Rabbi Yehuda Gabay is an accomplished educator and educational leader with more than two decades of experience in Jewish education across multiple countries. Throughout his career, Rabbi Gabay has been deeply committed to advancing meaningful, high-quality learning by integrating time-honored traditions of Jewish scholarship with the most effective contemporary educational practices.

Rabbi Gabay has led and supported a wide range of initiatives in educational transformation, including change management, 21st-century learning models, strategic planning, curriculum design, and the implementation of active learning environments. His work focuses on building thoughtful, research-informed systems that empower both educators and students while remaining rooted in authentic Jewish values and texts.

Known for his ability to bridge tradition and innovation, Rabbi Gabay brings a balanced, research-based approach that blends classical Jewish instruction with forward-thinking educational strategies. He is especially dedicated to shaping and mentoring the next generation of leaders, helping students and educators develop the skills, vision, and character needed to guide their communities in an ever-changing world.

Over the course of his career, Rabbi Gabay has held several leadership roles in educational institutions around the world, guiding teams, mentoring students and educators, and helping shape strategic visions for the future of Jewish education. His work continues to inspire communities seeking to deepen engagement, strengthen learning, and cultivate future leaders.

Ilanit Meckley is Director of Operations at Zucker Jewish Academy Houston, bringing 20 years of experience building the systems, processes, and accountability structures that let organizations run smoothly and grow with confidence, independent of any single person. Before joining ZJAH, she was an independent operations consultant, partnering with leadership teams to design and implement operational infrastructure – from decision-making frameworks to cross-location alignment – that removes bottlenecks and clarifies who owns what. Her work has included scaling a healthcare startup from zero to fifty patients in its first year and resolving longstanding communication gaps across a ten-branch organization. Earlier, she led enterprise-wide projects at Baylor College of Medicine and Memorial Hermann-Texas Medical Center Hospital. She holds an MBA and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration from Penn State University and a BSBA from Washington University in St. Louis. Ilanit is excited to bring that same discipline to ZJAH, building the operational foundation that lets its academic and Judaic missions thrive side by side, without either one being compromised.

Dr. Devorah (Linda) Andreev is an educational leader, researcher, and teacher with more than fifteen years of experience advancing teaching and learning in schools and universities. She earned her Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University, where her research focused on effective classroom instruction, literacy, and language development. Throughout her career, she has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, program director, and teacher educator, helping students and educators thrive across diverse educational settings.

Before pursuing doctoral studies, Dr. Andreev founded and directed an English Language Development program that served more than 600 students. She later conducted research and taught graduate courses at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, preparing future teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders. Her work bridges research and practice, with a focus on strong instruction, meaningful learning, and helping every child reach their potential.

Dr. Andreev is deeply committed to Jewish education and to nurturing students’ intellectual growth, character development, and connection to Torah values. She believes strong schools are built through partnerships among students, families, and educators, and she is passionate about cultivating learning environments where academic excellence, middot, curiosity, and a love of learning flourish together.

As Director of Education for all Zucker Jewish Academy schools, Dr. Laya Salomon oversees the school’s mission, vision, educational principles, curricula, and teaching and learning standards, ensuring all schools meet high benchmarks for academic success.
Dr. Salomon’s passion is for children and for educating with goals that are learner-centered. She believes in the innate joy of learning and the role of schools in cultivating that joy through targeted, challenging, and personalized learning experiences. She is honored to be a partner in building a network of schools that is committed to educational excellence and effective teaching practices, while rooted in strong Jewish values and beliefs.
In addition to her role at Zucker Jewish Academy, Dr. Salomon serves as the Director of the Master’s Program and an Associate Professor at the Azrieli Graduate School of Jewish Education & Administration at Yeshiva University, where she teaches graduate and doctoral-level courses in curriculum, assessment, lesson planning, teaching methods, mentoring, supervision, and leadership.