Our People

We're committed to the values of professionalism, lifelong learning & nurturing community

Senior Administration

Headshot of Head of School Eric Petersiel
Eric Petersiel

Head of School

Headshot of Director of Operations Claire Flotner.
Claire Dalby

Chief Operating Officer

Headshot of Principal Adina Lubek.
Adina Lubek

Principal

Janice Prazoff

Director of Admission

Headshot of Lisa Richler, the Little Leos head teacher.
Lisa Richler

Director of Advancement

Academic Administration

Headshot of Danielle Applebaum, Dean of Student Academics.
Danielle Applebaum

Dean of Student Services

Headshot of Sheryl Faith, Dean of Academic Development & IB Coordinator
Sheryl Faith

Dean of Academic Development & IB Coordinator

Andrew Howard

VICE PRINCIPAL, Grades 6-8

Headshot of Rabbi Noam Katz, Dean of Jewish Living
Rabbi Noam Katz

Dean of Jewish Living

Jenna Sobel

VICE PRINCIPAL, JK - Grade 5

Headshot of Graeme Casson
Graeme Casson

IT Manager

Headshot of Sandra Cohn
Sandra Cohn

Finance Administrator

Headshot of Cheryl Greenburg
Cheryl Greenberg

Operations Administrator

Headshot of Melanie Kohn
Melanie Kohn

Operations Assistant

Kumar Kurusumuthu

Facilities and Custodial Care

Lauren Meisels

Registered Social Worker

Jayme Ozier

Registered Social Worker

Headshot of Kim Pasternak
Kim Pasternak

Administrative Assistant

Tom Penslar

Admission Coordinator

Janis Seftel

Communications Specialist

Nimal Selvaratam

Custodial support

Margaret Terechtchenko

IT Associate

Dayna White

Manager of Student Academics

Headshot of Daniel Abramson, Director of the Tikkun Project.
Daniel Abramson

Director of Tikkun Project

Remy Abramson

preschool assistant

Headshot of Jenna Adler Gordon
Jenna Adler-Gordon

PYP Teacher & Technology Integration Specialist

Headshot of Risa Amar
Risa Amar

PYP Teacher

Headshot of Jenna Arenson
Jenna Arenson

PYP Teacher

Lawrence Axmith

PYP & MYP Teacher

Alexa Bader

Little Leos Teacher

Headshot of Magi Binjamini
Magi Binyamini

MYP Teacher

Headshot of Nicole Black
Nicole Black

Student Services

Holdyn Bly

PYP Teacher

Headshot of Lisa Bonen.
Lisa Bonen

PYP Teacher

Headshot of Lindsay Budd
Lindsay Budd

MYP Teacher

Madeleine Brown

MYP Teacher

Rochelle Chester

School Librarian

Headshot of Karen Cohen
Karen Cohen

PYP Hebrew & Judaics Teacher

Sharon Cohen

MYP Teacher

Ilana Cyna

MYP Teacher & MYP Advisor

Sam Fruitman

PYP Teacher

Suzanna Elster

PYP Hebrew & Judaics Teacher

Roni Fishman

PYP Hebrew & Judaics Teacher

Headshot of Ashley Gordon, PYP Teacher
Ashley Gordon

PYP Teacher

Kayla Goren

Music instructor

Amy Green

PYP Teacher

Bonnie Gremont

PYP Teacher

Noah Gropper

PYP Teacher

Rannia Habib

PYP Teacher

Erin Hafner

Student Services

Valery Hirschl

PYP Teacher

Headshot of Margaux Janks
Margaux Janks

PYP Teacher

Michelle Kaplan

MYP Teacher

Avital Katz

PYP Hebrew & Judaics Teacher

Kathy Klar

Preschool Assistant

Shelley Klugman

PYP Teacher

Kim Kozloff

PYP Teacher

Danielle Lapedus

PYP Teacher

Headshot of Melissa Levin
Melissa Levin

Student Services

Alexa Lewis

PYP Teacher

David Martosh

MYP Teacher

Michelle Masters

PYP Teacher

Souad Mrabit

PYP Teacher

Headshot of David Nepon, Physical Education
David Nepon

MYP Teacher

Cindy Opler

MYP Teacher

Hila Oz

MYP Teacher & Student Services

Headshot of Carolyn Polster, Student Services.
Carolyn Polster

Student Services

Alexandra Robins

MYP Teacher

Katie Roche

PYP Teacher

Joanne Roitman

MYP Teacher

Irith Rosen

MYP Teacher & Hebrew Coordinator

Ashleigh Rosenthal

PYP Teacher

Joanna Sadowski

PYP/MYP Teacher

Headshot of Karen Salom
Karen Salom

Preschool Assistant

Jordana Silver

Preschool Assistant

Randi Solomon

Technology Integration Specialist & PYP Advisor

Vered Solomon

