Expert Faculty and Staff and Incredible Role Models
Abby Halpern
Director of Jewish Life and Learning
Hebrew Language and Jewish Studies
M.A. in Judaic Studies with a Concentration in Education, Siegal College of Judaic Studies, Cleveland, OH
B.A. in Jewish Art, Jewish Theological Seminary of America; B.A. in Art History and Visual Arts, Columbia University
Morah Abby has a passion for Jewish life and learning developed over twenty years in Jewish education. She specializes in experiential learning, Hebrew language, and the integration of Jewish learning into a variety of curricular areas. Her experience encompasses classroom teaching at a Jewish day school in Cleveland, planning family programs for synagogues and schools, and teaching in various after-school Judaics and Hebrew contexts. She lived in Haifa, Israel for a year and a half before moving to Maine, where she was most recently the Director of the Kadima Beth El Religious School at Temple Beth El. Outside the classroom, Morah Abby likes to sing, dance, lead Shabbat services, and dream up fun projects to do with her kids.
Morah Abby is a strong believer in the human rights of children as expressed by activist Janusz Korczak: “Children are not the people of tomorrow, but people today….They have a right to be treated by adults with tenderness and respect, as equals. They should be allowed to grow into whoever they were meant to be. The unknown person inside each of them is the hope for the future.”
Debra R. Kanter
Lower School
Pre-School
B.A. Business Administration, Simmons College
Debbie began teaching at Levey Day School in 1994. She creates a warm, nurturing, welcoming, and safe first exposure to school. By integrating secular and Judaica curricula, she takes each child from their own point of entry and creates a strong foundation for future learning. She loves the fact that Levey is not just a wonderful learning environment, but a close community of families. Her students travel the year together, celebrating the Jewish holidays and life cycle events. They form strong bonds and connections that last through the years. Debbie loves to keep in touch with many of her former students and very happily attends their Bar/Bat Mitzvahs and graduations.
Erin Hickey
Pre-School
B.A in Studio Arts from University of Southern Maine
Erin enjoys instilling a passion for learning as well as an interest in discovery. She also
knows the importance of teaching empathy and compassion. She has a love for
teaching and enjoys incorporating the interests of the students she teaches in her
lessons. She truly treasures the bonds she forms with her students and their families.
Erin has 7 years of experience as a lead preschool teacher at the Casco Bay YMCA,
and is currently working towards her General Elementary Certification through the
University of Maine System. She worked as a substitute teacher for Village Elementary
School in Gorham Maine, and was the Early Learning Readiness Coordinator for the
Pineland YMCA in New Gloucester, Maine. Erin loves the arts, and spent a summer
interning in the Painting and Fabrication Department at the Smithsonian Office of Exhibit Central in Washington DC. She enjoys finding ways to incorporate her enthusiasm for art in the classroom.
When at home Erin enjoys nothing more the spending time with her family, and myriad of pets. She loves cooking, painting and being creative with her two girls. She greatly enjoys spending time in the outdoors; camping, hiking, swimming, gardening and just appreciating the vast treasures of nature.
Kimberly Berry
Lower School
Grades 2-3
B.S. Education, University of West Alabama
Kim is an experienced and gifted teacher of over 20 years. She’s worked across grades in several states in both rural and urban settings, teaching in both public and private schools. Outside of the classroom Kim enjoys cooking with her youngest daughter. Kim’s oldest daughter is an artist working in Boston. She has always been inspired by the words of William Butler Yeats, “Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire.” Kim’s biggest joy is to watch children become information seekers and lovers of learning.
Sherri Quint
Accountant