Choose a Panel to Learn About our Panelists
Welcoming Remarks
Speakers:
Dr. Dalia Hochman
Dr. Dalia Hochman is Gann’s third Head of School. She began her career as a high school history teacher, school administrator, and school district leader, working on innovative high school models. Between 2010-2015, Dr. Hochman served as the Senior Program Officer for Next Generation Learning Challenges, a $20 Million dollar grant program funded by the Gates Foundation, where she funded and visited dozens of promising high schools across the United States. A graduate of Yale University (BA) and Columbia University, (PhD), Dr. Hochman has also studied at the Pardes Institute and Hebrew University during a Dorot Fellowship in Israel. Dr. Hochman credits her deep Jewish knowledge and identity, as well as her commitment to social justice, to the education she received as a graduate of Boston’s Jewish educational institutions.
Rebecca Friedman
Rebecca Friedman is a graduate of Tufts University with a dual degree in Religion and Spanish. She is an active leader and community member across a broad scope of family and individual activities spanning spiritual, charitable, educational and synagogue life. Rebecca is the mother of four Jewish Day School children.
The Ninth Grade Experience
Moderator:
Simon Luxemburg
Simon Luxemburg joined Gann Academy after working at Boston University Hillel and Camp Ramah New England. Simon directs the Jewish Student Life team at Gann, and oversees a wide array of programming and student experiences including myIsrael, Shabbatonim, Holiday Celebrations, and student leadership opportunities. Simon teaches the senior year Jew in the Modern World course, leads a Zman Kodesh minyan, and is an advisor. Simon earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations, Economics, and Jewish Studies from Connecticut College, and both a Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Jewish Professional Leadership from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University. Simon is a graduate of The Nachshon Project Undergraduate and Graduate Fellowships.
Panelists:
Stephanie Listokin
Stephanie Listokin joined Gann Academy after a career in law and Jewish lay leadership. She is the 9th Grade Dean of Students. She earned an undergraduate degree from Harvard University in Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations (focusing on Jewish Studies) and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. Stephanie is passionate about helping students thrive in high school.
Simon Metcalf
Computing, Design, & Fabrication Faculty
Simon Metcalf came to Gann Academy in 2018. He teaches classes in engineering and fabrication including Intro to STEM. He also manages the Gann Innovation Labs and frequently consults with students on all sorts of projects. Simon earned a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Tufts University. Before joining the team at Gann Academy, Simon Metcalf held engineering and analysis roles in aerospace and energy companies as well as spending some time as a professional fabricator.
Casey Beyer
Jewish Life and Learning
Moderator:
Rabbi Micah
Panelists:
Rabbi Greene
Rav Dena
Shulamit Ben-Natan
Shulamit Ben-Natan joined Gann Academy after twenty-five years as adjunct faculty of Modern Hebrew and Israeli Cinema at Boston University. At Gann, she teaches all Hebrew levels and serves as a school advisor and mentor. Shulamit earned a BA undergraduate degree in Political Science from Tel Aviv University and a MA in Education from Hebrew College. Previously, Shulamit taught Hebrew at various area synagogues. She lives with her family in Brookline, MA.
Four Year Academic Journey
Moderator:
Dr. Dalia Hochman
Dr. Dalia Hochman is Gann’s third Head of School. She began her career as a high school history teacher, school administrator, and school district leader, working on innovative high school models. Between 2010-2015, Dr. Hochman served as the Senior Program Officer for Next Generation Learning Challenges, a $20 Million dollar grant program funded by the Gates Foundation, where she funded and visited dozens of promising high schools across the United States. A graduate of Yale University (BA) and Columbia University, (PhD), Dr. Hochman has also studied at the Pardes Institute and Hebrew University during a Dorot Fellowship in Israel. Dr. Hochman credits her deep Jewish knowledge and identity, as well as her commitment to social justice, to the education she received as a graduate of Boston’s Jewish educational institutions.