Preschool Assistant

Latoya Sousa

Preschool Assistant

Julia Starr

MYP Teacher

Lauren Sversky

PYP Teacher

Headshot of Alina Tabak
Alina Tabak

MYP Teacher

Headshot of Tovah Tabacznik
Tovah Tabacznik

Student Services

Headshot of Miriam Toste
Miriam Toste

PYP Teacher

Naomi Vidal

MYP Teacher

Ilana Walderman

Preschool Advisor

Hannah Walsh

PYP Teacher

Mika Weiner

PYP Teacher

Lexi Weinstein

PYP Teacher

Leah Witz

PYP Teacher

Lara Woronowicz

MYP Teacher

Headshot of Shari Zacks
Shari Zacks

Student Services

Headshot of Sara Zatzman
Sara Zatzman

PYP Teacher

Message from Board President

Education’s purpose is to replace an empty mind with an open one.

I have been a member of the LBDS board since 2017, serving most recently as the Vice President and Treasurer. It has been a pleasure working with the talented professionals on the board and the school’s staff. Together we have a shared passion for bringing out the best in LBDS’s students and supporting them to be the leaders of tomorrow.

The past two school years were a significant challenge for our community. I couldn’t be more proud of how our board and staff came together to deliver a safe school environment. It is this dedication and resiliency that has always defined Leo Baeck. I look forward to welcoming our students back to a more typical LBDS experience that includes Jewish traditions with family, carnivals, athletics, and other extra-curricular activities.

Last year we launched our new Mission and Vision, which serves as our north star. This year we also shared our new strategic plan, which will guide our growth and development over the next five years.

On a personal note, my wife Samantha and I are strong advocates of the school, with three children that are current or graduated students of Leo Baeck. You can find more information about my background below.

I look forward to representing Leo Baeck in the coming year and welcome any questions or comments you may have. I can be reached at president@leobaeck.ca

Sincerely,
Mitchell Glickman
President, Board of Directors

Mitch Glickman

Our Board Of Directors

Mitch Glickman

President

Headshot of Rabbi Bielfeld
Rabbi Arthur Bielfeld

Honourary Chair

Headshot of Cheryl Silver Posner
Cheryl Posner

Vice President

Headshot of David Poster
David Poster

Treasurer

Michelle Gordon

Secretary

Headshot of Marc Bissell
Marc Bissell
Headshot of Robbie Bossin
Robbie Bossin
Headshot of Leanne Campbell
Leanne Campbell
Headshot of Erez Eizenman
Erez Eizenman
Headshot of Joshua Freeman
Joshua Freeman
Shayna Galante headshot
Shayna Galante
Rebecca Jerusalim smiling and looking directly at camera.
Dr. Rebecca Slan Jerusalim
Headshot of Greg Joffe
Greg Joffe
Eric Riz portrait photo.
Eric Riz
Headshot of Pekka Sinervo
Pekka Sinervo

Shayna Galante

Shayna Galante is Senior Counsel for CANNEX Financial Exchanges Limited where she provides legal support on a range of corporate and regulatory matters. Prior to this role, she worked at Dentons Canada LLP as a lawyer in the litigation department before moving to the firm’s internal risk management department, where she worked as part of a global team advising lawyers and staff on a variety of risk, conflicts and compliance issues. Shayna obtained her B.Comm with Distinction from the University of Alberta and her J.D. from the University of Toronto and is called to the Bar in both Alberta (2007) and Ontario (2013). Shayna has been on the Leo Baeck Board since 2020 and prior to that co-chaired the Leo Baeck Parents’ Association and has enjoyed many years volunteering in the school and community. Shayna and her husband Sean attended Jewish Day School in Alberta, where they grew up. They are proud parents of a recent Leo Baeck graduate and of two children attending Leo Baeck.

