Meet our Leadership
Head of School, Rabbi Dani Rockoff
Rabbi Rockoff served as the K-12 Judaic Studies Principal and School Rabbi of the Denver Academy of Torah.
Prior to moving to Denver in 2019, Rabbi Rockoff served as Dean of the Matmidim Judaic Studies Program at the Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy in Overland Park, KS. He was also the congregational rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel Abraham and Voliner (BIAV), a position he held since 2008. Rabbi Rockoff was ordained at the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary of Yeshiva University, where he also earned an M.S. in Jewish Education from the Azrieli School of Jewish Education and Administration, as well as an M.A. in Bible from the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Jewish Studies. He also completed a Masters degree in Public Administration at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.
A Boston native, Rabbi Rockoff began his career in education, where he taught Judaic Studies to elementary, middle and high school students at the BiCultural Day School in Stamford, CT, and the Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School in Livingston, NJ. His previous rabbinic experience includes internships in Riverdale, NY and Beverly Hills, CA, as well as an assistant rabbi position in West Orange, NJ. He was also Program Director at the Orthodox Union’s Department of Community and Synagogue Services, both on the West Coast and in New York. Rabbi Rockoff is married to Dr. Ayala Zoltan Rockoff, a special educator and school psychologist; together they have four children- Shai, David Aryeh, Ora, and Beni.
Principal, Ganon - Grade 8
Lauren Goldman-Brown
Lauren Goldman-Brown comes to WDS with extensive administrative and teaching experience. Lauren received her Bachelor's degree in Government from Oberlin College and her Master's in Education from Bank Street College of Education. She taught in New York City public schools before moving to Hong Kong with her husband. At Carmel School in Hong Kong, Lauren served as a teacher, curriculum coordinator, Middle School coordinator, and Principal over the course of 14 years. She and her family moved back to New York in 2010, where she was the Principal of Reuben Gittelman Hebrew Day School and most recently, Principal at the Solomon Schechter Day School of Bergen County, where she has been for 12 years. Lauren is thrilled to be joining Westchester Day School and is excited to get to know the community! She lives in Piermont, NY with her husband, three sons, and two dogs.
Director of Judaic Studies, Ganon - Grade 8
Rabbi Nuriel Klinger
Rabbi Klinger, a native of Columbus, Ohio, came to Westchester Day School in 2021 as the Rabbi-in-Residence. In 2023 he became the Director of Judaic Studies at WDS overseeing the Limudei Kodesh curriculum and education in the elementary and middle school. Rabbi Klinger received Semicha from the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary at Yeshiva University, a Masters in Medieval Jewish History from the Bernard Revel Graduate School at YU and a BA in Economics from the University of Michigan. In addition to his role at WDS he is also the Associate Rabbi at the Young Israel of Scarsdale.
Director of Finance and Operations
Elliot Shriner-Cahn
Elliot Shriner-Cahn has joined our team as our Director of Finance and Operations. Elliot is a seasoned nonprofit executive with over a decade of experience in organizational leadership and financial management. Most recently, Elliot was the CFO and Development Director at Camp Zeke, which he helped to grow from a startup into a thriving nonprofit organization. Elliot is excited for the opportunity to join the Westchester Day School family and bring the same level of dedication and commitment to WDS that has made him successful in his past work. Outside of work, Elliot enjoys biking around New York, cooking for family and friends, and spending time with his wife, Judy, one-year old daughter, Hila, and their two dogs, Ruby and Gus.
Director of Student Success
Sue Rappaport
Ms. Rappaport joins WDS as an experienced special educator and administrator, who has served in a variety of roles, including most recently as the ACCESS program manager at the Pine Crest School in Florida. Before that, Ms. Rappaport spent nearly a decade as a special educator and program/placement director at the Eagle Hill School in Greenwich. Prior to her tenure at Eagle Hill, Ms. Rappaport was the co-founder and Co-Executive Director of Pathways School in Eastchester NY.
In these roles, Ms. Rappaport has worked closely with students, parents, and clinicians to address multiple levels of need and develop and implement individualized plans for success. Through her extensive career, Ms. Rappaport has built a broad network of educational consultants and advocates, and has served as the chair of a Committee on Preschool Special Education, as a special education evaluator, a school district liaison, and a parent/family advocate with school districts.
