Meet our Team
Associated Talmud Torahs Professional Staff
Rabbi Phil Karesh, Chief Executive Officer
Rabbi Phil Karesh, a proud graduate and parent in Chicago’s day school system, brings a steadfast commitment to excellence in Jewish education and professionalism as he leads ATT’s highly capable and experienced team.
After graduating from Hillel Torah and Fasman Yeshiva High School, Rabbi Karesh continued his learning at Yeshivat Sha’alvim for two years. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Yeshiva University, Semicha from Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from Loyola University. Together with his wife, Mrs. Rachie Karesh, a community leader and Executive Director of Upward Community, they are the proud parents of six children.
Before joining ATT in January 2025, Rabbi Karesh served as Executive Director of Community Projects & Partnerships for the Orthodox Union, where he led the innovative GenAleph Parenting Initiative. His previous roles include Director of Education for Midwest NCSY and Rebbe at Hillel Torah. Rabbi Karesh is also a Daf Yomi Maggid Shiur at Beis Medrash Mikor HaChaim and a respected community Mohel.
Rabbi Avrohom Moller, Superintendent of Education
Rabbi Moller has led the ATT’s education and professional development initiatives for over a decade. He has been an educator in Chicago for 30 years, teaching elementary, secondary grades and college. He also served in school administration for six years. He received his rabbinic ordination from Mesivta Tiferes Jerusalem and a master’s degree in educational administration from Loyola University. Rabbi Moller believes passionately that Jewish education is the guarantor of our future as a people and that our schools deserve all the support we can provide them. He is fascinated by the science of learning and the systems that make schools succeed as institutions and as community assets. Rabbi Moller has written and lectured on these topics extensively.
Rabbi Moller lives in Chicago with his wife Devorah and family, and his children have all been recipients of a quality education in Chicago’s Jewish day schools.
Judy Biber, Office Manager
Judy has been part of the ATT since 1997 and currently serves as Office Manager. Previously, Judy worked in ATT’s Computer Lab. Her diverse professional background includes serving as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, team leader, tutor, as well as providing technology training for educators.
Judy holds an MBA with an emphasis in information systems from the University of Colorado and a B.S. in Elementary Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has also completed graduate coursework in education at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Chicago and holds teaching credentials from Illinois, Colorado, and Ontario.
Outside of work, Judy feels blessed to have three wonderful children, all graduates of ATT schools, 13 amazing grandchildren, and two beautiful great-granddaughters, identical twins! She enjoys exercising, tending to her vegetable garden, reading, but most of all, spending time with family and friends.
Arielle Blivaiss, Marketing Manager
Arielle brings over a decade of corporate marketing experience to her role as Marketing Manager at ATT. She holds degrees in marketing and psychology from the University of Maryland.
Throughout her career, Arielle has worked across a variety of industries, developing expertise in marketing strategy, brand communications, digital marketing, event planning, and project management. Her experience includes managing integrated marketing campaigns and developing initiatives to strengthen brand awareness and engagement.
At ATT, Arielle oversees the organization’s marketing and communications efforts, with a focus on raising awareness of ATT and the resources and services it provides to Chicago’s Jewish day school community. She manages digital and print communications, supports fundraising campaigns and organizational events, and works with ATT’s professional team to promote its programs and share its impact.
Sandy Cohen, Administrative Assistant
Jessica Elzinga, Literacy Coordinator
Jessica Elzinga serves as Literacy Coordinator for ATT/REACH. She holds a Master of Arts in English and Bachelor of Arts in English from Purdue University, where she taught English Composition and Rhetoric. Jessica’s professional background also includes proposal and grant writing in the corporate and non-profit sectors.
Jessica enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Chani Friedman, Government Programs Liaison
Over the course of Chani’s tenure at the ATT, she has served in many roles. Currently, she is the government programs liaison for the ATT/Jewish schools to Chicago Public Schools and Chicago suburban districts, coordinating local, state and federal resources for Jewish schools. She also served as director of ATT’s Arthur H. & Alice Barbakoff Department of Teacher Education & Development, organizing professional development opportunities for the 500 ATT teachers and coordinated the programming for the Rabbi Isaac Mayefsky Memorial Lecture.
Chani has a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from the University of Colorado and a master’s degree in educational administration from Loyola University Chicago. She is a veteran teacher, having taught at Hanna Sacks Bais Yaakov in the Jewish history and science departments for 30 years, at Joan Dachs Bais Yaakov as a guest lecturer teaching Holocaust education, adult classes in the Chicago community and the ATT’s professional development classes.
Chani is passionate about education and helping our community’s schools receive the resources they need so all children can succeed.
Elise Glatz, Director of Professional Development
Elise Glatz serves as the Director of Professional Development at the Associated Talmud Torahs (ATT) of Chicago. With over 20 years of experience in education, Mrs. Glatz is a master educator, mentor, and leader committed to helping teachers thrive and students succeed.
Prior to joining the ATT, Mrs. Glatz spent 15 impactful years at Arie Crown Hebrew Day School, where she was widely recognized for her warmth, creativity, and collaborative spirit. Before that, she taught in the Chicago Public Schools, giving her a broad perspective on diverse learning environments. Throughout her career, she has been a trusted resource for colleagues, often modeling lessons, mentoring peers, and offering practical, research-based strategies for classroom success. In 2021–2022, she received the prestigious Hartman Family Foundation Educator of the Year Award, a testament to her excellence, growth mindset, and lasting impact.
