Staff Bios
Kathryn Weil, Ph.D
Head of School
Dr. Kathryn Weil began serving as Solomon Schechter’s Head of School in the fall of 2001. Before coming to SSDS, she held the position of Assistant Superintendent for Accountability and Information Services with the New Mexico State Department of Education. An Albuquerque native, Dr. Weil has served in the Rio Rancho School District as Principal of Lincoln Middle School and Assistant Principal of Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School. She was the Testing Assessment Coordinator for Albuquerque Public Schools for 8 years and has held a part-time faculty position at the UNM College of Education. Dr. Weil has 10 years of experience as an elementary school counselor at various schools within the APS system. She holds a Ph.D. from UNM's Department of Curriculum and Instruction in Multicultural Teacher Education with a major in Early Childhood Development and a minor in Psychology. She also received her MA in Guidance and Counseling from UNM. At one time Dr. Weil also ran the Congregation B'nai Israel Religious School and served as the Education Vice President on B'nai Israel's Board of Trustees.
Vel Saddington
Business Manager
VVel has been the Business Manager at SSDS since 2002. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Social Welfare from San Diego State University and has done graduate work in the areas of business, psychology, criminology, accounting, business law, and tax. Her experience includes office management, bookkeeping, and tax preparation. In addition to managing all the financial records and responsibilities for the school, Vel provides support to the Financial Aid Committee, Fundraising Committee, staff, students, and parents.
Susan Black
Admissions Director
Sue Black has served as the Admissions Director for SSDS since 2004. She holds a B.A. degree in Communication Arts from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Sue has served in many capacities as a volunteer at SSDS since 1997 including the Marketing and Recruitment Committee, Board of Directors, and substitute Hebrew teacher. She also works as a Hebrew teacher and Bar/Bat Mitzvah tutor at Congregation Albert and has taught Sunday School there. Ms. Black is the proud mother of two Solomon Schechter Day School graduates.
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Jessica Watt
Administrative Assistant
Jessica has served as Administrative Assistant since 2006. She has a Bachelor's of Art in Theater Arts from Humboldt State University in California. Her most recent jobs include Administrative Assistant for the Acadia Institute and Maine Bioethics Network and religious school teacher for Congregation Albert. Jessica’s daughter has attended Solomon Schechter for three years during which time Jessica has volunteered in a variety of capacities including filling in for the Administrative Assistant! Jessica is also a talented fiber artist who does work in quilting, dolls and wall art.
Adam Arian
Hebrew & Jewish Studies
Adam Arian joined the Hebrew and Jewish Studies staff in 2006. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Brandeis University and a Master's of Science degree in Written Communications from Boston University. He taught English and composition at the university level for twenty years, including at Albuquerque’s TVI for three years. Most recently Mr. Arian worked as a Case Manager for the Center for the Disabled in Albany, NY. He has also taught at a Yeshiva in Los Angeles and Hebrew at various religious schools. Mr. Arian’s father was the founder of the fist Jewish day school in Albany, NY, where Mr. Arian attended during his childhood and adolescence.
Nancy Paine Brady
Fine Arts
Nancy Paine-Brady has been teaching art at SSDS since 1996. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Arts with a minor in Art Education from Johnson State College in Vermont. She is certified in Art Education for K-12 and is currently a Master's degree candidate in Art Education at UNM. Before coming to SSDS, Nancy taught art, dance, and theater in a wide variety of school and community settings to children and adults. In 2005, Ms. Brady was awarded an Expressing Community Grant from the UNM Fine Arts Dept. and Harwood Art Center. In addition to teaching art to children at SSDS, she works closely with classroom teachers to integrate art, dance, and theater into their general and Jewish studies curriculum.
Rabbi Chavah Carp
Hebrew & Jewish Studies Coordinator
Rabbi Carp has taught at SSDS since 2001. She teaches Hebrew and Jewish Studies and is the Coordinator of those programs. Before coming to SSDS, Rabbi Carp served as the Coordinator of Social Services with the Jewish Family Services Program for the Elderly. For fifteen years she served as the spiritual leader of Havurat B’nai Shalom in Taos where she taught children and trained Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. A native of New York, Rabbi Carp received her Teacher’s Certification for Religion and Hebrew at Hebrew Union College. She also holds a Bachelor’s degree in American Studies with an emphasis in Folklore from UNM. Rabbi Carp was ordained through the S’micha Program of the P’nai Or Religious Fellowship.
