Tara Gordon 

Tara Gordon was born in Westchester, New York and received her undergraduate degree from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She is currently completing her multi-subject credential and Masters program at Western Governors University.  This is her second year at Emek and previously taught second grade and Elementary PE and Health.  She has a passion for hands-on learning and believes every child has the ability to learn. In her free time, Miss Gordon enjoys theatre, roller skating, and spending time with her cat, Wolf. "The Emek community has been a welcoming and supportive family for teachers and genuinely cares and believes in every student" 

To contact Tara Gordon, email [email protected]. 

Rabbi Eitan Monesa

Rabbi Eitan Monesa, is our new 1st grade boys rebbe. He was born and raised in Santa Monica and has learned in multiple yeshivas around the world for many years, the most of which, in Shor Yoshuv. He learned in Shor Yoshuv, a yeshiva in Far Rockaway, NY, for almost six years, earning his talmudic degree and smicha from the Rosh HaYeshiva, Harav Naftali Jaeger. He also has his Psychology degree, which he earned from UCLA. He grew up playing sports such as football and basketball, so besides his passion for learning torah, children, and teaching, he also loves athletics. 

To contact Rabbi Monesa, email [email protected]. 

Ilana Geiger 

To email Ilana Geiger, email [email protected].

Hope Birnbaum

Hope Birnbaum went to Brandeis University for her Bachelors Degree where she also completed the Education Program.  She then moved to Los Angeles where she began her teaching career at Maimonides Academy while attending the University of Southern California Rossier School of Education.  At USC, Hope completed her Masters Degree in Elementary Education with a focus in Reading and Writing as well as a Reading Certification.  She has years of experience teaching in the classroom as well as tutoring.  Hope and her husband have three wonderful children. Morah Hope is excited to join the extraordinary Emek Family! 

To email Ms. Birnbaum, email [email protected].