Our Team

EVERY DAY OUR DEVOTED STAFF GIVE THEIR TIME, TALENT, AND ENERGY TO OUR CENTER. IT IS THROUGH THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION THAT OUR EVENTS AND PROGRAMMING COME TO LIFE. WE ARE GRATEFUL THAT EACH AND EVERY ONE OF OUR TEAM MEMBERS GOES ABOVE AND BEYOND TO ENSURE THAT SIJCC REMAINS A BEACON OF EDUCATION, CULTURE, AND BELONGING.

Heather McPherson, Executive Director

Heather McPherson is a non-profit professional with over 30 years of experience working on behalf of meaningful missions. Heather has worked in politics, environmental justice, the arts and education and has a deep commitment to affecting positive change through her professional expertise in fundraising. Having spent the 20 years as the Director of Advancement at Children's Community School, Heather has overseen multiple successful fundraising campaigns including a $5 million endowment for financial aid.

Heather is a native Los Angeleno and has explored her Jewish heritage by choosing to learn about a variety of Jewish practices in order to embrace the rituals, beliefs and perspectives that bring depth and understanding to her life. Collaboration and community-building are some of her deeply held values, not forgetting that laughter and joy are also a part of a meaningful life - even at work.

DR. ELIZABETH SCHWANDT, Senior Director, Child Development Center

Liz has worked in early childhood education for almost 20 years.  She is dedicated to promoting the importance of a true developmental, play-based program here at the SIJCC’s ECE Program, and believes fully that early childhood is the critical period of human development. Her daughter, Rae—a graduate of the ECE Program and now a student at Atwater Avenue Elementary School—would agree!

Liz has been at the helm of several organizations that serve young children (with a wide variety of needs and profiles) and completed her doctorate in Child Clinical Psychology in 2023. Her research examines the role of attachment in developmental neurobiology between the ages of 2 and 6.  She has served as a clinical faculty member of several graduate institutions and has spearheaded several public health intiatives aimed at supporting Southern California’s most medically underserved families. Most importantly, Liz considers her position to be the perfect culmination of her life’s work and passions—she is committed to offering children opportunities to engage joyfully with each other and adults, to explore with wonder and security, and to tolerate the word “no” without the world ending.

LIHI SHADMI, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Lihi Shadmi was born in Tel Aviv and moved to Los Angeles at age 4. After traveling the world in her early-adult years she was inspired to make art and study early childhood education. Lihi graduated from Cal State Long Beach where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ceramics.

Since 1998, Lihi has worked at SIJCC in various capacities. She taught in the Preschool for 6 years, and was instrumental in creating and implementing the Jewish curriculum. As Associate Director of ECE Lihi gets to work closely with teachers and children, while also leading the music program; playing guitar and singing songs throughout the week. Lihi strives to create a joyful and meaningful space for children and their families and is honored to be an instrumental part of a community to which she has long been connected. Her two boys, Aviv and Lev, are proud alumni of the SIJCC Preschool and lifetime lovers of graham crackers. You can find Lihi on Friday mornings leading the preschool community in our weekly Shabbat sing-a-long.

SHARON EISMAN, Director of Operations, EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Sharon is a former ECE Parent. She forgot every form, didn’t read a single email, left multiple stuffed animals and lunches behind, and now karma has come back to make sure our ECE families are in tip-top shape. You may recognize her from helping conceive and run multiple live comedy events in Los Angeles, as well as the JCC Cabaret and our 2019 Days of Awesome. If not, you may just see her face in the front office, drinking coffee. In a clear cry for help Sharon is also getting her Masters in Gastronomy from Boston University.

NATASHA NEWMAN TOBIN, DIRECTOR OF JEWISH LEARNING CENTER

Natasha is a Los Angeles native who has worked in Jewish educational spaces for the last fifteen years. She has worked primarily in supplemental schools with a focus on informal education and community building. Natasha’s educational philosophy puts the child before the student, emphasizes socio-emotional awareness and highlights the importance of relationships. She believes a Jewish education should be fun, energizing and lifelong. Natasha lives in East Hollywood with her dog and animal sidekick, Burrito.

Rabbi Kerry Chaplin, DIRECTOR OF Life Cycle Events

As a ritualist, teacher, and spiritual counselor, Rabbi Kerry Chaplin (yes, that is her real name) practices and preaches an embodied, living spirituality through authentic relationship with one’s own mind, body, and spirit. He believes that sharing this authenticity with others and with the Divine, however you understand the Divine today, deepens connections that help us live better.

Before becoming a rabbi, Rabbi Kerry was a community organizer, living all things justice. In every community where she has served as a rabbi, from Hillel at UCLA and Vassar College, to Lab/Shul, to Beit T’Shuvah, Rabbi Kerry has been committed to helping those at the margins experience connection with themselves, others, and Something Bigger.

She is grateful for her teachers at the Ziegler School, Washington University in St. Louis, her yoga teachers, and so many others known and unknown. She lives and plays with her kiddo Frankie, wife Julia, and kitties, Izzy and Smudgy.

Babs Gray, Rentals and Communications Manager

Babs Gray is a comedian, writer, and podcaster who was inexplicably drawn to the thrilling world of rentals and social media for the SIJCC. She loves the community and is excited to share with people the gem that is the SIJCC space for their events. Babs performs comedy all over the country and lives in Silverlake with her boyfriend, Adam, and cats - orange old man Archie, and diva / model Cindy.

ROONI, Development and Administrative Associate

Rooni is a New York suburbanite who relocated to LA in 2021. After graduating from Arcadia University with a BA in English, they aspired to work in the entertainment industry. Rooni initially worked in restaurants until they started landing gigs on set and fell in love with TV production. Production stole their heart, but the WGA and SAG strikes arrived, leaving them in search of stability. That's when fate intervened. With their partner, Rye, already a member of the JCC family as an ECE teacher, Rooni couldn't resist the call to join the Silverlake Day Camp team for the summer of 2023. Today, they proudly serve as the Events and Development Associate, committed to creating memorable and enriching experiences for all. Off-duty, you'll find Rooni with their partner, their pup, Indi, and their feline friend, Tuna.