Mitchell Glickman

Mitchell Glickman is a finance and strategy executive, presently serving as the Chief Financial Officer at People Corporation, Canada’s premier provider of group benefits, health and wellness, wealth, and property and casualty insurance solutions. Prior to People Corporation, he served as CFO of Banyan Software, an acquirer and operator of enterprise software businesses. Earlier in his career, Mitch held roles across corporate strategy and M&A, finance, investment banking, and private equity, partnering closely with senior executives and boards to drive long‑term value creation. He has served on the Leo Baeck Board for nine years, most recently as President from 2022 to 2024, and Co-President in 2024-2025. Mitch earned an MBA from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business, a B.A. from the University of Western Ontario, and the ICD.D from the Institute of Corporate Directors. Mitch and his wife Samantha have three children, all of whom are current or graduated students of Leo Baeck.

Robbie Bossin

Robbie Bossin is the General Manager for Private Label and Emerging Brands at Riverside Natural Foods, a fast-growing Canadian manufacturer of healthy snacks, including the MadeGood, GoodTo Go and Cookie Pal brands. Robbie received his BA in economics from York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant and Chartered Business Valuator. Robbie is a strong supporter and fundraiser for the Parkinson Society of Canada, particularly as a participant and fundraiser in the Pedaling for Parkinson’s bike ride in memory of his dad, Larry. Robbie is passionate about sports and enjoys staying active with his kids through baseball, basketball, golf, and football. Robbie and his wife Rebecca are the proud parents of LB students, Harley and Jeremy. 

David Poster

David Poster is a strategic finance executive with over 20 years of experience in the wealth and asset management industry, currently working as Chief Financial Officer for Nicola Wealth, which serves the complex needs of high-net-worth families, entrepreneurs, and professionals. Prior to that, he was Senior Vice-President of Finance at a large publicly traded wealth management company, where he was also the CFO of its investment fund subsidiary, and sat on multiple Boards of Directors of wealth and asset management firms in Canada and the United States. His expertise includes work in strategic planning and budgeting, mergers and acquisitions, capital allocation, and financial reporting. David holds a B.Sc. from McGill University, as well as JD and MBA degrees from the University of Toronto and is a CFA Charterholder. David and his wife, Rebecca Cooper, are proud parents of one Leo Baeck student and one alumnus of Leo Baeck. 

Jesse Otto

 

Jesse Otto is the Vice President of Treasury for AGI, a global manufacturing company serving the food and agriculture industries.  He has spent the past 10+ years working in corporate treasury after starting his career at Ernst & Young LLP and BMO Capital Markets. He has extensive experience in global cash management, debt capital markets and financial planning and analysis. Jesse received his Honours BBA from the Schulich School of Business at York University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA) and Chartered Business Valuator (CBV). Jesse and his wife Ashley Steinhauer both grew up in Toronto and are the proud parents of two Leo Baeck students.

Jordan Antflick

Jordan Antflick is the Head of Integrated Discovery at the Ontario Brain Institute, a globally recognized not-for-profit organization dedicated to advancing brain research, commercialization, and care. In this role, Jordan provides strategic leadership across the organization, guiding the development and implementation of initiatives that align with OBI’s mission to improve brain health and drive economic growth. Jordan holds an Honours BSc in Pharmacology from the University of Alberta and a PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences from the Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Toronto, where he also completed the Collaborative Program in Neuroscience. Jordan attended Jewish day school in Edmonton and his wife Michelle Burke is an alum of Leo Baeck and CHAT. They are proud to see their two children strengthening their Jewish identities as students at Leo Baeck.   

