
Ofra has been part of the Schechter LI Family since the early 1980’s. Ofra completed her studies at the Beersheva Teaching College and the Ben Gurion University of the Negev and began her journey as a Jewish Educator. After many years of teaching Judaic Studies and Hebrew at Schechter, Ofra became the middle school assistant principal for grades 6-8, then the upper school assistant principal for grades 6-12, before becoming Principal in 2014. Ofra received the Janus Korczak Educators Award and was honored at the 2011 Schechter LI Gala. Ofra practices what she preaches and all of her children have received their education at Schechter.

Esther DuBow is the Director of Jewish Education and Community Engagement at the Schechter School of Long Island. She lives in Queens, was born in Brooklyn, and grew up in Woodmere, attending the Yeshivah of Flatbush and HAFTR during her formative years. Esther received a Bachelor of Science in Family Science from the University of Maryland and continued her studies in Jerusalem at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies. She completed the Pardes Educators Program and has a Master of Jewish Education from Hebrew College and a Certificate of Advanced Jewish Studies from Pardes. In 2018, Esther received the Young Pioneer Award from The Jewish Education Project, and was part of Cohort 4 of UJA’s Ruskay Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Jewish Non-profits in 2021-2022. She has served as mentor to student teachers through Pardes’s teaching programs and has overseen the growth of student leadership initiatives at SSLI.
Esther feels like she has found a home at Schechter Long Island and is proud of the work she’s done there over her tenure. She uses chavruta learning in all her text classes, asking students to find the everyday relevance in the nuance of traditional Jewish sources to pass on the love of learning that she brings to her craft. In addition to being a classroom teacher, Esther works with other faculty and student leaders to plan and offer exciting programming for the school, always looking for another way to engage the demographic. Additionally, Esther advises the school’s Family & School Coalition, finding ways to involve parents in school-related programming. Outside of school, Esther’s loves are theatre and cooking, and her family. Esther lives in Hillcrest with her husband Matt, daughter Surie, and Artemis the goldendoodle.

With extensive experience in early childhood education and school leadership, Amy has a proven track record of increasing enrollment and enhancing family programming. She holds a Master’s in Education from Hofstra University and a Bachelor’s in Human Development from Binghamton University, along with New York State teaching certifications.

I’ve been a staff member at the Schechter School of Long Island for the past 24 years and absolutely love it here. I started working at SSLI full time the Monday following my college graduation with a B.S. in Business Administration, and SSLI quickly became my home away from home. As the Business Director, I handle financial matters such as tuition, aid, and grants, and I am the lead professional contact for many of our school’s vendors.
Outside of Schechter, I’m a mom to a 15-year-old daughter and an 11-year-old son. My days away from SSLI are mostly filled with spending time with my children and husband whether it’s heading to after-school activities, the beach, or visiting relatives. If I’m not spending time with my family, you can find me testing new recipes and diving into a novel a few minutes at a time.

Josh graduated from Binghamton University with a BA in History and Economics. He continued on to receive his master’s of science in physical education from Hofstra University. Josh is a Schechter LI alumnus who graduated in 2011 and came back to coach various sports. He has now been coaching volleyball for the last 8 years and teaching physical education for the last 4 years. Josh was appointed Director of Athletics in 2023 and is looking forward to expanding the efforts of the athletic program.

Ilana is a seasoned marketing and communications professional with over 15 years of experience leading impactful branding, marketing strategies, and communications initiatives. With a strong foundation in both nonprofit and corporate sectors, Ilana has a proven track record of building and enhancing departments, elevating engagement, and driving growth through innovative campaigns and strategic content. Currently, as the Marketing & Communications Director at Schechter School of Long Island, Ilana is responsible for creating and executing the institution's marketing strategy.
Previously, as the Marketing & Communications Director at Yeshivah of Flatbush, she expanded the department, launched the viral video “We Don’t Bow Down to Haman,” and established the school's branding standards. She also worked closely with leadership teams to produce quality content and enhance community engagement.
Ilana holds a Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of Michigan and continues to be driven by a passion for building and executing communications strategies that elevate brand identity and create lasting impact.

I am Art Mandel and am one of the college counselors. I have been a college counselor for over 30 years and have traveled from coast to coast, and from Canada to our southern border visiting over 350 colleges and universities, meeting with admissions officers and students. I have also been the Director of Guidance for the Roslyn School Districts where I built and directed the counseling program from K-12. I hold three advanced degrees and attend a variety of conferences to ensure that Schechter is a state–of–the–art school. My greatest joy is working with students to find the right college fit where they realize their dreams and will thrive as they prepare for their future.

Sandra Pensak has devoted 50 years to public education. She began her career as a teacher in the NYC Department of Education and retired from the Hewlett-Woodmere Public Schools in 2013 where she served as Principal of the Hewlett Elementary School for fourteen years. Since “retiring”, she has worked as an educational consultant and adjunct lecturer at Queens College, CUNY in the Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education. Sandra served as Principal of the Schechter Lower School from January through June 2024. This year she is excited to continue as an advisor to the lower school.
Sandra and her husband Alan have been members of the Shelter Rock Jewish Center for the past 35 years, where she has served in positions on the Executive Board and the Board of Trustees. She is a volunteer in the docent program at the Kupferberg Holocaust Center on the campus of Queensborough Community College. She is a board member of the Fraternal Order of Bendin-Sosnowicer, a ‘landsmanschaften’ including survivors of the Holocaust from the Zaglembie region of Poland, now managed by an all-volunteer team of Second, Third, and Fourth Generation devoted to the sacred commitment to Holocaust Remembrance.
Sandra is a graduate of Queens College and holds a Master’s Degree in Special Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, and a Professional Diploma in Educational Administration and Supervision from St. John’s University.

Daryl is a seasoned fundraising professional with over 20 years in the nonprofit sector, specializing in medical, disease-related, and educational causes. She excels in securing major gifts, managing annual campaigns, and cultivating corporate partnerships, all while implementing strategic plans that elevate organizational missions.
Daryl thrives in collaborative environments, building meaningful connections and empowering communities through her work. Outside of the office, she enjoys baking, treating her dog, Delilah, like family, and spending time in Vermont with her kids, skiing, hiking, and playing tennis.