Sulam Leadership Team

MRS. RACHEL SUSHNER: DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL EDUCATION

Mrs. Rachel Sushner oversees Sulam Inc.’s educational programming and chairs the Admissions and Placement Committee. In addition, Ms. Sushner coordinates consultative and training services.

Mrs. Sushner holds a Masters Degree in Special Education from Johns Hopkins University and has worked at Sulam since 2004.

MRS. DEBBIE KATZ- DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION

Mrs. Debbie Katz has oversight responsibilities over Sulam Inc’s community relations, website and publications, accreditation and faculty communications. Co-chairing leadership team meetings with Mrs. Sushner, Mrs. Katz’s emphasis is in innovation and quality assurance.

Mrs. Katz, earned her Chemistry and Physics teaching degree from Ohio State University and has been a teacher, program director, parent coach and community educator for over 30 years.

RABBI URI MEYERS –LOWER SCHOOL AND MIDDLE SCHOOL DIVISION CHAIR at MJBHA

Rabbi Uri Meyers is charged with leading the MJBHA lower school and middle school programs.

Masterfully synchronizing a dizzying array of academic, therapeutic and psychological services for each student, Rabbi Meyers works closely with the MJBHA and Sulam professionals to keep the constantly evolving grid of programs running smoothly. He manages it all with fine tuned organization and good humor.

Rabbi Meyers holds a Masters Degree in Educational Administration and Supervision from Loyola University in Chicago and a Masters in Special Education from Loyola College in Maryland. He has nine years of experience in the field of education.

MRS. ISRAELLE RESTI ---SHE’ARIM LOWER SCHOOL DIVISION CHAIR and SHE’ARIM HIGH SCHOOL PROGRAM CHAIR at MJBHA

Mrs. Israelle Resti , the talented chair of Sulam’s two newest divisions, opened the She’arim programs in September 2010. Now in its second year, Ms. Resti has guided She’arim’s highly competent team of teachers and instructional assistants towards programmatic excellence. Each student receives a complex array of services. The She’arim programs provide educational services for lower, middle and high school students who require both academic and life skills instruction.

Mrs. Resti received her Masters degree in Transition Special Education from George Washington University and had six years of experience with the life skills program at Montgomery County Public Schools before joining the Sulam faculty in 2010.

DR. RACHEL RAVIN –CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGIST

Weekly sessions with Dr. Rachel Ravin, the Sulam psychologist, are built into each student’s schedule. Dr. Ravin facilitates social interactions, teaches problem solving skills and gives guidance to students when necessary. The sessions are an integral part of the students’ individualized programs and help students to improve social, emotional and behavioral functioning. Dr. Ravin often works with family members and outside professionals to extend care to the students’ lives outside of school.

Dr. Ravin oversees a school wide behavioral plan. Each student in the lower and middle school has a customized behavior chart, which encourages growth in challenging areas of school life. Their social/emotional skills improve as they receive the planned rewards they have selected.

Dr. Ravin received her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from The George Washington University with a specialty in children and adolescents.  She has 11 years experience in schools and has been working with Sulam since 2003.

MS. IVY LEICHMAN—RESOURCE & TWICE EXCEPTIONAL SPECIALIST

Ms Ivy Leichman, is Sulam’s new Twice Exceptional Resource specialist.  Her role is to design programming that addresses the needs of students who are intellectually gifted and have learning differences.  

Ms. Leichman is a 34 year veteran of Montgomery County Public Schools and received her Masters in Special Education and Reading from American University.