Administration
Menahel
Rabbi Isaac Entin comes to Torah Academy with over a decade of experience in administration. Rabbi Entin served as the founding Principal of Torah Day School of Virginia and as Principal of Phoenix Hebrew Academy for nine years. Originally a High School teacher, Rabbi Entin began teaching Fifth Grade and quickly fell in love with elementary education, developing Chumash, Mishna, Dinim, and Teffilah curriculum that promoted active engagement in the learning process. As an administrator, Rabbi Entin pioneered innovative programs on a variety of topics from, Derech Eretz to Inquiry-Based Science, producing students who are both well-rounded and high academic achievers. He has also lobbied for special needs services on both the local and state level as part of his commitment to see every Jewish child succeed in a Day School. Rabbi Entin holds a Master's Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from Barry University and Smicha from HaRav Yochanan Zweig. He is a graduate of Harvard University’s Principals Institute as well as Bar Ilan Unversity’s Principal’s Program. Rabbi Entin is an active lecturer to parent groups as well as fellow educators. He has presented for Torah Umesorah’s National Convention, the Consortium of Jewish Day Schools, and the Center for Advancement in Jewish Education (CAJE).
General Studies Principal
Rebecca Sasson joined Caskey Torah Academy in 2009 as a Middle School Language Arts teacher. In addition to teaching, Mrs. Sasson evaluated and overhauled the school’s Language Arts curriculum and coordinated the school’s Professional Development program. In her role as Professional Development Coordinator, Mrs. Sasson helped transform CTA into a “learning organization” by instituting Professional Learning Communities, Teacher Mentoring, and Peer Coaching. She assumed the role of Assistant Principal for General Studies in 2012 and in 2020 became our Principal for General Studies.
Prior to her work at Caskey Torah Academy, Mrs. Sasson was a Jewish Education Specialist at the Mandel Center for Studies in Jewish Education at Brandeis University, where she taught Foundations of Education to graduate students preparing to become teachers in Jewish Day Schools. She is a co-author of The DeLet Alumni Survey: A Comprehensive Report on the Journey of Beginning Jewish Day School Teachers and a contributing researcher to The North American Study of Educators in Jewish Day and Congregational Schools (2007). Mrs. Sasson holds a Masters of Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, for which she received a Wexner Graduate Fellowship. She is currently working on a doctorate in education at Teachers College. Rebecca did her undergraduate work at Yale University in psychology and received her teacher certification at Southern Connecticut State University. She also spent a year interning and training at Feuerstein’s International Center for the Enhancement of Learning Potential (ICELP) in Jerusalem. Mrs. Sasson has taught in public and Jewish elementary and middle schools, and in a pre-school setting for developmentally delayed children.
Assistant Principal for Judaic Studies
Rabbi Weitz received Smicha from Ner Israel Rabbinical College, a Masters in School Counseling from The Johns Hopkins University, and has completed YU Lead, the Principals’ Training Institute (CoJDS) and is currently a mentor in the Jewish New Teachers Program.
Rabbi Weitz was a rebbe at Columbus Torah Academy for the past 12 years and assumed the role of Coordinator of Upper School Judaic Studies for the past eight. Over his tenure at Columbus Torah Academy, Rabbi Weitz enhanced the Upper School Judaic Studies Department by introducing innovative educational programs and redesigning the discipline system.
In addition to his time at Columbus Torah Academy, Rabbi Weitz served the Columbus community as Director of Inreach for Beth Jacob Congregation, creating educational programs and assisting the senior rabbi with the community’s lifecycle events.
Director of Early Childhood Program
Coordinator of Student Needs
Ms. Afriat has served as both a classroom teacher and as our Reading Specialist for 8 years. Ms. Afriat has 10 years of experience in Education. She began her career as a 4Y preschool teacher in Devon, PA before going on an adventure abroad to teach 2nd grade at an international school in Honduras. She has been at CaskeyTorah Academy since returning home, where she taught 3rd grade for four years, and then worked four years as the reading specialist, teaching children in grades 1-3 and assisting colleagues with reading questions and assessments across grade levels. She received her BS from Boston University School of Education and a Master’s degree with reading specialist certification from Cabrini College.
As our Coordinator of Student Needs, Ms. Afriat demonstrates an expert handle on current theory, as well as an excellent rapport with students and parents alike. She has been an invaluable asset in team meetings and special needs meetings. Her commitment to each individual child’s success has earned her the respect of her colleagues, her students, and their families.