Upper Division: Grades 5-8
Director of Upper Division (Grades 5-8)
Rabbi Jeff Ney
Rabbi Jeff Ney joined the WDS family for the 2023-2024 school year as Middle School Director. Prior to joining WDS, Rabbi Ney served as the Director of Torah Guidance at SAR High School and is the Rabbi of Yoram's Teen Tours (YTT), a five-week summer tour of the Western United States for incoming 10th graders. Rabbi Ney has nearly two decades of experience in both formal and informal Jewish education and educational leadership. He is a passionate educator known for his devotion and dedication to his students and staff, love of teaching and learning, and wild cheering of his students at athletics events and academic competitions.
Assistant Director of Upper Division (Grades 5-8)
Tina Roode
Ms. Tina Marie Roode is completing her 10th year at WDS! Miss Roode graduated as a Castle Scholar with her BA in history and sociology and her Master of Arts in Teaching through the Dual Degree Honors Program at Manhattanville College in 2014. She received the Inspirational Alumni Award for Innovative Teaching from the graduate school of Manhattanville College in 2016 and the Graduate Service award in 2023 for being an “ethically and socially responsible leader for the global community.” As a NYS certified social studies and special education teacher for grades 5th -12th, Ms. Roode has helped her students become critical thinkers, analytical writers, globally aware citizens and empathetic individuals. By connecting the past to the present, incorporating songs, skits and dances and utilizing many forms of technology, Ms. Roode strives to make history come alive for her students. She has taught all of the social studies classes for 6th, 7th and 8th grade for 10 years, created and taught the Next Step program and homework club and has been the 8th grade dean and Middle School Coordinator for the past three years. In the summers, Ms. Roode is the Aquatics Director and CPR instructor for WSD. Ms. Roode has been a significant influence to her students throughout the past decade at WDS, as she has cultivated their love of learning and education in her own unique way.
Middle Division: Grades 2-4
Director of Middle Division (Grades 2-4)
Nicole Plasky
Nicole Plasky is entering her fourth year at Westchester Day School. Her current role at our school is the Social Emotional Coordinator for Grades K-5. Prior to Westchester Day School, Nicole worked in the New York City Department of Education for sixteen years as a classroom teacher and school dean. She has taught kindergarten, second grade, and third grade. She spent five years at a GIfted and Talented School as a classroom teacher. She also held a position as the pull out special education teacher, as well as the Dean of the school. Nicole has a Masters Degree in Elementary Education from The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is also certified as a special education teacher and gifted and talented teacher. Nicole lives in Rye Brook with her husband Scott, and her children Ella and Jack, ages 4 and 6.
Assistant Director of Middle Division (Grades 2-4)
Jaclyn Godoy
Jaclyn Godoy has served as the Learning Specialist for grades 2-5 at Westchester Day School since 2019. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in elementary education in 2012 and from New York University with a Master of Arts degree in special education in 2013. She has experience teaching in many different types of environments and populations, including public schools, private schools, ESL schools overseas, general education classes, TAG classes, ICT classes, self-contained classes, and school dedicated to students with autism spectrum disorder. Outside of work, Jaclyn enjoys reading, boxing, and trying new restaurants. She lives with her husband and two children, Leo, 5 years old and Luna, 3 years old.
Lower Division: (Ganon - Grade 1)
Director of Lower Division (Ganon - Grade 1)
Meri Rosenblatt
Morah Meri has been a beloved Ganon and Early Elementary school educator at WDS for over 20 years and has earned the reputation of being a kind, responsive, creative, driven, and growth-minded teacher. Morah Meri has a double Master’s degree in Early Childhood and Special Education from the Fordham University School of Education. She is certified in Early Childhood and Special Education through grade 12. During her tenure at WDS, she has taught Ganon, Kindergarten and 1st grade. Prior to coming to WDS, Morah Meri taught pre-K, kindergarten and 1st grade at the Rodeph Sholom School in Manhattan. She has been a teacher and Hebrew Curriculum Coordinator at the Congregation Kol Ami Hebrew School for 15 years. For 9 years she was the 3rd-5th grade girls Division Head at Camp Seneca Lake.
Assistant Director of Lower Division: (Ganon - Grade 1)
Lauren Kaplan
This will be Lauren Kaplan's eighth year at Westchester Day School. She has had a variety of roles at our school, including Learning Center Coordinator (K-8) and Early Childhood Intervention Coordinator. Prior to Westchester Day School, Lauren worked for the New York City Department of Education as a general and special education classroom teacher. Lauren has a Bachelor's Degree in Human Development from Cornell University, Masters Degrees in Early Childhood General and Special Education from New York University, and an Advanced Masters in Leadership for Special Education from Bank Street College. Lauren lives in Rye Brook with her husband Michael, and two sons Owen and Hudson, ages 9 and 5.