Board of Trustees

About the Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees charts the long-term future of the Hebrew Day School. It is responsible to ensure that the School is healthy and vibrant not just this year or next year but five, ten, and twenty years from now. Within Jewish tradition, the Board follows the model of Honi Ha-Ma’agel, who legendarily planted trees whose fruit he knew he would not eat himself but which would feed a later generation. The Board’s official name—the Board of Trustees—reflects this orientation. The School is held in trust for Jewish children yet unborn.

As a legal matter, the Board of Trustees is vested with full authority to govern the School. In keeping with its mission, the Board exercises those powers sparingly. After all, the Trustees are not the members of the School community best equipped to make most of the decisions that the life of the School requires.

Instead, the Trustees focus on three core responsibilities.

• First, the Board hires, supports, evaluates, and if necessary discharges the Head of School.
• Second, the Board equips the School’s professionals with the resources, financial and otherwise, that they need to pursue their mission today and keep the School healthy into the future.
• Third, the Board represents and seeks opportunities for the School in the wider community. Trustees are ambassadors for Hebrew Day School wherever they go.

The Board must attend to these responsibilities with its eye constantly on the long term. If the Trustees commit the School’s operations to the right professional leader, manage the big-picture finances responsibly, and diligently pursue opportunities for the School in the wider world, Hebrew Day School should be healthy and vibrant when today’s Gansters have Gansters of their own.

2024-2025 Board Members

Rick Barinbaum is a clinical social worker, educator, and consultant who focuses on building and leveraging relationships through interdisciplinary practices. He teaches at the University of Michigan School of Social Work, co-teaches at Michigan Law Clinics, consults with child welfare court systems and non-profit law practices, and serves as a senior social worker at Tamarack Camps. He is a proud parent of two Hebrew Day School children.

Karla Goldman is a professor of Judaic Studies and Social Work at the University of Michigan, where she directs the Jewish Communal Leadership Program. She has served on the national boards of Keshet and the Association for Jewish Studies and is a current member of the board of the Jewish Women’s Archive, of which she is the immediate past co-chair. She is the parent of an Hebrew Day School graduate.

Laurie Greenberg has lived in Ann Arbor for 22 years with her husband and 3 children. All 3 kids are alumni of the ECC preschool and the Hebrew Day School. Laurie has served on the JCC and ECC boards and is excited to be joining the Hebrew Day School board this coming year. She is grateful for the strong Jewish foundation and education that the HDSAA provided to her family over the years.

Hooman Harooni is an Ophthalmologist with ProMedica healthcare system and serves as the Director of Cornea/Refractive services. He is also a parent of two Hebrew Day School alumni.

Ben Kellman is an Hebrew Day School alumnus, who is a public policy manager at AmeriHealth.

Marie-Adele Kress is a Radiation Oncologist in the St. Joseph Mercy Health System, where she serves as Section Head and is a member of the Boards of Directors of the Huron Valley Physicians Association and the McAuley Health Partners ACO. She also serves on the Board of Directors of Beth Israel Congregation in Ann Arbor. She is the parent of two current Hebrew Day School students.

Bobby Levine is the CEO of the engineering company Digested Organics. Bobby is a current Hebrew Day School parent.

Shana Olson is a Social Worker in Private Practice in Ann Arbor working with Adolescents, Adults and Families.  She is the Mental Health Professional for Habonim Dror Camp Tavor.  She is the parent of 2 Hebrew Day School alumni and 2 current Hebrew Day School students.

Brian Schapiro is a dermatopathologist who has worked in Ann Arbor at SJMHS and in a private digital pathology group for the past 25 years. He has served on the board of Michigan  Multispecialty Physicians and has been a member of the Ann Arbor Orthodox Minyan since moving to Ann Arbor.

Steve Stancroff is an attorney specializing in consumer protection law.  He is currently serving on committees for Temple Beth Emeth and Jewish Federation. He has three sons who attended Hebrew Day School .

Michelle Stern-Samberg is a child, adolescent, and family psychologist in private practice in Ann Arbor. Michelle has been an active volunteer in the Hebrew Day School community and serves as a parent liaison for Camp Gan Israel of Ann Arbor. She is the proud parent of two Hebrew Day School graduates.

Ron Sussman had previously served on the Hebrew Day School Board for 12 years.  He was a public school educator for 37 years and a lecturer at the UofM for 6 years.  He worked with Habonim Youth for 35 years and recently retired from his position as Ritual Director at Beth Israel where he worked with well over 400 families.  He is the father of three HDS graduates and also the grandfather of three HDS grads.

Sharon Weiner is a stay at home Mom with 3 kids. She is a former Escrow Officer and USA Swimming Certified Swim Coach. For the last 10 years she has volunteered at Ann Arbor Public Schools. She currently sits on the Executive Board for the Ann Arbor Huron Athletic Boosters Club. She is the proud parent of an Hebrew Day School graduate.

Monica Woll Rosen is the President of the Board of Trustees. She is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan where she specializes in pediatric and adolescent gynecology. She is the proud parent of three Hebrew Day School students.

Will Wright is the Principal of Logan Elementary School in Ann Arbor. He is the parent of two Hebrew Day School alumni.

Monica Vaisman is a Dentist who currently practices in Dundee Michigan in a Private Practice. She Is the parent of 2 alumni from Hebrew Day School , the class of 2014 and the class of 2017. Monica has served in various community institutions in different roles.

Past Presidents