Len Bates

Len Bates is a seasoned Human Resources leader. He has spent over 25 years in various industries, including a five-year tenure at Upper Canada College. He is currently the head of his own successful HR consulting business. His academic background includes a BAA from Toronto Metropolitan University. Len is guided by a deep belief in the power of community—the idea that connection not only lifts the spirit but also builds resilience and a sense of belonging. He sits on the Union for Reform Judaism’s North American Board and Temple Har Zion’s Board of Directors. Additionally, Len is the immediate past president of the Reform Jewish Community of Canada (RJCC) and is a past chair of URJ Camp George’s Camp Council. Len lives in Newmarket with his wife, Sara. They are the proud parents of two adult children and share their home—and hearts—with two lively and adorable Airedale Terriers.

Jeffrey Bernstein

Jeffrey Bernstein, senior advisor at Bridgewell Financial and owner of Seligman Insurance, helps entrepreneurial families align wealth, wellbeing, and purpose across generations using philanthropic and insurance-based financial planning strategies. Jeff earned a Masters in International Affairs and past professional experience encompassed work in international human rights law, public health initiatives across East Africa and Southeast Asia, and software leadership. He has held board and committee leadership roles with Autism Ontario, UJA, Holy Blossom, and has fundraised for Baycrest and causes spanning mental wellbeing to social inclusion. An avid runner and outdoors enthusiast, Jeff and his wife, Dani, who leads the LBPA, attended CHAT, and are proud to send three children to Leo Baeck, with another joining in 2028.

 

Elisabeth Demone

Elisabeth Demone is SVP Chief Legal Officer & Corporate Secretary at Symcor. Directly and through the oversight of the Legal Department, Elisabeth is responsible for all corporate governance and regulatory matters, provision of legal and strategic advice to the executive team and Board of Directors and for providing transactional support on larger company transactions. Elisabeth also holds accountability for Privacy, Data Governance and ESG at Symcor. Elisabeth earned her LLB from Osgoode Hall Law School and her BA in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. In 2025, Elisabeth completed the Directors Education Program (DEP) through the Rotman School of Management, Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Toronto. Elisabeth and her husband Marc have three children at Leo Baeck.

Jennifer Ehrlich

Jennifer Ehrlich is a Director and Senior Legal Counsel, Investments at Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan. Supporting the investment team, she advises on a broad range of corporate, transactional, and investment-related matters. Jennifer has extensive experience in mergers and acquisitions and asset management across a range of asset classes as developed through her prior work at Goodmans LLP, where she advised on complex transactions, including public and private acquisitions, joint ventures, and capital markets activities.  Jennifer completed her undergraduate studies at McGill University, a masters degree at the London School of Economics and obtained her law degree at Osgoode Hall Law School. Jennifer and her husband Jonathan have three children at Leo Baeck. 

Erez Eizenman

Erez Eizenman is a Senior Partner with McKinsey & Company and the Managing Partner of McKinsey’s office in Toronto. Erez has extensive experience serving financial, public sector, high tech, and telecom institutions with a focus on digitization, agile, technology transformation, and technology enablement to drive efficiency and effectiveness in enterprise environments. He also leads McKinsey’s global citizen experience service line. Erez is a graduate of the University of Toronto, where he obtained an Engineering degree, and the Rotman School of Management in Toronto, where he finished first in his MBA class. Erez grew up in Toronto, where he attended Jewish day school. Erez has two children at Leo Baeck.

Jordy Feldberg

Jordy Feldberg is a surgical pharmacist at the University Health Network (UHN), with a background in hemodialysis and chronic kidney disease clinical research. Jordy holds a Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) from the University of Toronto. Jordy is a proud Leo Baeck graduate. Jordy and her husband Daniel have children at Leo Baeck.

Joshua Freeman

Joshua Freeman is a litigation and dispute resolution lawyer at Freeman Legal, with a practice focussed on contract, debtor-creditor, real estate and shareholder disputes. He holds an undergraduate degree (B.A. (Hons.)) in Political Science and Philosophy from Huron University, University of Western Ontario, and a law degree (LL.B.) from the Faculty of Law, Queen’s University. Josh is a proud alumnus of The Leo Baeck Day School and Community Hebrew Academy of Toronto. He and his wife Kelly, also a Jewish Day School and CHAT graduate, are committed to upholding the strong devotion to Jewish values, education and community instilled in them by their families. They are proud parents of two children at Leo Baeck and are members of Holy Blossom Temple.

