Clergy| Educators | Administration | Board of Directors and Officers

Religious School Co-Principals:

Rokki Parrinello and Mandy Thalhammer join together to lead our religious school for the 2009-2010 school year, by sharing in the newly created part-time position of Religious School Principal.  They will provide on-site guidance during religious school hours on Sundays and Tuesdays as well as coordinating teaching staff, curriculum and programming.
 
Administration : Co-Principal- Rokki Parrinello  (Rachel):

Rokki has been a member of the Beth Tikvah educational staff since September 2006 as a third grade teacher.  In July of 2007 she became the full time Director of Congregational Education.  In March of 2009 the synagogue staff was restructured and she accepted the co-principalship.  Rokki has a degree in Education and a Masters degree in Teaching and Leadership.  Prior to working at Beth Tikvah, she had been teaching students with special needs at a local high which is where she works full time once again.  Rokki and her husband, JJ, have been members of Beth Tikvah for many years. Rokki realizes the importance of teaching Jewish beliefs, values, and traditions to the youth of today. She is committed to guiding children in finding their Jewish spark that someday will ignite into a flame.  She is excited about deepening the Jewish experience for adults in the congregation through involvement in Beth Tikvah educational programs and participation in Jewish life.

Click here to contact Rokki and Mandy

Religious School Co-Principals:

Rokki Parrinello and Mandy Thalhammer join together to lead our religious school for the 2009-2010 school year, by sharing in the newly created part-time position of Religious School Principal.  They will provide on-site guidance during religious school hours on Sundays and Tuesdays as well as coordinating teaching staff, curriculum and programming.

Co-Principal- Mandy Thalhammer:

Mandy, her husband Ed, and children Max and Lily have been members of Beth Tikvah since 2004.  In September of 2005 she became a part of the Beth Tikvah teaching staff as a second grade teacher.  In September of 2008 she covered Rokki's maternity leave as the Interim Director of Education.  When offered the opportunity to co-principal with Rokki she took it believing in the strength they have as a team.  Mandy is an Illinois state certified teacher and administrator.  She has a degree in Education, a Masters in Curriclum Leadership and is currently a doctoral student.  She works full time as a first grade teacher in a local school district.  Mandy is dedicated to helping students develop a strong Jewish identity, a love of Jewish tradition and a desire to question and learn all that makes them Jewish.  

Click here to contact Rokki and Mandy

 Liz Lintott joins the Beth Tikvah education staff as the new director of the early childhood center. With an bachelor’s degree in Jewish studies from Indiana University, and a Master’s degree in Early Childhood Education from National-Louis University, Liz is able to bring a wealth of knowledge to the center about Jewish early childhood education. In addition to her education, Liz also has experience working with young children, as she has worked both as a teacher and in a management capacity for more than six years. For several years she was a lead teacher at the Mayer Kaplan JCC, where she worked diligently to integrate Judaic and secular learning throughout the day, and to ensure that each child was meeting his/her full developmental potential. Most recently, Liz worked at the Program Specialist at a KinderCare, and was responsible for training and educating teachers about best practices within early childhood education and how to motivate children to be active and life-long learners. Liz believes that an early foundation of Jewish learning in a Jewish environment is important in fostering the development of a strong Jewish identity, and that the social interactions and peer-to-peer learning that occur within the preschool setting are an important part in of a child’s development.

Click here to contact Liz