Headquarters Staff
Don Futterman, Executive Director
Don is the Founding Director of ICEI, and the Program Director, Israel for the Moriah Fund. He is also a regular contributor to Haaretz, a blogger for Open Zion, and a panelist on the bi-weekly Promised Podcast review of politics and society in Israel. Don brings to ICEI many years of experience in educational program evaluation, organizational assessment and strategic planning, as well as expertise in interventions in the Ethiopian-Israeli community. Before coming to ICEI and Moriah, Don taught at the Lowy School of Tel Aviv University for ten years and served as assistant director of marketing/communications at the Jewish Community Federation of San Francisco.Einat Orion, Program Director
Einat brings to ICEI many years of experience in systems management and language instruction as a senior official in Israel Defense Forces intelligence units. Einat is a graduate of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership, where she focused on the development of literacy and linguistic skills in early childhood as a means of reducing social gaps and promoting equal opportunity for disadvantaged populations. Prior to her studies at Mandel, Einat retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in the IDF after 26 years of service in senior military intelligence positions in her area of expertise: Arabic language, translation and linguistic research. During her service, Einat was responsible for teaching, staff training and instruction. In the framework of her roles in the IDF, Ms. Orion trained Arabic language instructors and worked to integrate marginalized groups into higher quality military service. Einat has a BA (cum laude) in Arab Language and Literature from Tel-Aviv University and an MBA from Ben-Gurion University.Eti Bukshpan, Pedagogic Director
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ti comes to ICEI from the National Office of the Ministry of Education, where she served as Director of the Department of Foundational Skills Instruction for Elementary Education for the State of Israel, a branch of the Pedagogic Directorate. She was part of a team that formulated Israel's national policy and objectives for elementary education and oversaw their implementation in national training programs. Among her other responsibilities, Eti supervised the national professional development program for Hebrew language teachers and supervisors in elementary education, and led the revision and implementation of the national objectives for Hebrew Language Instruction Israel's Elementary School System.Manberu Shimon, Director of Community Development
Manberu, an Ethiopian-Israeli, holds a Master's Degree from the Hebrew University and he is a graduate of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership. Manberu has experience as a consultant and lecturer in the field of multiculturalism and conducts group activities for children and parents from the Ethiopian-Israeli community.
Dr. Iris Jerby, Director of Assessment and Research
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ris has a PhD in Qualitative Sociology from Tel Aviv University. Before coming to ICEI she served as analyst with the Tel Aviv Center for Economic and Social Research, and was a senior research analyst at Pilat, the company that processes all of the data generated by the Israel Ministry of Education's national School Efficiency and Growth Rating standardized examinations in Hebrew language for elementary school students.Lee Perlman, Director, Development and Strategic Partnerships
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ee is a seasoned professional with extensive experience in philanthropy and non-profit management, a passion for and a deep belief in education as a means for equalizing opportunity. He has held senior positions at The America-Israel Cultural Foundation, The Jewish Federations of North America, the Abraham Fund Initiatives, The Van Leer Jerusalem Institute and the Israeli educational non-profit, Melitz. He has taught at Tel Aviv University and in Brandeis University international summer programs. He received his Ph.D. and M.A. from Tel Aviv University and his B.A. from U.C.L.A. Manhattan born and bred, Lee has lived in Israel since 1982.