Graduates

Mandel Program for Academic Leadership: Cohort 1

February 2019 – July 2021

Dr. Nira Al-Dor

Dancer, Lecturer, and Expert in Eshkol-Wachman Movement Notation

Nira Al-Dor coordinates the practical training from an academic perspective at the Kibbutzim College of Education and is involved in leading processes of pedagogical change in the college. She developed an educational initiative for changing the curriculum of the Arison Campus School of Arts in Tel Aviv into a multidisciplinary curriculum. Nira holds a doctorate from the faculty of education and the arts at Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, and a teaching diploma in dance from the dance and movement track of the Kibbutzim College of Education. She lives in Tel Aviv.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Aviva Bar Nir

Coordinator of Practical Training and Head of Special Education Track, David Yellin College of Education

Aviva Bar Nir is the coordinator of practical training and the head of the special education track at the David Yellin College of Education in Jerusalem. She is involved in research and practice in the area of inclusion and integration of students with special needs in the education system, and studies the connection between academia and field experience in teacher training. Previously, Aviva was a teacher in a special education high school and in elementary schools that played a pioneering role in modeling inclusion. Within her work in teacher training, Aviva was a pedagogical advisor and lecturer on learning disabilities for many years. Aviva holds a doctorate in philosophy, with a concentration in special education, from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's school of education. She lives in Har Adar.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Cilla Choresh

Lecturer at the Tel Aviv University School of Education

Cilla Choresh is a high-school physics teacher and coordinator of physics studies. She lectures at Tel Aviv University in the physics teaching diploma program, and specializes in science teaching. Cilla is one of the leaders of in-service training for teachers that focuses on curricula and the development of thinking skills, and in particular on learning styles, meta-cognition, reflection, and argumentation. She holds a doctorate from Bar-Ilan University's school of education, and a master’s degree in education with a concentration in developing thinking skills in technological education, also from Bar-Ilan University.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Professor Nitza Davidovitch

Head of the Teacher Training Program at Ariel University

Nitza Davidovitch is the chair of the Forum for the Advancement of Teaching in Israel and Professor of Education at Ariel University, where she is the head of quality assessment and academic instruction, and heads the teacher training program. Her work focuses on teaching and learning in higher education, and she leads teacher training programs that are based on research knowledge that can address future needs. Nitza holds a doctorate in education from Ariel University. She lives in Yakir in the Shomron.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Orit Dror Levi

Head of Department and Program in Early Childhood Education, Oranim Academic College of Education

Orit Dror Levi is the co-coordinator of the early childhood forum at the MOFET Institute, is a member of the Council of Higher Education's committee for guidelines for teacher training, and is a member of the steering committee for the social nonprofit ANU – Education from Birth. She has served as a pedagogy instructor and lecturer in the early childhood education department at Oranim College. Previously, she worked as an occupational therapist and as a homeroom teacher. Orit holds a master’s degree in educational counseling from Tel Aviv University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Haifa. She lives in Yokneam.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Tsafrir Goldberg

Head of the Teaching Diploma and Bachelor's Degree Program, University of Haifa

Tsafrir Goldberg is the head of the bachelor's degree program and the teaching diploma program in the University of Haifa's Department of Learning, Instruction, and Teacher Education. Previously, he was a teacher at the Givat Gonen school. He mentors teachers and works as a pedagogic advisor, providing guidance to students regarding formal didactic instruction, serving as a personal mentor, and facilitating an education “beit midrash,” as part of the Revivim program for Jewish studies teachers at the Hebrew University. Tsafrir holds a doctorate from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and his thesis examined the way in which high-school history studies serve as an arena for critical discussion between students from different identity groups. His research focuses mainly on the connection between learning and identity, on inter-group relations, and on teacher education and training in the multicultural context of Israel. Tsafrir lives in Beit Zayit.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Michal Honig

Lecturer and Didactic Advisor in History, Kerem Institute for Teacher Training

Michal Honig is a pedagogical advisor and lecturer in history instruction at the Kerem Institute for Teacher Training, where she is also a member of the board. She is also a high school history teacher. Michal is a leader of the teacher educators' community, which is dedicated to analyzing practice in teacher training. She holds a doctorate in education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and lives in Modi’in.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Hagit Kuperstein

