Mrs. Chiena Lazaroff
Director and Principal of Judaic Studies
clazaroff@tdshouston.org
Director and Principal of Judaic Studies
clazaroff@tdshouston.org
Mrs. Chiena Lazaroff was born in Tashkent, Russia. She lived in Paris, France before her family moved to America where they lived in Cleveland, Ohio. She attended The Hebrew Academy of Cleveland and graduated from Yavne High-School for girls.
She received her seminary teachers training at the Bais Yaakov Teachers Seminary in Brooklyn, New York. She has taught for forty-five plus years in New York, Detroit and Houston in Elementary Schools, High Schools and Adult Education classes. She obtained an Administrative License from the Department of Protective and Family Services, she is a member of the Professional Administrators National Credentialing, and attended the Principalβs Center at the Harvard Graduates School of Education.
Chiena Lazaroff has served on the board of the National Conference of the Central Organization for Jewish Education, spearheading the educational teacher training division. She lectures, nationally and internationally, on a broad range of subjects including the structure of the Hebrew Language.
She co-founded Chabad Lubavitch of Texas in Houston, Torah Day School of Houston and Camp Gan Israel of Houston. She has served as our Judaic Principal, curriculum developer and Judaic studies teacher since 1977.
Mrs. Chiena Lazaroff says βWhen we came to Houston people asked us what was our goal, our plan. We were there to create greater Jewish awareness and observances. How this was to be done, we had no idea. As needs arose, we rose to the occasion. Itβs not the work of our hands, but the blessings of Hashem, conveyed to us through the Lubavitcher Rebbe and his love for each and every Jew. So many lives have been touched; itβs gratifying to see the second and third generation availing themselves of the Jewish education we provided and in turn, contributing to the community, as well. The Rebbe made us leaders, always urging us to greater heights. I feel privileged to have earned his confidence.β
Her children have graduated from Torah Day School and have gone on to become Rabbis, degreed professionals, project managers and one has served in the Elite Forces for the Israeli Defense Force. Several of her grandchildren are current students of TDS.
Mrs. Chaya Sara Kaufmann
Early Childhood Director
ckaufmann@tdshouston.org
Early Childhood Coordinator
ckaufmann@tdshouston.org
Morah Gitty Eber
Early Childhood EC2 Teacher
geber@tdshouston.org
Early Childhood EC2 Teacher
geber@tdshouston.org
Morah Marissa Finkelman
Kindergarten and 3rd Grade Secular Teacher
mfinkelman@tdshouston.org
Kindergarten Teacher
mfinkelman@tdshouston.org
Morah Sarah Fried
Early Childhood EC3 Teacher
sfried@tdshouston.org
Early Childhood EC3 Teacher
sfried@tdshouston.org
Mrs. Stacey John
1st Grade Secular Teacher
Sjohn@tdshouston.org
1st Grade Secular Teacher
Sjohn@tdshouston.org
Morah Tirtsah Orgis
Early Childhood EC1 Teacher
torgis@tdshouston.org
Early Childhood EC1 Teacher
torgis@tdshouston.org
Tirtsah has been teaching at TDS for going on 6 years. Before she came to work at TDS she was a stay at home mom and homeschooled her two boys until they went to Yeshivah. She has a CDA for teaching in preschool. She has a love for working at TDS and watching all the kids grow up.
βIt is such a pleasure to be a part of their lives and make an impact on their love for learningβ.
Mrs. Jennifer Ruiz
Kindergarden Teacher
jruiz@tdshouston.org