About

Leadership

Senior Leadership

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Jill Quigley | Head of School

Jill Quigley was appointed Head of School in 2022 after serving the school with distinction as Middle & Upper School Division Head for eight years. Jill received her M.A. in Jewish Studies in 2002 from Emory University, where she specialized in modern Jewish history. She received a B.A. in English from Arizona State University in 1996, where she pursued a course of study focusing on literature and religious studies.

During her tenure at TVT, Jill envisioned and led the implementation of Character@TVT to fully engage in our mission of 'character is paramount,' and co-developed a Jewish Studies Alternative Pathways model to connect students to Judaism in ways that honor TVT's pluralistic mission and diverse student body.

Prior to TVT, Jill was an administrator as well as an English and Jewish Studies teacher at San Diego Jewish Academy. Earlier in her career, she taught English at Carmel Middle School and Durango High School. In her spare time, Jill enjoys cycling, spending time with family, and the New York Times Crossword puzzle.

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Elise Blum | Division Head, Middle & Upper School

Mrs. Elise Blum has spent over 20 years in independent school education, serving as a social studies teacher, school counselor, college advisor, and administrator. Born in upstate New York and raised in Connecticut, Elise attended Brandeis University in Waltham, MA where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and Education. She went on to earn a master’s degree in Teaching & Learning from the Harvard University Graduate School of Education in Cambridge, MA.

Before joining TVT, Elise was the High School Principal at American Heritage Schools in Plantation, FL where she previously served as Assistant Principal and Assistant Director of Guidance & College Planning. Elise began her career in education teaching social studies in Massachusetts and then Florida. Prior to teaching, she served as a program director and educational coordinator at Project Vote-Smart, a non-profit, non-partisan, political education organization.

Elise believes in creating a safe and supportive learning environment where students can take risks and try new things; as the Jewish proverb says, “whoever does not try, does not learn.” She is also committed to fostering strong relationships with faculty, staff, students, and parents.

In her free time, Elise enjoys spending time with her family, friends, and dog (Precious Blum). She feeds her soul by reading, practicing yoga, hiking, running, and eating yummy and healthy food.
Sarah Escobar | Division Head, Lower School

Mrs. Sarah Escobar has dedicated eighteen years to Jewish education, shaping her path through diverse roles and enriching experiences. She earned her Master of Arts in Education from Loyola Marymount University in 2010 and has since been a steadfast advocate for holistic learning. For over a decade, she thrived at Temple Israel of Hollywood (TIOH), embracing roles that ranged from classroom teacher to Curriculum Coordinator, Teacher Trainer, and Sr. Staff Member.

Sarah's leadership journey at TIOH stands as a testament to her transformative impact. She led with vision, reimagining education by intertwining Jewish values and supervising educators. Beyond academic growth, she championed Family Education Programming, bridging the gap between home and school. Her dynamic influence was felt through nurturing student-centered learning environments, fostering creative innovation, and instilling the love of learning.
A dedicated educator, Sarah's reach extends beyond students. She has shared her expertise with aspiring Jewish Educators across Los Angeles and at Hebrew Union College. Sarah's commitment to professional growth led her to earn a Supervision and Administrative Certificate from UCLA.

Her family life, alongside husband David and their three children, anchors her. Sarah rejuvenates through outdoor pursuits, culinary exploration, and cherished moments with loved ones.
Bryonna Fisco | Director of Enrollment Management

Serving as Director of Enrollment Management at TVT Community Day School, Bryonna Fisco has overseen a remarkable rise in inquiries, applications, and enrollment since 2015.

Bryonna’s passion for independent education has spurred over a two decades of hands-on experience in educational administration leadership. A graduate of California State Long Beach, Bryonna’s background includes enrollment management, financial assistance work and service/creation of Diversity Committees, producer/production work for E! Entertainment Television and Style Network, and work as a teacher and professional dancer with both the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the NBA.

In her free time, Bryonna enjoys spending time with family and friends, shopping and travel.
Tammi Jones | CFO / COO

Joining TVT Community Day School in 2014 as Chief Financial & Operating Officer, Tammi Jones is a successful executive and versatile leader with extensive experience leading independent schools and organizations of all sizes across multiple industries. Prior to TVT, Tammi was Chief Financial & Operating Officer at The San Diego Jewish Academy for eight years. In addition to supervising finance and accounting, she is responsible for overseeing Technology Operations, Facilities, Human Resources, Risk Management, Compliance, and Legal. She has held numerous positions on other non-profit boards. Tammi holds a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Management, summa cum laude from Morningside University. In her free time, Tammi enjoys yoga, hiking, and home renovation projects.
Urmi Kar | Director of Advancement

Urmi Kar joined the TVT community in 2022 as the Director of Advancement, and in her role oversees all aspects of philanthropy along with parent and alumni relations as part of overall institutional advancement at the school.

