Rabbi Guttenberg comes to Hebrew Academy from Silicon Valley, California where he previously served as the Head of School at South Peninsula Hebrew Day School (SPHDS). He moved to Miami with his wife, Dina, and their four children. Rabbi Guttenberg has utilized his strong educational background, leadership and organizational skills to successfully oversee the financial, administrative and educational components of SPHDS.  During his time at the school, Rabbi Guttenberg was instrumental in the school’s revival, which included targeted fundraising, a formal marketing strategy, increased community involvement, advancement in education, technology and creative programming.  These efforts yielded an uptick in annual fundraising revenue by 2-3 times the school’s previous annual average, increased enrollment and retention, and a more positive school culture environment.

Rabbi Guttenberg grew up in the vibrant and diverse Baltimore Jewish community.  He attended the local Jewish day school, Talmudical Academy, played on its high school basketball team and was involved in various youth and communal organizations such as Bnei Akiva, NCSY, and YACHAD. After high school, he attended a two year program in Israel at Yeshivat Sha'alvim, a preeminent Zionist Hesder Yeshiva.  After Israel, Rabbi Guttenberg attended Yeshiva University in New York City where he received a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology while interning during the summers at Johns Hopkins Hospital Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He continued his education at Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education and Administration where he received his Master’s Degree while simultaneously completing his rabbinic training at Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary.  After several years in Jewish communal leadership positions, Rabbi Guttenberg recognized the importance of employing sophisticated management and business administration models to better serve the needs of the Jewish community, which is why he went on to earn an MBA with a specialization in innovation and entrepreneurship from the D'Amore-McKim School of Business at Northeastern University in Boston, MA. Additionally, Rabbi Guttenberg completed certificate programs at Teachers College of Columbia University in Strategic Agility in Practice: Value Innovation for Academic Differentiation, Harvard Graduate School of Education in The Principals’ Center - Leadership: An Evolving Vision, Yeshiva University’s Center for the Jewish Future in Rabbinic Marriage Counseling, and Machon Puah Institute.  

Mrs. Debbie Hamburg has been involved in Jewish Day School education as a teacher, a specialist in curriculum, instruction and staff development, an Assistant Principal and now is proud to be the Principal at the Hebrew Academy of Miami Beach (RASG). Mrs. Hamburg has done her graduate work at Hofstra, Bar Ilan and Harvard University. Debbie and her husband Steve are the proud parents of 3 children (HANC graduates) and 6 outstanding grandchildren. They have relocated to the Surfside area and are members of the Young Israel Congregation of Bal Harbour.

Coach Chad Bishop has been at Hebrew Academy for seven years as a coach and has been our Athletic Director for the last four years. Coach Bishop is the all-time leading basketball scorer at East Ridge High School in Clermont, Florida with over 1,400 points and is also the school’s all-time leading rebounder with over 1,000 career rebounds. He went on to get a full scholarship to Barry University in Miami. He was nominated for the McDonald's All American Team in 2005 and was also the Florida Gatorade Player of the year that same year. His passion is working with students and he feels lucky enough to have found a home here at Hebrew Academy after working with the Miami Heat for a year after college.

Mrs. Raquel Felici attended Beth Jacob Teachers College of Montreal to obtain a Teaching Diploma in Judaic Studies and also attended College Marie Victorin to complete degrees in Languages and Literature and Early Childhood Education. She is certified in the Montessori Method, received certification in Special Education from York University, has a BS in Education and Special Education, and a MS in Early Childhood and Students with Disabilities from Touro College. Raquel has attained classroom experience as a preschool teacher, a public school special education teacher, and as a teacher of Judaic studies. She was the Campus Director of Netivot HaTorah South Campus in Toronto. Additionally Raquel is licensed in Judaic Studies and Early Childhood Education from CAJE, has Advanced Level Director’s Credentials from the Florida Department of Children and Families, and has a National Child Development Associate degree. She is the proud mom of four wonderful boys: Yaacov, Gabriel, Yonatan and Ezra.