Paul Clinton
General Studies
Paul Clinton holds a B.A. in History & Political Science and Education and a M.A. in History and Political Science from New Mexico Highlands University. He has more than 30 years experience as a teacher, most recently in Bernalillo, New Mexico. Paul’s skills extend to program development, community outreach, review and critique of written materials, and coaching football and weightlifting. He has strong communication and motivational skills and has dedicated many of his summers to working with underprivileged youth.
Linda Cox
General Studies
Linda Cox is beginning a new career as an educator. She is an experienced nurse and counselor. She holds a B.S. in Nursing from Mississippi College and an MS in Community Counseling from Georgia State University. She recently received a teaching certificate from Georgia State University in Special Education. She worked as a teacher, therapist, and counselor in Georgia, before moving to Albuquerque in 2007.
Pauleta Hendrickson
Music
Pauleta Hendrickson received her music education licensure from UNM. She has led children’s choirs, directed a summer music camp, directed musicals, and taught at middle and elementary schools. She believes children should have a connection to their cultural heritage through music and plans to provide a holistic approach to teaching and fostering young musicians by including elements of history, dance and literature. Pauleta is also a decorated Air Force veteran with Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Physics.
Mitch Karpp
General Studies
Mitch Karpp holds a B.A. in Jewish History and English Literature from Hebrew University in Jerusalem and a M.S. in Elementary Ed and Language and Literacy from Wheelock College in Boston. He has taught a variety of subjects to children and adults in a wide variety of settings including a high school in Israel, a Jewish pre-school in South Africa, as an educational Peace Corp volunteer, in a residential treatment center, and also in traditional school settings. Mitch looks forward to applying his skills at SSDS to help students successfully meet their cognitive, social and emotional goals in the classroom.
Robin Pence
Hebrew Jewish Studies
Technology
Robin Pence has been teaching at SSDS since 2001. In addition to Jewish Studies and Hebrew, she also works with students in the area of computers and technology. Robin holds a B.S. from Indiana University in Recreation, with a minor in psychology. She has her teaching certificate from the New Mexico and is working on her Master’s degree in education. Robin also teaches Machon (9th grade) and tutors bar/bat mitzvah students at Congregation Albert.
Stacy Rafter
General Studies
Stacy Rafter holds a Master’s Degree from UNM in Organizational Learning and Instructional Technology and a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Northern Colorado in Elementary and Early childhood Education. She has worked as an Instructional Design Consultant designing training and manuals for adults in a variety of settings. She has also been a trainer and supervisor at Child Development Centers, Coordinated Family Child Care facilities, and is actively involved in educational professional organizations.
Chari Ritchie
General Studies
Chari Ritchie joined the staff of SSDS in 2006. She has 30 years of teaching experience in grades one through nine. Most recently, Ms. Ritchie taught first grade for 21 years at Comanche Elementary School. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education and a Master’s Degree in Guidance and Counseling from UNM. Ms. Ritchie has taught both special education and general education and was the “Literacy Leader” for Comanche for seven years. In 1989 she received the “Teacher of the Year” award from the American Teacher's Federation.
Francis Sieber
General Studies
Before coming to SSDS in 2006, Mr. Sieber taught fourth and fifth grades for 27 years in the Albuquerque Public Schools. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English Literature and a certification in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico. He received a certification to teach English as a Second Language from the College of Santa Fe.
Leanne Szymanski
General Studies
Before coming to SSDS in 2005, Leanne had twelve years of classroom experience in a variety of environments and communities with a wide range of student populations. She has taught in public schools, private schools, Montessori schools, and in treatment center settings. Leanne holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Elementary Education from New Mexico State University and a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from the University of New Mexico. She is currently in a doctoral program at UNM in Special Education. Leanne is interested in writing and producing films and has been involved with the Albuquerque Civic Chorus.
Brian Wantuck
Science
Brian Wantuck retired to New Mexico after teaching science for 33 years in the Wantagh school district in New York. He has a Master’s degree in Biology from City College in New York. Mr. Wantuck coordinates the science program at SSDS as well as serving as a mentor science teacher.
Matt Westerland
Physical Education
Matt holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Regis University in Denver and is working towards a graduate degree in Education with a focus on teaching Biology, Chemistry and Physical Education. He is a nationally licensed soccer coach and coaches soccer at his Alma Mater, Sandia High School. In addition to teaching P.E. classes for Solomon Schechter students at the JCC, Matt has served as a senior staff counselor at Camp Chai for more than four summers.