Urmi has been in independent schools and colleges her entire career, in a variety of capacities in admissions, communications, and philanthropy. Prior to coming to TVT, Urmi worked at Foothill Country Day, Echo Horizon School, Vistamar School, Marlborough School, and Whittier College. She holds a Bachelor’s in English and History from Wellesley College in Massachusetts and a Master’s in Communications from California State University, Fullerton. Urmi deeply values the opportunity to work closely with TVT parents and families, partner with her colleagues, and as time permits, find a way to bring together family and friends over a delicious meal.
David Kerber | Director of Academics

As Director of Academics, Dave Kerber oversees the school's TK-12 curriculum, with a focus on directing new academic initiatives and innovations. Dave earned his Master's Degree in English from The University of Montana and his undergraduate degree in American Studies from Willamette University.

During his time at TVT, Dave played a key role in the creation of many of the school's foundational documents, including the school's educational philosophy, portrait of the graduate, and statement of pluralism and diversity. He also helped craft the block schedule, founded the Immersion Program in the Upper School, and coordinated a recent CAIS/WASC accreditation.

Before coming to TVT, Dave worked at Oakwood School in North Hollywood and The Athenian School in the San Francisco Bay Area. In his spare time, Mr. Kerber enjoys cooking, tennis, overlanding, and pretending that he's a professional barista.
Rabbi Stuart Light | Director of Jewish Life & Learning

At a school where meaningful Jewish knowledge and know-how stand front and center, it's critical to have someone dedicated to continually raising the quality of the TK-12 Jewish experience. Rabbi Light has filled that role since 2012. Rabbi Light graduated from Brown University with a B.A. in Cognitive Science. He spent a year working at an Outdoor Education Center in Vermont and received his Rabbinical Degree from the Jewish Theological Seminary of New York. During his years of study, Rabbi Light took a year-long hiatus to serve as the Torah Reader and Prayer Leader in Dusseldorf. In addition to his Rabbinic Degree, Rabbi Light has a Master's in Jewish Education. He spent 12 years at the Jewish Day School of Metropolitan Seattle, first as the Director of Jewish Studies, and later assuming the role of Assistant Head of School.

Rabbi Light and his wife, Wiebke (who is a faculty member at TVT), are the parents of a currently enrolled student and two alumni who all love TVT!
Lenny Morales | Director of Technology

Lenny Morales leads TVT in our critical mission to remain at the forefront of cutting-edge resources in the ever-changing landscape of educational technology. As an individual with a proven ability to solve problems, TVT has broadened the scope of leadership to include the school's facilities & security departments.

Lenny earned his Bachelors of Information Technology in Network Security, and has made progress on a Master's in Information Technology (Virginia Tech University). Prior to TVT, Lenny worked for ten years at St. Francis Episcopal Day School in Houston, TX. He was the Head of Technology at the school and managed technology services for 950 students. It isn't uncommon to find Lenny taking in an after-school activity, especially if connected to statistics or theatre, as he enjoys experiencing the talents of our wonderful students.

Board of Trustees

The Board's primary role is to define the school's mission and to ensure its long-term viability. We identify several core attributes for our students and graduates and it is the Board's function to ensure that TVT's overall policies and actions remain consistent with those goals:

Moral and Ethical Adults
Critical Thinkers and Problem-Solvers
Effective Communicators and Listeners
Leaders and Team Players
Achievers and Life-Long Learners

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Alyse Baron

Board Member 2022

Alyse is a Southern California native, and grew up in Irvine. She graduated cum laude, earning her bachelor's degree in Microbiology with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Arizona. She then earned her Medical Degree and completed her residency in Pediatrics at the University of Arizona, College of Medicine. Alyse is Board Certified in Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Alyse has been a private practice Pediatrician for the last 20 years, and has been involved in numerous child advocacy groups. She also has published numerous research studies in the field of Pediatric Cardiology, and also has a special interest in early childhood development, child literacy, child safety issues, and child abuse prevention. Throughout the Covid 19 Pandemic, Alyse served on the TVT Health Advisory Committee, and has made keeping our TVT students, faculty, and familes safe her top priority.
Mayer Cherem | Chair

Board Chair; Board Member 2017

Mayer Cherem is a Managing Director and Head of Portfolio Management at PAAMCO Prisma, a global multi-strategy institutional investment firm. He is an active risk taker and a driving force in the firm’s Investment Committees for complete Alpha and for Molecule, its multi-trader platform. The firm is headquartered in Newport Beach, CA .

