Meet our Team
Rabbi Phil Karesh, CEO
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.
Chani Friedman, Director of Teacher Education & Development, Government Programs Liaison
Over the course of Chani’s tenure at the ATT, she has served in many roles. Currently, she is director of the Arthur H. & Alice Barbakoff Department of Teacher Education & Development, organizing professional development opportunities for the 500 ATT teachers. She is also 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. Chani has a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from the University of Colorado and a M.Ed. in educational administration and supervision 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 also leads many of the ATT professional development classes.