Head of the Unit for Promoting Professionalism in Teaching, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Hagit Kuperstein oversees teacher training, internships, and entry into teaching, professional development, principal training, and simulations. She directed the development of training with computerized products in the IDF’s training department. Among other positions, Hagit has been an instructor, mentor, and program director for the Karev program that integrated the use of computers in teaching. She holds a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the department of education of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and lives on Kibbutz Revadim.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Yitzhak Lev-Ran

Head of Practicums, Internships, and Professional Development, Herzog College

The former principal of the AMIT Dvir high school for boys in Beit Shemesh, Yitzhak Lev-Ran is a homeroom teacher and Bible teacher. He has mentored groups of school principals at Avney Rosha – the Israel Institute for School Leadership, and has developed a team that designed a high-quality program for meaningful practicums at Herzog College. Yitzhak holds a doctorate in Bible from Bar-Ilan University, and lives in Mazkeret Batya.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Haifaa Majadly

Head of Practicums, Al-Qasemi Academic College of Education

Haifaa Majadly is the head of the department of pedagogy at the Al-Qasemi College of Education. A former pedagogy instructor, she is involved in strengthening multicultural discourse and encouraging fruitful and constructive discussions between the different cultures in Israeli society. Her extensive fieldwork has led her to translate the considerable knowledge she has gained from academic learning and personal experience into varied lectures, workshops, and training programs for students, parents, and teachers on subjects such as promoting Arabic language, encouraging reading, and fostering motivation to excel. Haifaa's doctorate from the University of Haifa focused on language education curricula. She lives in Baqa al-Gharbiyye.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Smadar Mor

Pedagogical Coordinator, Unit for Teacher Education, Tel Aviv University

Smadar Mor is a lecturer, pedagogical coordinator, and assistant head of the unit for teacher education in the school of education of Tel Aviv University. She is also a pedagogy instructor and lecturer in the creative track of the early childhood department of the Kibbutzim College of Education, where she runs workshops in theater. Smadar works to develop new ideas for improving the interfaces between teacher training, education, and the arts, with a focus on theater in particular. She conducts research on children's theater, focusing in particular on young children as audiences. Smadar holds a doctorate in education and theater from the University of Haifa, and lives in Tel Aviv.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Anat Moshe

Lecturer and Pedagogical Counselor, Special Education Track, Faculty of Education, Beit Berl College

Anat Moshe is a senior counselor in the field of learning disabilities for the Ministry of Education, and guides schools in implementing Israel's new reforms in special education. In the past, she has worked as a middle school special education teacher. Anat is interested in the unique interaction between academia and theory and the education system. She holds a doctorate in education from Constantine the Philosopher University in Slovakia, and lives in Pardes Hanna–Karkur.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Daniel Nikritin

Head of Education Department, Hemdat Hadarom Academic College of Education

An ordained rabbi, Daniel Nikritin is a homeroom teacher and literature and Talmud teacher. He has served as a consultant to numerous schools, accompanying them through pedagogical innovation processes, including the development of the GOGYA center for the AMIT school network. Daniel also has pedagogical responsibility for practical internships conducted as part of the "Academia-City" partnership initiative between Hemdat Hadarom College and the city of Netivot. He holds a doctorate in literature from Bar-Ilan University, as well as a master’s degree in educational counseling, and has also studied couples and family therapy. Daniel lives in Modi’in.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Yonit Nisim

Head of the Faculty of Education, Ohalo College in Katzrin

As part of her work as head of the faculty of education at Ohalo College, Yonit Nisim is responsible for a variety of programs and training courses, including: the Regev program for outstanding students, fieldwork, specialization, entrance into the field of education, and professional development. Yonit holds a doctorate in philosophy and history from the University of Haifa. She lives in Koranit.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Batia Reichman

Head of Teacher Education Program and Fieldwork, Kaye Academic College of Education

Batia Reichman is a member of the management team of Kaye College's school for teacher education. She teaches in the school’s master’s programs, and lectures in the track for teaching literature. Batia works to promote collaboration between academia and the education system and the local authorities. She also initiates and leads learning communities for faculty members at Kaye College. Batia holds a doctorate in Hebrew literature from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and lives in Beer Sheva.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Tami Reuveni

