Commitment to Excellence
OUR ADMINISTRATION
At Shorashim Academy, our administration is dedicated to fostering a supportive and thriving educational environment for every student. Committed to excellence, our team of experienced professionals prioritizes effective communication and collaboration with teachers, parents, and students to ensure an environment of safety, respect, and responsibility.
Rabbi Dr. Gur Berman
Rabbi Dr. Gur Berman
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Rabbi Dr. Gur Berman has a 20+ year career in education and over ten years of experience as a school leader in both private and public charter schools. Prominently, he was the principal of the Kendall and Plantation Ben Gamla Charter Schools. Most recently, he served as the Director of General Studies at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes, overseeing the general studies education of over 1,000 students.
Rabbi Dr. Berman is particularly adept at assembling, supporting, and retaining motivated, loyal, and highly effective faculty and staff and working with that team to exceed the expectations of all school stakeholders. He adheres scrupulously to the concept that “authentic leadership begins at the top,” which requires personal values and integrity to inform all professional decision making. Focusing on building and maintaining relationships with staff, students, and parents, he follows a philosophy of respect and collaboration to achieve mutual goals.
Rabbi Isaac Melnick
Rabbi Isaac Melnick
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rabbi Isaac Melnick was educator-turned-director of the highly successful Torah 4 Everyone (T4E) afterschool program at Ben Gamla Charter School for 12 years. With his combination of strong leadership skills and financial accountability, the T4E program gained an outstanding reputation and grew to an enrollment of close to 250 students.
Previously, Rabbi Melnick served as Dean of BMA. There, he supported teachers and helped create a more positive school culture.
Highly skilled in creating firm but positive relationships with his students, Rabbi Melnick encourages his students to be their best.
ELLEN KOPPEL
ELLEN KOPPEL
Director of School Climate and Citizenship
Mrs. Ellen Koppel has over 20 years of experience working in private and public charter schools, ensuring a socially and emotionally safe school environment for all members of the school’s community.
Expert at providing meaningful learning opportunities, Mrs. Koppel helps students become more emotionally and socially flexible, competent, sensitive, and aware.
GOLDIE BERMAN
GOLDIE BERMAN
JUDAIC STUDIES PRINCIPAL
Mrs. Berman is a certified teacher and experienced educator in both Judaic and secular studies, having taught grades ranging from kindergarten to 8th. She founded an enrichment program for struggling students at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes and has been trained in several reading programs, including the Orton-Gillingham model.
Expert at the Responsive Classroom technique, Mrs. Berman helps students thrive with this student-centered, social and emotional learning approach.
ADI COHEN
ADI COHEN
Hebrew & Israel Department Chair; Hebrew Teacher
Morah Adi Cohen brings over 20 years of experience teaching Hebrew and Israel studies in both private and charter school settings. Known for her ability to connect with students of diverse backgrounds and personalities, Morah Adi creates engaging, meaningful lessons that inspire curiosity and pride. Through her creativity and passion, she helps students develop a deep appreciation and understanding of the modern State of Israel.
Nicholas Magyar
Dean of Students; Sixth Grade General Studies
Deana Shuker
Deana Shuker
Dean of Students; Seventh Grade General Studies
MELISSA GURLACZ
Melissa Gurlacz
Scholarship Coordinator & Bookkeeper
Mrs. Melissa Gurlacz is passionate about working in education. With her strong organizational skills and natural affinity for both language and technology, she began her career in the corporate world as a legal secretary for a prestigious law firm. However, she discovered her true calling while volunteering for the Broward County Public School system, which led to a career in school administration.
As a highly skilled professional with a bachelor’s degree in the Arts, Mrs. Gurlacz is exceptionally qualified to bring her enthusiasm and expertise to Shorashim Academy.
Bar Rakah
Bar Rakah
Front Desk Manager
Biography coming soon.
Heather Singer
Heather Singer
Enrollment Director
Biography coming soon.