Mrs. Glatz holds a degree in education from National Louis University and is a certified Parenting Coach through the Jai Institute for Parenting. At the ATT, she focuses on supporting Tier 1 teachers, those who serve as the first line of instruction, by helping them deepen their skills and meet the diverse needs of today’s students. She is passionate about creating opportunities for collaboration, reflection, and growth, and is excited to partner with schools across Chicago.
Rabbi Yoni Gold, Director of Data Strategy & Instructional Excellence
Rabbi Yoni Gold is the Director of Data Strategy and Instructional Excellence at the ATT. His work centers on two connected goals: helping teachers grow and succeed, and helping schools understand their own work more clearly.
On the instructional side, Yoni provides professional development and coaching to teachers and oversees the coaching done across the ATT. He is deeply committed to supporting educators at every stage of their careers, and he believes that when teachers are well supported, students and schools thrive.
On the data side, Yoni leads efforts to collect and use data in ways that are meaningful and practical. He is genuinely curious about what data can tell us about our schools, our programs, and the impact of our work, and he uses those insights to guide program improvement and inform decisions. For Yoni, data is not an end in itself but a tool for asking better questions and building better schools.
Yoni came to this work through the classroom. He taught middle school at Hillel Torah, where he also served as Student Activities Coordinator. That experience, combined with training in organizational psychology and a systems-level view of schools, shapes how he approaches improving education and the professional lives of teachers.
Yoni holds a Master’s degree in Jewish Education from the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education, a Master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and an MBA from Roosevelt University, and semicha from Yeshiva University’s Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary (RIETS).
Malkie Goldberg, Administrative Assistant
Born in Springfield, Massachusetts, Malkie attended Springfield Hebrew Day School (now Heritage Academy) and the Hebrew Institute of Long Island. She continued her education at several institutions, including Stern College for Women, Hebrew University, and Northeastern University, before earning her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Roosevelt University.
Before joining ATT, she worked as a substitute teacher at Hillel Torah, teaching English, Hebrew, and physical education. She has also been actively involved in Jewish communal organizations, serving as Midwest Council President of AMIT, chapter president of AMIT and Hapoel HaMizrachi, and on various boards.
A longtime advocate for Jewish education, Malkie has strong ties to Chicago’s Jewish day school community. Her three sons attended Hillel Torah and Ida Crown Jewish Academy, and her family now includes 15 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, with multiple generations attending ATT-affiliated schools.
Outside of her professional and communal involvement, she has taught simcha dancing for many years and currently enjoys Jazzercise.
Aviva Needle, Grants Manager
Aviva oversees grant development and portfolio management, identifying new funding opportunities, cultivating and maintaining funder relationships, securing grants, and overseeing grant administration, compliance, and reporting to sustain and expand funding for the organization. Her experience in educational administration for over 20 years spans grant development and reporting, funding strategy, organizational operations, financial administration, and executive support. Prior to her role with the ATT, Aviva worked at Washington University in St. Louis in both public health and performing arts, and at Stern College for Women as the Academic Assistant and Presidential Fellow to the Dean. She also currently serves as the Operations Manager for REACH Chicago. She has a degree in journalism and music from Yeshiva University, and enjoys the performing and visual arts, music, and traveling the world any chance she gets.
Shayna Rosenberg, Marketing & Project Manager
Shayna Rosenberg has been a valued member of the Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago (ATT) for over a decade. She holds a BA in Business and Graphics and brings a strong combination of creativity, organizational skills, and attention to detail to her role. Her responsibilities include graphic design, website management, project coordination, and event planning. She enjoys bringing together her creative talents and administrative skills to support ATT’s mission of strengthening Jewish education and serving the Jewish day school community.
Sabrina Schapira, Director of Human Resources
Sabrina Schapira serves as the Director of Human Resources at ATT, bringing experience in human resources, employee relations, and organizational operations. She is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and is dedicated to supporting employees and fostering a positive, collaborative work environment.
Sabrina enjoys building meaningful relationships, finding creative solutions, and helping ATT operate effectively. She is passionate about creating an environment where employees feel valued and supported, allowing them to succeed in their roles and contribute to ATT’s mission.
Sharon Schwartz, Director of Strategic Planning & Government Programs
Sharon Schwartz brings extensive experience in nonprofit leadership, program development, community engagement, and organizational management to her work with Associated Talmud Torahs of Chicago (ATT).
Throughout her career, Sharon has held several leadership roles, including with Chicago Torah Network and Chai Lifeline, where she has overseen educational programming, strategic initiatives, fundraising, and community outreach. Her work has focused on strengthening organizations, building meaningful relationships, and developing programs that serve the Jewish community.
Sharon has also served as a consultant and project specialist for ATT, contributing her expertise in grant writing, program planning, and professional development initiatives.
She holds a Juris Doctor, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, and was selected for the 2022 JCC Chicago Women in Power Fellowship.
Sharon is passionate about supporting Jewish education, fostering collaboration, and creating opportunities that strengthen the community.
Elissa Staiman, Executive Assistant to the CEO and Bookkeeper
With over 15 years of experience in financial leadership, Elissa brings extensive expertise in budgeting, forecasting, financial operations, and performance reporting for service-based organizations. She holds an MBA in Financial Analysis from DePaul University and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance from Loyola University.
As Executive Assistant to the CEO and Bookkeeper at ATT, she is committed to supporting the mission of ATT. She believes in the importance of providing teachers and students with the resources they need to address each child’s unique social, emotional, and academic needs.
Outside of work, she enjoys long-distance running, outdoor activities, and spending time with her family.