Head of the Teaching Department, Levinsky College of Education

Tami Reuveni is responsible for student fieldwork, social engagement, preparatory courses for entry into teaching, and special programs such as "Academia-Classroom" and "Leading Teachers." In the past, she served as the head of the elementary school teacher training program at the Levinsky College of Education, and was a researcher at the Authority for Research and Development. She was also an elementary school teacher and principal in Israel's public-school system. Tami holds a doctorate in education from Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) in Budapest, and lives in Beit Yitzhak–Sha’ar Hefer.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Alexandra Saad

Deputy Director and Pedagogical Training Coordinator, Arabic Academic College for Education in Israel

Alexandra Saad is a lecturer and researcher at the Arabic Academic College for Education and at the University of Haifa. She is involved in clinical instruction and professional development for education professionals; evaluation, adaptation, and implementation of assistive technologies in education; and cultural enrichment and adaptation of educational content and programs for Arab society. Alexandra holds a master’s degree in education, and a doctorate from the department of occupational therapy at the University of Haifa, and completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Bologna in Italy. She lives in Upper Nazareth.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Sylvia Saba-Sadi

Lecturer and Pedagogy Instructor in Early Childhood Education, Gordon College of Education

Sylvia Saba-Sadi is a lecturer and a pedagogy instructor in the early childhood education department at Gordon College of Education in Haifa. Previously, she worked as a national instructor for new and alternative teaching approaches for in-service teachers in early education. She also held several positions in the field of education and was involved in various professional, communal and national pedagogical projects. These included the establishment of kindergartens for the Arab community in Jaffa, the design of in-service training courses for teachers in early education, the development of programs for in-service teacher training and programs for early childhood education. Sylvia holds a master's degree in educational psychology from the University of Manchester in England, and a doctorate from the school of education at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. Her fields of expertise and interest include play in child rearing practices, child development, early education, teacher training, and Arab women teachers in Israel, their training and professional experience. She lives in Haifa.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Pninat Tal

Head of Department and Program in Early Childhood Training, Levinsky College of Education

Pninat Tal was the head of elementary school education for Teach First Israel's program for excellence in education. Among other roles, she has served as a researcher at the MOFET Institute, where she investigated alternative teacher-training programs, and has published a Hebrew book, From Oversight to Leadership: The Journey of a Professional Community. Pninat holds a doctorate from the department of curriculum and evaluation at Tel Aviv University, and lives in Herzliya.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Noam Topelberg

Head of the Jewish Art Teaching Track in the Teacher Training Department, Bar-Ilan University

Noam Topelberg is a lecturer in the teacher training department of Bar-Ilan University's school of education. He teaches culture and visual literacy, and is a national instructor for high school design studies in the Ministry of Education’s Computing, Technology, and Information Systems Administration. Noam also writes curricula and educational materials, and runs in-service training courses for teachers around the country. He is also the treasurer and chairman of the Nes Ziona Artists’ Committee. Noam holds a doctorate in art history from the department of Jewish art at Bar-Ilan University, and lives in Nes Ziona.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Dr. Dina Tsybulsky

Head of the Biology Teaching Track, Faculty of Education in Science and Technology, the Technion

In the past, Dina Tsybulsky has been a high school biology and chemistry teacher, homeroom teacher, and science studies coordinator. She served as a lecturer and instructor of pedagogy of science teaching at the Kibbutzim College of Education and at Achva College. She was also a senior research associate and teaching fellow at Tel Aviv University and a visiting scholar at the University of British Columbia in Canada. Dina holds a doctorate in science education from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and completed a post-doctoral fellowship at the MOFET Institute. She lives in Beit Shemesh.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

Professor Sima Zach

Lecturer, School of Education and Physical Education Teaching, Academic College at Wingate

Sima Zach is the chair of the academic committee at the Academic College at Wingate, and is the head of the College’s laboratory for the study of physical education teaching. She was formerly the head of the College's school for education and physical education teaching. Sima holds a doctorate in physical education, recreation, and dance from Temple University in Philadelphia, where she specialized in sports psychology. A tenured professor at the Academic College at Wingate, Sima lives in Hadera.*This biography was last updated at the start of the program

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