Senior Staff
Joanne Fried - Executive Director
.JPG "Joanne(bitmap)")
Joanne came to The Community Synagogue in June 2010, after a successful career in commercial business and six years serving as Executive Director of North Shore Synagogue in Syosset.
Joanne feels blessed to have found the field of temple administration, bringing together her love of Reform Judaism and professional strengths as an administrator in an environment of sacred community. At the top of her responsibilities is serving and advocating for the individual members of The Community Synagogue.
Joanne has a degree in Art History from Boston University and is the mother of three grown sons—Mike, Sam and Ben. She is a longtime member of Temple Beth El of Huntington, and spends leisure time dancing and directing/choreographing for community theater groups.
Shari Isserles - Education Director
Shari Isserles grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She received her undergraduate degree in Judaic Studies from Boston University and then attended the New York School of Education (NYSOE) at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion where she received her Masters of Religious Education (M.A.R.E.) degree in 2003.
Shari spent 6 years working at Temple Beth David in Commack, NY, first as the Assistant Director of Education and then as the Religious School Director. In 2005, she joined the senior staff team at The Community Synagogue as the Director of Education. During her time at The Community Synagogue, Shari has brought new and innovative programs to the school, including the FLAME (Family Learning & Mitzvah Education) Program and various Tikkun Olam Trips for our teenage students.
Shari is engaged in numerous activities outside of her congregational work. She is a Board Member of the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE) and currently serves as Team Leader of the Advocacy Team of NATE. Shari is the President of the NYSOE Alumni Association, and she is an active member for Long Island Temple Educators (LITE). She has also taught as a member of the faculty for the Morasha Teacher Training Program.
Shari has always had a strong connection to Jewish camping. She grew up as a camper and later spent many summers as a staff member at the URJ Eisner Camp. She continues to spend time at camp each summer as a member of the faculty.
Shari and her husband Paul live in Huntington, NY with their son, Michael Saul.
Shelley Roff - Director, Early Childhood Center
Shelley Roff has been the Director of the Early Childhood Center since 1988. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Childhood Education and a Masters of Science degree in Elementary Education from Queens College. Before coming to The Community Synagogue, Shelley taught for three years in the New York City Public Schools and directed a toddler program and camp for preschoolers for eight years.
Shelley currently serves as an officer on the Executive Board of the Jewish Early Childhood Association and is active in many other local and national early childhood organizations. She was asked to serve on the Port Washington School District's committee to study the preschool needs of the community.
Since Shelley became the director of the ECC, the program has more than tripled in size. Shelley has implemented our very successful summer program and after school programs for preschoolers and is currently involved in bringing Gateways to Engagement to our synagogue. She has touched the lives of so many of the families of our congregation whose children have attended the ECC. Shelley and her husband Ted live in Glen cove and they have two adult children. Brian is a director in the theater and Alissa is a preschool teacher who is married to Joshua.