Club Z has announced that Batsheva Frankel has joined the organization as its director of education. Frankel is a published author, educational consultant, podcast host and producer, as well as a sought-after speaker who brings more than 25 years of experience in innovative education to Club Z.
“It is a true honor and privilege to have Batsheva Frankel lead Club Z’s education team as director of education,” said Masha Merkulova, Club Z founder and executive director.
“Batsheva is a giant in Jewish education and has extensive experience working with teens. She deeply understands how critical our groundbreaking educational approach and philosophy are to Club Z’s mission. With Batsheva at the helm, Club Z teens are uniquely positioned to become knowledgeable, confident Zionist teen leaders who confront antisemitism in their high schools, online, and ultimately, on college campuses.”
Frankel founded New Lens Ed., where she created and developed a methodology used by educators nationally and internationally to promote critical thinking and analytical skills. She trained and coached teachers and created student-centered curricula used throughout the United States.
She also hosted and produced the Overthrowing Education podcast for the past four years, interviewing expert guests on better pedagogy and solutions to systemic issues in education. In 2011, Batsheva’s project, “LaunchBox,” games and activities for teens that deal with philosophical ideas through a Jewish lens, won the Jewish Federation of LA’s “The Next Big Jewish” Idea contest.
Frankel also served as the dean of faculty for Arete Preparatory Academy and has taught at Shalhevet High School, Milken Community Day School and Valley Torah Girls High School, all in Los Angeles; as well as at Bruriah High School in New Jersey and Rodeph Sholom in New York City.
She is the author of The Jewish Educator’s Companion: Practical Tools and Inspirational Ideas, as well as several essays and articles that have appeared in newspapers, magazines and online. Frankel received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from New York University and her Master of Arts in Teaching from American Jewish University. She lives in Los Angeles.
“I’m so excited to be working with all of the wonderful staff, students and parents at Club Z!” said Frankel. “I look forward to being able to marry my skills and experience with my love of Israel and the Jewish people.”
