WATE/Westchester Innovators Network

Ivy Schreiber is the Managing Director, Professional Learning and Growth at The Jewish Education Project. Her current work focuses on supporting Jewish educators towards adopting new models that lead to thriving and are responsive to today’s learners and families. Prior to The Jewish Education Project, Ivy worked at B’nai Jeshurun (BJ) in NYC for a decade, where she served as the Education Director, and also has experience in Jewish camping and as a consultant to synagogues. Ivy holds an MA in Jewish Education from the Davidson School at JTS, is an alum of the Leadership Institute, and is a Wexner Field Fellow. Ivy lives in Westchester with her husband and three children.

Gina Fass is the Director of Education for the Kulanu Learning Program at Bet Torah in Mt. Kisco, NY. She holds dual Master's degrees in Jewish Education and Jewish Communal Service from Hebrew Union College - Jewish Institute of Religion and is a graduate of the prestigious Wexner Graduate Fellowship. With over 25 years of experience in Jewish education, Gina served as a director of education at synagogues and Jewish camps in Minnesota, California and Connecticut.  She has also taught high school and middle school Jewish Studies at Day Schools in Houston and Stamford. She has directed youth programs, a community Hebrew High, and inclusion programs for Jewish teens with special needs. Gina has lived in 13 cities across the United States, France, and Israel.

Gina was selected for the first cohort of Pardes: Senior Educator Learning Fellowship (2021- 2022), studying Torah and pedagogy with dozens of peers in Jerusalem and on-going virtually. She currently serves as Co-Chair for WATE, a group of 40 congregational educators from Westchester and Fairfield, CT, who meet monthly for professional development. She is active in Schoke JFS, delivering Kosher Shabbat meals to home-bound seniors. She and her husband Jonathan live in Stamford and are the proud parents of Michal and Erez.

Rebecca Elkus-Ferst is the Director of Education: Youth & Families at Temple Israel in New Rochelle, NY. For Rebecca, Jewish education is a lifelong journey that should be meaningful, challenging, dynamic, and inspiring. She works to weave these ideas throughout the educational programming at Temple Israel. Originally from Michigan, Rebecca’s identity and early Jewish experiences were strongly influenced by her family, participation in youth groups, and summers spent at camp. Rebecca earned a B.A. in Journalism and a Specialization in Jewish Studies from Michigan State University, and a Masters in Jewish Education from the Davidson School at the Jewish Theological Seminary. Upon graduation from JTS, she served as the Assistant Director of Education at Congregation Habonim in NYC from 2009-2012. Rebecca is a past fellow of the Leadership Institute: Shaping Congregational Leaders and Learners and Matan Institute for Education Directors, working on a communal approach to helping children with special needs. She is a past participant in the Qushiyot Fellowship: a program dedicated to working with educators and congregations to bring contemporary, meaningful, and relevant Israel curriculum to their programs. Rebecca is a recent aluma of the inaugural Pardes Senior Educator Leadership Fellowship. She also holds an RJE (Reform Jewish Educator) title from the Association of Reform Jewish Educators.