N.S.C.I. sisterhood executive board, and her husband, Michael, has served on N.S.C.I.’s executive board. She has a daughter and a son who were confirmed at NSCI. Her daughter and son-in-law have one son (Leslie’s first wonderful grandson), and Leslie’s son is currently in medical school.
Paul Kerman teaches 7th grade students. Judy Kleiman teaches Kindergarten - 1st grade students.
Sandra Kuzis teaches Judaica in Kindergarten - 1st grade, and Hebrew in 4th grade. 
Marla teaches 3rd grade Judaica classes. 
Patty Mason is the Family Educator at North Shore Congregation Israel. For the past 10 years, she has planned and implemented new programs for every grade level. She is a graduate of Beloit College and the Hebrew Union College Jewish Institute of Religion with a Masters degree in Jewish Education. While living in Buffalo, Patty was the Program Director at Hillel of Buffalo and an Adjunct Lecturer in Jewish Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She was the Principal of the High School of Jewish Studies for five years and the Executive Director of the Bureau of Jewish Education for one year before moving to NSCI. Patty is the wife of Rabbi Steven Mason , mother of two married children, Michael and Rabbi Sara Mason-Barkin, Danny, and grandmother of Zachy! 
Rosalie Novick teaches Judaica classes in 4th grade and Hebrew in 6th grade. 
Buddy Schreiber does Hebrew Help in primarily in 7th grade. 
Maureen teaches 4th grade on Sundays and Hebrew and Judaica to 6th grade students during the week.Renee Stern - Individualized Instruction Teacher
Renee Stern has a double Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Illinois in elementary education K-9 and special education K-12. She is certified in learning disabilities for K-12 levels. She has an extensive Hebrew background having attended Jewish day schools and spent one year of her college career studying Hebrew in Israel. She is an experienced teacher having taught intermittently for the last 25 years and most recently for the past four years at North Shore Congregation Israel.
Individualized instruction is offered in both Hebrew and Jewish Studies. Students use this setting for many reasons, some to catch up on missed work, some to provide a small group setting, some to address learning issues and some to address advanced learning. Students learn in a resource room type setting. Each student has their own goals covering all major prayers and Jewish study topics. Instruction is with small groups, one-on-one instruction, computer programs and learning games. We strive to provide a multi sensory approach to learning. High School Machonicks help teach in the classroom providing instruction and excellent role models. Mrs Stern has a background in special education.
Born and bred in Chicago, Ronna went east for her higher education. She received a B.A. in literature from Yeshiva University and an M.A. in English literature from New York University. Ronna and her husband, David, returned to Chicago to raise their two daughters, Leora and Avigail, and start a business, David Weinstock Co., now named Midstates Wholesale. Ronna has been active in the field of education all her life. When her children were young, Ronna was a substitute teacher. Later on, Ronna began teaching NSCI seventh graders for Alan Levin, Rabbi Judy Spicehandler and now, Dr. Goodman. For many years, Ronna worked for JCC’s of Chicago as the Judaic Director of the JCC’s Shalom Sunday program for children from families from the former Soviet Union. Ronna also worked as a Jewish Educator in the JCC’s Pritzker Center for Jewish Education. Her work included training staff, writing articles of Jewish interest and helping to shape programs. Currently, Ronna works during daytime hours at Options for College Success (OCS) in Evanston, giving academic support to college students with special needs. Ronna’s most important career, however, is being a proud bubbie to seven grandchildren: Ami, Ariel, Yakira, Nava, Gavriel, Ella and Micah.
Judy Weiss has been involved in Jewish education for all of her professional life. She has taught Hebrew language and Judaica to both children and adults. Judy has been at NSCI since 1995, originally in the capacity of Hebrew Coordinator of the Religious School and now as Assistant Director of Education. She has a master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and completed the Master Teachers Program from the Board of Jewish Education. She also served as a mentor for interns, new teachers, and collegial partners. Judy is involved in all aspects of the Religious School at North Shore. She facilitates the Bar/Bat Mitzvah Program including student preparation and family education. She also teaches in the adult education program offered at the synagogue. Judy is married to Rabbi David Weiss, a hospice chaplain for Passages Hospice. They have three married sons and seven grandchildren.