Panelists:
Christopher Senhouse
Chris Senhouse joined Gann Academy in 2008. Before coming to Gann, he was a special education teacher at Clearway School in West Newton. He served for two years on the board of Clearway School afterwards. From 2010 to 2020 he was the math department chair and spent two years as the science department chair as well. He brings both a passion for STEM education as well as a love of teaching the whole child. Over the years he has taught a wide variety of math courses as well as computer science, advanced physics, and a physics enrichment sequence. Chris has a BA in Computer Science from Cornell University as well as a MEd in Education and a MS in Mathematics from Salem State University
Catherine Bleyl
Director of Humanities
Cate Bleyl came to Gann Academy in in 2012 from Dearborn Academy, where she specialized in teaching English and History to students with language-based and non-verbal learning disabilities. Cate teaches in the English department and is a member of Gann’s Instructional Leadership Team. Cate earned her undergraduate degree in English and Religion from Northwestern University and a Masters in Special Education from Lesley University. She previously taught in Gann’s History department and served as a Grade Dean.
Lauren Avalos
Lauren Avalos (she/her) joined Gann Academy after serving as Associate Director of Admissions at MIT. In addition to MIT, she has held admissions roles at Brown University and Simmons University.She is currently the Co-Director of College Counseling, Advisor to the Class of 2024, and Faculty Representative to Gann’s Board of Trustees. Lauren earned her Bachelor’s degree in psychology from Boston University and her Master’s degree in media ecology from New York University.
Elena Morgan
Elena Morgan joined Gann Academy in August 2002 after immigrating with her husband and two daughters from Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2001. She currently teaches Spanish and actively participates in advisory, the faculty mentoring program, and Academic Council. In her 20 years of working at Gann, Elena has had many roles, including Faculty Representative to the Board of Trustees, Chair of the World Languages Department, advisor to Student Council, Exploration Week trip chaperone (numerous times), member of the Senior Committee, and co-leader of the Ma’avar Committee. Elena got her degrees as literary translator (English/Spanish) and as a French interpreter in Argentina. While living in her hometown she worked for the British Council, taught English as a Second Language for more than 25 years in a bilingual private school, and translated into Spanish numerous books and technical material for a variety of companies. She also provided translations for educational material published by the ADL and B’nai B’rith International, where she volunteered for more than 30 years. Elena lives in Framingham with her husband, and they are the proud grandparents of three beautiful girls.
Dr. Greg Banks
You Belong Here: Life Outside the Classroom
Moderator:
David Ball
David joined Gann in July 2023 from the Upper School at Milton Academy, where he has spent the last seventeen years as Upper School Principal, Academic Dean, and member of the history department. David brings a unique combination of deep administrative experience, incredible humility, and an unwavering commitment to advocate on behalf of students.
Panelists:
Simon Luxemburg
Simon Luxemburg joined Gann Academy after working at Boston University Hillel and Camp Ramah New England. Simon directs the Jewish Student Life team at Gann, and oversees a wide array of programming and student experiences including myIsrael, Shabbatonim, Holiday Celebrations, and student leadership opportunities. Simon teaches the senior year Jew in the Modern World course, leads a Zman Kodesh minyan, and is an advisor. Simon earned his undergraduate degree in International Relations, Economics, and Jewish Studies from Connecticut College, and both a Masters in Business Administration and Masters in Jewish Professional Leadership from the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University. Simon is a graduate of The Nachshon Project Undergraduate and Graduate Fellowships.
Jaime
Guarnaccia
Jaime Guarnaccia joined Gann Academy after teaching for seven years in New York City. He is the Learning Center Director, as well as a facilitator of the Partnership Minyan and a senior advisory. Jaime has a degree in sociology from Harvard College and spent a semester studying abroad at Hebrew University. He learned in the inaugural summer of the Middlebury Hebrew Language Program and year program of Yeshivat Hadar. He has a master’s degree in Special Education from Hunter College.
Gregory Kee
Gregory Kee joined the Gann Academy faculty in 2008 after a career in technology. He has a bachelor’s degree in Applied Mathematics from Harvard and an MBA from Stanford. Greg teaches mathematics as well as business and marketing courses at Gann.