Mayer began his finance career at Procter & Gamble, and later worked at the Cisneros Group of Companies and Deutsche Bank. Mayer holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and an Engineering degree from Universidad Simon Bolivar in Venezuela, where he won the first prize in a National Physics Olympiad.

Mayer directed the Macabi Tzair youth movement in Venezuela, and participated in the Institute for Advanced Studies for Jewish Leadership, which culminated with a training and assistance trip for the Jewish community of Camagüey, Cuba. Mayer actively participates in multiple organizations in the Orange County area.

He and his wife Deborah have three children at TVT, Eitan (class of ’24), Gilah (class of ’27) and Noah (class of '32).
Lori Chozen

Board Member 2019

Lori Chozen is an independent Oil & Gas Investor from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Exposed to the O & G exploration, development and production industry at an early age, she currently manages an extensive portfolio of investments in the energy arena.

When not working, Lori spends much of her free time assisting in the community. She is an avid supporter of the Susan G. Komen organization as well as the Make A Wish Foundation. Lori actively volunteers at Tarbut V’Torah Community Day School in Irvine, CA. For the past 5 years, she has chaired the TVT Cares Committee for the Parent Association as well as taken on the role of Room Parent.

Passionate about education, Lori has been instrumental in the establishment of several scholarships and awards, recognizing outstanding student & teacher achievement throughout the country. The beneficiaries of which include the International Studies Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, the Close Up Program in Washington DC and Temple Israel in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Lori enjoys international travel, the practice of yoga/meditation, journal writing and event planning.

Mom, to daughter Harper (Class of ’28) and son, Hayes (class of '36), Lori resides in Newport Beach.

Lori attended the University of Wisconsin Madison's School of Journalism and Mass Communications, where she received a Bachelor’s Degree with a dual major in Advertising and Spanish Language Studies.
Jeffrey Kopstein

Board Member 2023

Jeffrey Kopstein is a Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Irvine. He received his PhD from the University of California, Berkeley, and has extensive administrative experience, frequently advising governmental agencies and foundations. From 2015 to 2020 he was Chair of the Department of Political Science and starting in July 2023, he will be the Director of UCI’s Center for Jewish Studies. Before moving to UCI, Kopstein held faculty positions at Dartmouth College, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Toronto, where he was Director of the Anne Tanenbaum Center for Jewish Studies and Professor of Political Science. He has held fellowships at Harvard University, Princeton University, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

In 2021-2022, Professor Kopstein was the Ina Levine Invitational Senior Scholar at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. His research has been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation, the United States Department of Defense, and the Fulbright Commission.
Neil Kramer

Board Member 2023

Neil Kramer has over 35 years of secondary school teaching, coaching, and administrative experience, having taught History, English, Government, and Jewish Studies. In his times at Marlborough School, Windward School, Geffen Academy at UCLA, and what is now deToledo High School, Neil has held positions as Faculty, Founding Dean of Faculty, History Chair, Founding Assistant Head of School, golf coach and lacrosse coach for both boys and girls. He was an early enthusiast for using materials from Centropa.org in history and Jewish Studies curricula. In 2012 he was elected to the Southern California Lacrosse Hall of Fame.

Neil’s extensive involvement in the Jewish community includes work for the American Jewish Committee and as Pacific Southwest Executive Director of the American Jewish Congress. Neil was also an adjunct faculty member at the Ziegler School of Rabbinical Studies of American Jewish University.

Neil received his BA in History from Union College, and his MA and PhD from Claremont Graduate University. He and his wife Robin will celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2024 with their three sons and their fabulous granddaughter.
Brian Levy

Board Member 2022

Brian grew up in the south bay, West Torrance. He has a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Brian is the founder & president of BML Wealth Management as well as the Managing Member of West Wealth Group, LLC. He is an Investment Adviser Representative, holds a Series 66 securities license, and licensed in life and health insurance. Away from work, Brian loves spending time with his wife, Ruthie, their two daughters, 10 & 8, and their son, 4. When Brian’s not with his family, he can be found cheering on his favorite team, the LA Clippers.
Sue Littman

Board Member

Sue Littman is the proud mother of three TVT boys Matthew Littman (TVT's Class of '12), Russell Littman (TVT Class of '14), and Eli Littman (TVT Class of 2020). Matthew is currently in a master's program in Data Analytics at UCI. Russell is in a PhD program in Bioinformatics at UCLA. Eli is about to begin his freshman year at UC Berkeley.

Sue has been privileged to serve on the Board of Trustees at TVT as Board Chair, member of the executive committee, the strategic planning committee, the finance committee and the enrollment management committee. Before joining the Board of Trustees, she was president of the Parent Association.

