Contributors
Matt Brown is a program associate for communications on the Field Advocacy and Advancement strategy team. He started at PEJE in July 2008, after graduating from Brandeis University, where he studied Classics and History. He grew up in Los Angeles, where he attended the Valley Beth Shalom Day School. In addition to being the “Rosh Blog” (Head of the Blog — it was Jennifer’s idea), Matt writes, among other publications, the monthly e-Newsletter Hadashot v’Hidushim and the print newsletter Day School Matters, and produces the PEJE Podcast. When he is not at PEJE, Matt can usually be found in his kitchen, experimenting with bread and ice cream recipes.
Rabbi Joshua Elkin is PEJE’s Executive Director. Prior to PEJE, he was the Head of the Solomon Schechter Day School of Greater Boston for 20 years. Josh was ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary and has a doctorate from Columbia Teachers College in the field of curriculum and teaching. Currently, Rabbi Elkin is on the Board of Gann Academy: The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston. He has also served on the board of Camp Ramah in New England, and is a past president of the Solomon Schechter Day School Principals Council. He has authored numerous articles on Jewish education and day schools. Josh is an avid cyclist, sings tenor in a community chorus, and gardens.
Building on her years of experience as a coach of whole school change and literacy instruction, Sharon Haselkorn joined PEJE four years ago to develop and manage the coaching program. She is currently also the manager of the Professional Leadership strategy team. Sharon earned her doctorate from Harvard Graduate School of Education and has served on the board of Solomon Schechter Day School of Great Boston and of Gann Academy: The New Jewish High School of Greater Boston. Her three adult children are all day school grads and her passions include reading, cooking (especially vegan food), and her grandchildren.
Jennifer Weinstock is a program manager in the PEJE Financial Sustainability team working with day schools to improve their fundraising. Before joining PEJE in 2007, Jennifer was the senior major gifts officer at WGBH(Boston’s public television station) for 10 years. Prior to WGBH, Jennifer was the women’s division associate at Combined Jewish Philanthropies in Boston. Jennifer is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and lives in Brookline,MA with her husband and three sons. When she’s not at PEJE, Jennifer is carefully juggling the lives of her three active boys, including learning how to throw a mean curve ball. She welcomes any Twilight fans to write to her about the obsession.
Chelsea Whyte joined PEJE in 2007 and is currently an associate program manager on the Board Leadership team. She previously served as an assistant in the Research & Evaluation department, working with schools on the Yardstick Suite of Tools. Chelsea has a professional background in research and an academic background in International Studies and Romance Languages, with degrees from the University of Oregon. Hailing from the west coast, Chelsea was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, and is still adjusting to Boston’s unpredictable weather. Chelsea lives in Somerville, and contributes to the local paper, the Somerville News. She’s a fan of sailing, anything kitsch, and above all, the Red Sox.
