Our staff of 75 professional educators represents a range of background and experience from Israel and South Africa to New York, Massachusetts, and California.

In the elementary grades, the student/teacher ration is 12:1 with two educators in each classroom at most times. In the middle school program, the typical class size is 16-18 students; some classes such as electives are smaller.

Our teachers use state-of-the-art methods and materials, and a variety of approaches to meet the needs of all students. The passion and commitment of our teaching staff is evident in our low turnover rate.

Our staff works collaboratively to ensure success for every student. At each grade level, teachers and specialists plan enriching and challenging activities. Teachers participate in continuing education such as professional conferences in secular and Judaic subjects and methodology.

Our hiring procedure for teachers involves the entire faculty. Candidates teach a class at our school, and are observed and interviewed by a committee of teachers. Our staff experiences very low turnover. In fact, many staff members have been with us since the inception of our school.

Head of School:
Julie Smith received her BS in Elementary Education with a reading endorsement from Oregon State University and her MA in Special Education from Portland State University. Julie has extensive experience as a classroom teacher, learning specialist, director of Jewish Studies, and senior administrator. Prior to becoming our Head of School in 2007 she served as Head of School for Portland Jewish Academy in Portland, Oregon for eleven years. She also served as the Executive Director of the Mittleman Jewish Community Center in Portland for three years. Julie has taught and supervised kindergarten through eighth grade in both regular and special education classrooms.

Head of School Emeritus:
Gerald H. Elgarten, Head of School from 1993 to 2007, received his Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision from Fordham University, New York. He was a tenured Associate Professor of Mathematics Education for the City College of New York, and oversaw the mathematics program of 1000 public schools in New York City. Gerry received certification as New York Superintendent of Schools, and authored four high school mathematics textbooks.

Head of the Middle School Program:
Cindy Schlesinger received her undergraduate degrees from Occidental College and went on for her Masters in Education at the University of Southern California. She taught math and science at Pressman Academy in Los Angeles before moving back to her hometown of Palo Alto. During the last six years, Cindy created and implemented the science program for our middle school program as well as taught mathematics. Cindy became Middle School coordinator in 2001 and Head of the Middle School Program in 2003.

Head of Lower School General Studies:
Janet Newman received her undergraduate degree from SUNY at Buffalo in Elementary Education and her Master’s degree with an emphasis on Supervision and Curriculum Development from the Institute of Open Education/Antioch Graduate Center. She taught first to third grade in Boston and Newton public schools before moving to California. Janet joined the Hausner community to teach the pioneering fourth-fifth grade class and then returned to her love, teaching first grade, for the next seven years. For the last several years Janet has worked in an administrative capacity supervising the general studies program and overseeing the daily K-5 program.

Head of Jewish Studies:
Aviv Monarch received his undergraduate degree from the University of California at San Diego. He taught fourth grade at Hausner for seven years, seventh grade Jewish Studies for two years, and for the last several years worked as Head of Jewish and Hebrew Studies in a coordinator, administrative, and curriculum development capacity.