Staff are Keshet’s heart and soul. Last year, we established six core values to guide the work of our staff: Positivity, Patience, Integrity, Teamwork, Communication and Respect. To demonstrate how our staff are bringing these values to life, we initiated the Keshet Staff Values Awards.

We are thrilled to announce the Fall 2020 recipients:

Estee Sulkin, Ariella Joy Frankel Keshet Day School | Teamwork
Estee recently initiated a Core Vocabulary program for students and included all staff in the process. She is an inspiration to others for her dedication to students and her coworkers.

Meltem Hurdogan, MY Life | Respect
Mel holds the highest level of respect with her co-workers, the residents and Keshet families. She is quick to give shout-outs in recognition of others’ great qualities and abilities. She interacts with and supports our residents to help them understand something that may be difficult and encourages their problem-solving skills. She lives the value of respect in all of her interactions, which makes her a role model for others.

Mel is not pictured above because she was working at MY Life during the award ceremony.

Jessie Draper, Keshet High School and Transition | Integrity
Jessie always does the right and honorable thing for her students and Keshet. Recently, she took on a task critical to helping families in Keshet’s community during the pandemic. Jessie did an exceptional job meeting people’s needs because of her exceptional listening skills and trustworthiness. Her leadership in this project and many others demonstrates how the level of integrity we want from everyone at Keshet.

Cory Gartenberg, GADOL | Patience
The pandemic has tested everyone’s patience, but Cory has truly stood out above the rest. She regularly has to put aside her own personal feelings to support her coworkers and others. Cory masterfully helps others cope with change by listening to their feelings, thoughts and views. She is guided by wanting only the best for others and for Keshet. The people she works with regularly describe her as “the best.”

Genevieve Matthies, Camp@Home | Communication
When Genevieve was hired this summer to lead Keshet’s virtual camp program, everyone knew it would be a challenge to do something so new and unconventional. Through Zoom, Genevieve brought together campers from all over for a camp experience like nonother. Her ability to tailor her communication skills and styles to different campers and families is extraordinary. She created a fun and inclusive environment that is sure to result in lifelong memories for kids. When she finally got to meet one of the campers in the person, the camper cried of excitement as though she was meeting a celebrity.

Lexi Silvers, Development | Positivity
This summer, Lexi served as a link between many staff and volunteers with the Forward 2020 campaign. Her positivity and helpfulness helped everyone maintain enthusiasm and understand projects. One person she worked with regularly commented, “Anytime I had a question, she was quick to respond, assured me I could do it and provided truly helpful suggestions.” She is always smiling, friendly and eager to join in. She makes everyone feel welcome and included. Lexi is a true team player who is a pleasure to work with.