Male Archives

Mr. Ronald Miles

Meet Mr. Ronald Miles

Building bridges, enriching lives, that is Mr. Miles. A conscientious, well-educated, international teacher, he has degrees in Curriculum and Instruction, International and Intercultural Education, amongst others. He is a lifelong learner and a Phd candidate investigating the intersections between language, literacy, and culture and pedagogical implications for teaching english to speakers of other languages. Mr. Miles has taught students, throughout the world, at all stages from preschool through college and served as a curriculum leader, education consultant and school principal.

What I do

I teach general and honors level English Language Arts and Literature courses in the high school. I aim to broaden my students’ minds, one lesson at a time through critical thinking and relevant, engaging lessons

How I make a difference at YTCTE

I make a difference in my role by being a purveyor of effective communication and modeling it every step of the way.

My favorite part about what I do

The best part of what I do is being able to learn about, from and with my students. I love the thrill of creating, discovering and exchanging knowledge with students through challenging, yet relatable learning activities.

Parting Words

I can speak, read, and write in English, Spanish, Portuguese and Italian. My contact with foreign languages has extended beyond my academic training to a wealth of intercultural experiences in Europe, Latin America, Asia and Africa, which has tremendously enriched my worldview and ability to connect with diverse students.

Mr. Christopher Polanski

Meet Mr. Christopher Polanski

Brimming with knowledge and passion, Mr. Polanski is on a mission; to enlighten students and teach them the intricacies of the world in a fun and easy to understand way. So determined to make education attainable for all, he personally sponsored the schooling of two students from disadvantaged families in Nepal and Bangladesh. His experience teaching Science spans over a dozen years and multiple continents.

What I do

Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Earth Science, Anatomy, you name it, and I teach it – to high school boys, no less. I aim to make each lesson easy to understand and enjoyable, too.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

By providing students with simple explanations of facts as well as everyday life examples, I make it easy and fun to learn. Hopefully this turns my students into independent lifelong learners.

My favorite part about what I do

My mission is to teach my students how the world around us works, but there is nothing more rewarding than having your students come back to visit when they are older and no longer need me to teach them.

Parting Words

I believe that it is very important to be compassionate and kind in life. That, in the long run, will benefit the receiver, and most importantly, the giver.

Mr. Tarrence Holmes

Meet Mr. Tarrence Holmes

Helping others is Mr. Holmes’ passion, but his true calling is teaching. He mentors students, provides resources to families in need and always looks to make life easier for others. He holds Masters and Educational Specialist (EdS) Degrees in Mathematics and Applied Statistics and has years of experience teaching in public schools and as an adjunct professor in Colleges. Mr. Holmes even operates a small orphanage and school in Haiti and is looking to expand to the Dominican Republic as well.

What I do

I help students learn and make connections with the mathematics content through real world oriented problems, the use of instructional technology, and explicit teaching.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

I have the ability to connect with each student which enables me to challenge them on different levels, empower them and leave a footprint in the sand of their existence.

My favorite part about what I do

I am a teacher at heart. I know that assessments, field trips and other outings are a part of the educational experience, but I enjoy coming to work to teach.The most rewarding part of teaching is engaging with the students and the challenge of meeting the diverse needs of my students.

Parting Words

I take pride in connecting with parents, students, and all stakeholders to build a scaffolding community for the success of my students. It is so important to me that I constantly pray for the success for my students.

Mr. Nicholas Magyar

Meet Mr. Nicholas Magyar

Always optimistic and enthusiastic, Mr. Magyar is a natural in the classroom. His easy going nature and ability to foster a sense of trust with his students allow him to create strong relationships with each student encouraging them to succeed. In addition to his experience as an elementary school teacher, both in public and private schools, Mr. Magyar coached college basketball for four years.

What I do

I teach fifth grade boys secular studies and challenge them every day to be the best version of themselves. In my role, I take pride in fostering a safe and trustworthy community.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

My goal is to empower students every day. I am not only an educator for these students, I am a role model, and hopefully a mentor, down the road.

My favorite part about what I do

The most rewarding part of what I do is working with the future generation. I get excited each day knowing that I will be seeing “my kiddos” and guiding them on their path to success.

Parting Words

I find teaching truly rewarding and immediately felt drawn to Dr. Berman and his staff here at YTCTE. However, my most rewarding experience in my life thus far was donating bone marrow to a 14 year old boy with leukemia in Iowa seven years ago and meeting him and his family a year and a half later.

Mr. Adam Sargent

Meet Mr. Adam Sargent

Mr. Sargent is an experienced teacher and leader having taught at the preschool and elementary school levels as well as directing and organizing summer camps for many years. In addition, his athletic ability made him a successful baseball scout. His skills and experience serve him well as the RMS PE Coach and Athletic Director where his passion, leadership and problem solving abilities merge together both on and off the field.

What I do

I am the PE coach responsible for organizing and administering sports daily. Additionally, I am responsible for our popular after-school sports program.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

By caring for each student, and showing them how much I care, I help build their confidence and encourage their success.The skills they learn on the field will help them succeed in all areas of life.

My favorite part about what I do

I treasure the opportunity to make a difference every day and love watching the class erupt with pure joy after a big play in a game.