We are so pleased to welcome Dr. Eliezer Jones to our Hebrew Academy family. Most recently, Dr. Jones was the Head of School at Akiba-Schechter, an Orthodox Jewish Day School in Chicago. Prior to that, he was the General Studies Principal of Valley Torah High School, a Chofetz Chaim Yeshiva in Los Angeles. He also served as the Director of Educational Innovation at the Institute for University-School Partnership at Yeshiva University and was the Associate Regional Director of West Coast NCSY.  With over twenty years of formal and informal Jewish education experience, Dr. Jones has an established reputation for innovative leadership in the field of Jewish education. This experience is coupled with a profound understanding of how today’s students learn, lead, and serve in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

In this new role at our school, Dr. Jones will be responsible for overseeing all high school programs and fostering innovation and 21st-century learning with continued advancement of the high school as a world-class institution. He will work with the entire faculty, students, parents, and administration to advance an environment in which all students flourish spiritually, academically, socially and emotionally.

Dr. Jones will be working closely with Dr. Dara Lieber who will return to her role as High School Assistant Principal. Dr. Lieber, who has served as a high school administrator at our school for more than a decade, will continue to be an essential part of our high school leadership team. She has taken a leading role in advancing both the general studies program and ensuring students successfully navigate high school. We are greatly appreciative of her dedication to our school.

Dr. Jones holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Los Angeles and has worked with children, adolescents and families in robust clinical settings such as Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Child Guidance Clinic. Dr. Jones also studied at Yeshiva Shor Yashuv in New York. 

We are so pleased to have him join the faculty and staff at the Hebrew Academy and ask that you join us as we give him a warm welcome. His love of learning and strong background in Judaic and General studies, coupled with his experience in educational innovation will enable him to integrate forward-thinking approaches in both curricula areas. 

Dr. Dara Lieber was born and raised in New Jersey. She went to Brandeis University for college and then decided that the fashion world was her calling. After living in NYC and working in the fashion world, she felt she needed more. She went to Columbia University for a Masters in Counseling. As the weather turned colder, Dara decided to move to Florida where her parents were relocating and husband would be finishing law school. She finished her Master’s of Science degree quickly at Barry University and got her first job as a guidance counselor at Hillel. After being there for a short period, Hebrew Academy was to be in her future. After joining the Hebrew Academy in 2002 she received her doctoral degree from Nova Southeastern University in Educational Leadership and Administration. Soon thereafter she became the Assistant Principal.

Mrs. Andrea Lucero has been in the field of education for sixteen years. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with a concentration in Social Studies for grades 6-12 at Manhattan College in Riverdale, New York. She began her teaching career as a fifth grade teacher at a private school and then later moved on to teaching tenth grade U.S. History at a public high school in New Jersey. In 2002, she moved to Miami and began teaching part time at the Hebrew Academy. She taught social studies, English, and math in the middle school during her first year. The following year she began teaching the Middle School Social Studies classes along with an English course. Over the years, Mrs. Lucero has been the student council advisor, Ruach team coach, Community Service Coordinator, and assistant to the principal. In 2008, Mrs. Lucero graduated from Nova Southeastern University with her Master’s degree in Educational Leadership. In 2011 she began her role in administration as the Middle School Principal.

Merav Tal Codron was born in Israel and grew up in Miami. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from the University of Florida and her MSM in Marketing from Polytechnic University.  Prior to working at Hebrew Academy, Merav spent 12 years at Hochberg Lower School - Posnack East where she ran the Business Office for 4 years and the Admissions Department for 8 years. Merav attended Hebrew Academy as a child and is deeply passionate about Jewish education. She is grateful for the strong foundation she received and wants all students to benefit from an educational environment that is warm, engaging, and rich in Jewish values. Merav resides in Aventura with her husband Emmanuel, their children, and dog Snowy. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, cooking, reading and spending time outdoors.

Michael Cohen, The Tech Rabbi, is a designer, educator and creativity instigator. His mission is to help educators around the world reveal their own creative abilities so they can empower students to solve interesting problems and become positive contributors to our global society. He is the author of the book Educated By Design, which outlines his principles for revealing and nurturing our innate creative courage and capacity. He is a national keynote speaker, advisor, and trainer. He held previous positions at YULA and Harkham Hillel Academy, both in Los Angeles.