Sue is currently self-employed as a math tutor. She has a particular fondness for helping to change teens' attitudes towards math. She holds a BA in computer science from Cornell University and worked as a software engineer and in project management before changing to math education
Dara Sorkin Michaelson

Board Member 2024

Dara Sorkin Michaelson PhD is a tenured Professor in the Department of Medicine and has been Director of the Community Engagement Unit for UCI’s Institute for Clinical and Translational Science for the past 8 years. Conducting community-engaged research and including community-engaged approaches in her teaching and research has been central to her life’s work. Her research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), AHRQ, and other public and private foundations. As a child of a Holocaust survivor and proud Jewish woman, she is driven to build communities where every person is valued. Most importantly, Dara, with her husband, Grant, are proud parents to their three children at TVT: classes of 2024, 2027, and 2030.
Izzi Neufeld

Board Member 2021

Izzi Neufeld is the proud mother of three TVT girls, Emily z’’l (Class of 2017), Ally (Class of 2019), and Rachael (Class of 2022). Ally is currently attending American University in Washington, DC studying Environmental Science.

Izzi has served on the TVT PA Board as Vice President, Upper School Coordinator and class representative. She served on the Executive Committee at Temple Beth El of South Orange County as treasurer as well as a trustee at large. She has also served as treasurer at her children’s elementary and middle schools before they transferred to TVT.

Izzi the CFO for Jillson & Roberts, a family-owned gift wrappings company. In her free time, she enjoys Pilates, reading, crossword puzzles, and traveling.
Somer Tejwani

Board Member 2024

Somer Tejwani began her career as a journalist and has been a journalism teacher, author of three books, and now the senior vice president of global marketing for one of the world’s leading prestige beauty companies—The Estee Lauder Companies’ Too Faced Cosmetics. In her role she oversees all facets of consumer engagement and is regarded as a leading expert in social media, influencer strategy, digital content, and reaching the Gen Z consumer through marketing. Somer is a passionate advocate of leadership development and spends her free time mentoring early stage career women to become the beauty industry’s leaders of tomorrow. She has volunteered for many years as a room parent for the TVT PA, Gala co-chair, and is a supporter of the Jewish Community Center of Irvine. Somer has two wonderful children at TVT: classes of 2032 and 2035.
Jeff Toporek

Board Member 2021

Jeff Toporek is a co-founder and Principal at FD Stonewater, a fully integrated real estate investment, development and consulting firm. The company was founded in 2003, has 40 professionals and is headquartered in Washington DC with offices in Los Angeles. Jeff is responsible for the firm’s operations, business development and serves as the co-head of the Investment and Asset Management business.

If you are looking for Jeff outside of the business world you can likely find him with one of their boys on a field coaching baseball, including at TVT. Teaching student-athletes about life through sports is one of Jeff’s great passions and he is a firm believer that success in life stems from the experiences that can be obtained through team sports.

Jeff is married to Staci for 21+ years and they have 3 boys, all of whom attend TVT, and their white golden retriever Bella. They are both originally from New York and permanently relocated to Southern California in 2016. Jeff graduated with a BA in Organizational Behavior from The University of Michigan in 1990. GO BLUE!
Li Yu

Board Member 2020

Li is an educator by passion. He has always been enthusiastic about teaching and education. Immediately after college, he started teaching at Southeast University in China. After moving to North America, he served as a research or teaching assistant at the University of British Columbia and the University of Southern California when he studied for his Masters’ degrees. Later, Li was once offered to teach at the University of California, Irvine. He is now mainly focusing on children’s potentials and brain plasticity and applying innovative approaches to children development.

Li is an entrepreneur by practice. He is an inactive Certified Public Accountant of California who was nicknamed as “an accountant who enjoys coding.” He has been a serial startup practitioner since 2010 with hands-on experiences of managing startups from early to hyper-growth stages, and most recently led as a prior CFO and partner at DTEN Inc., an innovative startup in interactive communication technologies.

Li is also a community contributor by love. He has been an active parent and spearheaded several cultural and educational initiatives in the Southwest Chinese School in Irvine since 2017., and has been actively involved with local Cub Scout and Boy Scout activities in Orange County. He is also a book lover with his son in BOB club at Tarbut V' Torah since 2018 and has been volunteering in the “Friends of the Library” at Newport Beach Public Library since 2019. Li and his wife, Dr. Shuya Yin, are proud parents of Evan (Class of '27) and Alan (Class of '31).

Li earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering at Southeast University, Nanjing China, and a master’s degree in Supply Chain Management from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver Canada, and also a master’s degree in Accountancy from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles California.