Parting Words

The sense of community and family feel here at YTCTE immediately drew me in. I hope to be able to instill those same feelings into my students throughout the year.

Mr. Dovid Kolodny

Meet Mr. David Kolodny

Detail oriented and efficient, Mr. Koldony brings nearly a decade of tax and auditing experience to the table. A volunteer with Tomchei Shabbos of Miami who also serves as the organization’s financial controller, Mr. Kolodny is passionate about using his professional abilities to benefit the community.

What I do

My job is to analyze complex data and complete detailed reports for the YTCTE administration so that they can keep their collective finger on the pulse of the school’s finances and make sure that things are heading in a positive direction.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

As YTCTE’s accounting manager, I am responsible for accounting reconciliation and upper tier reporting. YTCTE may be all about educating the next generation, but none of that can happen without a strong element of fiscal responsibility to ensure that the yeshiva is in good financial health.

My favorite part about what I do

I love helping people and being able to put my skill set to good use. Using my skills in a Yeshiva setting is far more rewarding than anything I have done while working at financial firms.

Parting Words

With roots that extend more than 35 years deep and a student body of over 1,000 students, YTCTE has rightfully earned its place as a respected South Florida institution. What could be better than spending my days doing my part to help the Yeshiva educate our children.

Dr. Gur Berman

Dr. Gur Berman assumed the position as Director of General Studies of Yeshiva Toras Chaim Toras Emes in 2020. Dr. Berman earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Cornell and Columbia respectively and then a Doctorate of Education in Instructional and Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Dr. Berman also has semicha from the Rabbi Yitzchak Elchonon Theological Seminary (Yeshiva University). He previously served as an Assistant Principal and Principal of Ben Gamla charter schools for seven years and taught and administered in a number of local Yeshiva Day Schools.

Dr. Berman is an experienced principal, teacher and curricular expert. His goal is to continuously upgrade YTCTE’s robust and cutting edge General Studies program. Dr. Berman’s initial focus is to support and supervise KES’s General Studies Faculty overseeing the day-to-day educational experience of the students as well as overseeing the General Studies department in DACHS. Dr. Berman’s reach will extend to EECC and RMS as well, focusing more on these divisions in the years ahead.

Mr. Barry Cohen

Meet Mr. Barry Cohen

Mr. Cohen loves helping students discover their passions. Whether it’s selling flowers, getting in touch with their inner gardener, or becoming a ‘fish whisperer’ (aka taking care of the three fish tanks in the media center), students know they always have a listening ear in their corner.

What I do

I have taught just about every subject at the Rohr Middle School. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I also support teachers in technology use; administer the SATs; work on special projects; oversee eighth grade fundraising; and even ensure that all of our teachers are up to date on their credits for re-certification.

Oh, I drive the Hollywood Van, too.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

My approach is to think differently while always focusing on self-improvement. I transmit that to my students, helping them be the best that they can be, in their own unique way.

My favorite part about what I do

At RMS, we don’t just teach. We work on projects. Each student is a masterpiece-in-the-making and I enjoy seeing the finished product. Seeing graduates out in the world doing amazing things is the ultimate reward!

Parting Words

I’ve done many things to earn a living. I thought that teaching would be fun (correct) and easy (incorrect). Although it is the hardest career I’ve practiced thus far, it’s also the most rewarding.

Mr. David Spring

Meet Mr. David Spring

After 30 years on Wall Street, Mr. Spring decided it was time for a career shift. He wanted to use his real world experiences to help young people understand economics and set them up for success in life. A hands-on teacher, Mr. Spring is adept at helping students understand the complexities of the economic world.

What I do

I bring the real world of economics to high school students in a relatable way.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

When my students leave my classroom, they understand they need to have solid resources to support their positions. That’s an invaluable life skill.

My favorite part about what I do

Answering my students’ questions. I get excited about the opportunity to pass on my knowledge and experience to them. My hope is that it helps them to be more informed and make better decisions.

Parting Words

Real world economic experience is an amazing teacher. I’m honored to be able to share the lessons I’ve learned with my students.

Mr. Sender Kagan

Meet Mr. Sender Kagan

The ultimate ‘fix-it’ man, Mr. Kagan knows the ins and outs of all things construction. His connections and know-how from 24 years in the construction world and 20 years in retail management literally keep the lights on all year round.

What I do

I make sure all the buildings are fully operational. Toilets, AC, lights – all the things that create a safe, productive learning environment and experience for our students and staff.

How I make a difference at YTCTE

I’ve been in construction for over two decades, and I put that knowledge to work everyday to help YTCTE make the best, most cost-effective decisions for campus repairs and remodels.

My favorite part about what I do

Making people happy. It’s really rewarding to see everything working properly, so the boys and staff can focus on their work.

Parting Words

In an ideal world, everything would work perfectly all the time. While there are days and weeks when that happens, I also enjoy meeting the everyday challenges that come up. Finding new, creative solutions is part of what makes this work so interesting.

Staff Title: Male

Mr. Ronald Miles

Mr. Christopher Polanski

Mr. Tarrence Holmes

Mr. Nicholas Magyar

Mr. Adam Sargent