Commitment to Excellence
OUR ADMINISTRATION
At Shorashim Academy, our administration is dedicated to fostering a supportive and thriving educational environment for every student. Committed to excellence, our team of experienced professionals prioritizes effective communication and collaboration with teachers, parents, and students to ensure an environment of safety, respect, and responsibility.
Gur Berman
GUR BERMAN
HEAD OF SCHOOL
Rabbi Dr. Gur Berman has a 20+ year career in education and over ten years of experience as a school leader in both private and public charter schools. Prominently, he was the principal of the Kendall and Plantation Ben Gamla Charter Schools. Most recently, he served as the Director of General Studies at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes, overseeing the general studies education of over 1,000 students.
Rabbi Dr. Berman is particularly adept at assembling, supporting, and retaining motivated, loyal, and highly effective faculty and staff and working with that team to exceed the expectations of all school stakeholders. He adheres scrupulously to the concept that “authentic leadership begins at the top,” which requires personal values and integrity to inform all professional decision making. Focusing on building and maintaining relationships with staff, students, and parents, he follows a philosophy of respect and collaboration to achieve mutual goals.
ISAAC MELNICK
ISAAC MELNICK
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Rabbi Isaac Melnick was educator-turned-director of the highly successful Torah 4 Everyone (T4E) afterschool program at Ben Gamla Charter School for 12 years. With his combination of strong leadership skills and financial accountability, the T4E program gained an outstanding reputation and grew to an enrollment of close to 250 students.
Most recently, he was the Dean of the Brauser Maimonides Academy Middle School, where he supported teachers and helped create a more positive school culture.
Highly skilled in creating firm but positive relationships with his students, Rabbi Melnick encourages his students to be their best.
ELLEN KOPPEL
ELLEN KOPPEL
Director of School Climate and Citizenship
Mrs. Ellen Koppel has over 20 years of experience working in private and public charter schools, ensuring a socially and emotionally safe school environment for all members of the school’s community.
Expert at providing meaningful learning opportunities, Mrs. Koppel helps students become more emotionally and socially flexible, competent, sensitive, and aware.
GOLDIE BERMAN
GOLDIE BERMAN
JUDAIC STUDIES PRINCIPAL
Mrs. Berman is a certified teacher and experienced educator in both Judaic and secular studies, having taught grades ranging from kindergarten to 8th. She founded an enrichment program for struggling students at Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes and has been trained in several reading programs, including the Orton-Gillingham model.
Expert at the Responsive Classroom technique, Mrs. Berman helps students thrive with this student-centered, social and emotional learning approach.
MELISSA GURLACZ
Melissa Gurlacz
OFFICE MANAGER
Mrs. Melissa Gurlacz is passionate working in education. With her strong organizational skills and natural affinity for both language and technology, she began her career in the corporate world as a legal secretary for a prestigious law firm. However, she discovered her true calling while volunteering in the classroom, which led to a career in the Broward County Public School system.
As a highly skilled professional with a bachelor’s degree in the Arts, Mrs. Gurlacz is exceptionally qualified to bring her enthusiasm and expertise to Shorashim Academy.
MIRIAM MELNICK
MIRIAM MELNICK
EXECUTIVE Assistant
Mrs. Miriam Melnick served as the Assistant Director at the Torah 4 Everyone Afterschool Program at Ben Gamla Charter School for 12 years. She also developed dynamic and innovative programming during her 7 years as Co-Director of Camp Coolanu. Throughout the years, she has captivated her students with her warmth and creativity.
Her warmth and genuine love for her students helps create a school that children feel happy and safe attending.