Josh and his wife Kelly are committed to upholding the strong devotion to Jewish education and community instilled in them by their families. They have two young children at Leo Baeck and are members of Holy Blossom Temple.

Marcia Gilbert

Marcia Gilbert is the principal of a consulting firm which provides professional services to the not-for-profit sector. In the recent past, Marcia worked with community members to establish three social service Hubs and the first Afro-Diasporic Arts Centre for underserved communities.

Marcia served as an Executive Assistant in the Office of the Premier of Ontario after working for the Minister of Community & Social Services. She has worked in leadership positions to a wide range of organizations in both the Jewish and secular communities. She played a pivotal role in gaining the independence of Women’s College Hospital and has served on the Board of Women’s College Hospital, NIF Canada, Urban Alliance for Race Relations and two synagogue Boards. 

For 26 years, Marcia taught the Jewish Information Class under the auspices of the Canadian Council for Reform Judaism. 

Marcia is the bubby of six grandchildren. Three are students at Leo Baeck. Another will join his sisters in two years. Marcia is married to Rabbi Shalom Schachter and they have two sons.

Gregory Joffe

Gregory Joffe is General Counsel for Instar Asset Management, a private equity firm focused on the North American middle market. He is a recognized industry leader, receiving the Canadian General Counsel Award for Mid-Market Excellence (2019), being named on The Legal 500’s Canadian GC Powerlist (2020), and making Lexpert’s list of Canada’s leading lawyers under 40 (2021). Gregory holds a Master of Business Administration degree, specializing in real estate and infrastructure, from the Schulich School of Business and a Juris Doctor degree from Osgoode Hall Law School. He is a member of the Law Society of Upper Canada and currently is treasurer and serves on the board and executive committee of the Israel Cancer Research Fund. Prioritizing knowledge-sharing and collaboration, Gregory serves as an adjunct professor in the Master of Real Estate and Infrastructure Program at the Schulich School of Business. Gregory and his wife Robin have four children at Leo Baeck.

 

David Malinowicz

David Malinowicz is Director of Product Strategy at Therefore, a Toronto-based digital agency, where he provides strategic leadership across product strategy, PMO governance, and organizational planning. He partners with executive teams at medium and large organizations to guide digital initiatives and operational transformation. Prior to this role, David worked at the Heart & Stroke Foundation, where he led the project management office and strategic initiatives. David holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) designation from the Project Management Institute. David is an active member of Holy Blossom Temple and previously volunteered in support of strategic planning initiatives alongside senior leadership, board members, and committee teams. David and his wife, Chloe, are proud Leo Baeck parents.

Eric Riz

Eric Riz is a technology entrepreneur and CEO with over 20 years of experience building and scaling innovative businesses. He is the founder of eMark Consulting, Shyyft, and VERIFIED, ventures spanning Microsoft consulting, workforce intelligence, and digital identity, focused on enabling organizations to adopt AI with structure, trust, and impact.

A four-time entrepreneur, Eric is a recognized leader in artificial intelligence strategy and enterprise AI integration. He advises executives on responsible AI implementation, data governance, and the operationalization of generative AI technologies. Eric has developed enterprise AI readiness frameworks, designed governance models to support AI-driven decision-making, and helped Fortune 500 companies deploy Microsoft Copilot, ChatGPT, Azure AI, and large language model solutions aligned with compliance and security requirements. Eric is a six-time Microsoft MVP and a member of the Microsoft AI Advisory Board. His thought leadership in AI, digital debt, and data strategy has been featured in The Globe and Mail, Fox Business, Entrepreneur Magazine, and The Huffington Post. He regularly speaks at global conferences on the future of AI in business and is the author of the forthcoming book Digital Debt, which explores the growing divide between digital tools and organizational productivity. His philanthropic work includes The Gift of Life Foundation, Futurepreneur Canada, and Princess Margaret Hospital.

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JK 2027 – School tours begin November 2025. Applications are due by May 30, 2026

JK 2028 – School tours will begin in Nov. 2026

JK 2029 – School tours will begin in Nov. 2027

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