Our Staff

Senior Staff

Sally Harding Schott

Executive Director

Sally joined Wise Temple’s senior staff in 2016. She has many years of experience in finance, human resources, events and facilities management both in the nonprofit and for-profit arenas, which she applies to her role as Executive Director. As a lifelong member of Wise Temple, Sally values her relationships with the rabbis, staff and congregation, and looks forward to building many new relationships at Wise in the years to come.

Sally grew up in Cincinnati. She received a B.A. in Economics from Williams College, moving back to the Cincinnati area after some time in Boston so that her children could grow up near their grandparents. Sally has a passion for the martial arts, having achieved third degree black belt in Taekwondo and taught both Taekwondo and self defense for many years. She is married to Tom Schott and has three sons, who also grew up at Wise Temple, and three stepdaughters.

Professional Staff

Courtney Anthony

DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Courtney brings a warm spirit, a passion for Jewish education, and a wealth of experience to this role. She comes to us from Temple Emanuel in Winston Salem, NC, where she served as the Director of Education. Prior to that, Courtney served as the Principal for grades 7-12 at Temple Rodef Shalom in Falls Church, VA, a large congregation similar in size to ours. Joining the Wise Temple team was a sort of homecoming for Courtney, as she spent three years teaching religious school at Wise Temple while she was pursuing a Masters degree at Xavier University.

Rabbi Anna Meyers Burke

DIRECTOR OF YOUNG FAMILY INVOLVEMENT, DIRECTOR OF HOME BASE

Rabbi Anna Meyers Burke is thrilled to join the Wise Temple community and connect with other young families. Rabbi Burke moved to Cincinnati in 2018 to attend the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, where she earned her M.A. in Jewish Education in 2021 and ordained as a rabbi in May of 2023. While completing her rabbinic studies, Rabbi Burke served as a Rabbinic Educator for Hillel at Miami University and held the position of Cincinnati Manager for the Jewish Fertility Foundation.

Before moving to Cincinnati, Rabbi Burke lived in Israel for two years, though she is a proud New Englander at heart. She was born and raised in Rhode Island and received her B.A. in Jewish Studies at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. In her free time, Rabbi Burke loves spending time with her husband, Rand (the other Rabbi Burke), son Mason, and adorable pup named Callie. Rabbi Burke and her family can’t wait to meet you!

Matthew Check

DIRECTOR OF LIFELONG LEARNING

Matt is excited to be making Cincinnati his home after almost 20 years spent in New York City as a Jewish Educator and musician. Matt holds an MA in Education from the Jewish Theological Seminary (2008) as well as an MPA from Baruch College (2011). In directorial roles he has overseen Hebrew schools, family programs and adult education programs at such New York institutions as Central Synagogue, Park Avenue Synagogue, The 92nd Street Y, JCP Downtown and Ansche Chesed.

Also, an accomplished singer-songwriter, guitarist, banjoist and producer of Americana, bluegrass, Jewish music and children’s music, Matt is excited to bring this part of his personality and skills’ set to the team and community of Wise Temple.

Robyn Friend

DIRECTOR OF FAMILY ENGAGEMENT

Robyn is honored to serve the Wise Temple community as the Director of Family Engagement. She loves the emphasis Wise places on relationships, and she strives to develop meaningful programs to contribute to this mission. She works to make Jewish education and family programming fun and enlightening for both children and adults alike and hopes to help connect Jewish families to one another and to the temple.

Robyn has spent her career in various aspects of Jewish education. Prior to joining Wise, she was the Director of Education at the Valley Temple Religious School. Before relocating to Cincinnati, she was the School Counselor at The Alfred & Adele Davis Academy, the largest Reform Jewish Day School in the country. There, she helped develop each student’s academic and social/emotional learning, while fostering their Jewish identity. Further, she provided regular consultation and education to both teachers and parents to ensure student success.

Robyn holds a Master’s and Specialist degree in Education and licensure in mental health counseling, specializing in children and families. Along with her husband, Scott, and their two sons, Jordan and Joshua, Robyn loves the Wise Temple community and is pleased to be a part of the staff in this meaningful role.

Andrea Rapp

LIBRARIAN

Andrea often introduces herself as the lucky person who gets to be our Temple’s librarian. Lucky because we have one of the largest synagogue libraries in the land, with wonderful support from our rabbis and members.

Her family has belonged to Wise Temple since they moved to Cincinnati in 1979. That family now includes two baby granddaughters. Andrea has Master’s degrees in history and library science, taught history in public school as well as Wise’s religious school, and was a day school librarian. You can see why she thinks being the Wise Temple Librarian is the perfect position. Sharing a love of Jewish history and literature with children and adults at Wise Temple is hardly what she’d call “work.”

Stephanie Rozakis

YOUNG FAMILY ENGAGEMENT ASSISTANT

Stephanie and her family are fully engaged in the Wise Temple community. Stephanie believes that Wise Temple’s programming and warm welcoming community are what helped her family adjust beautifully to their move to Cincinnati in 2016. She is passionate about helping others engage in Temple life and about supporting others as they choose their Jewish path.

Originally from New Jersey, Stephanie attended the University of Delaware, where she majored in Elementary and Special Education. Stephanie loves to learn and instills that lifelong love of learning in all of her students.

When Stephanie is not in the classroom, she enjoys working out, reading and scrapbooking. Her family (husband, Jim and three children) is her pride and joy. Their weeks are busy with Krav Maga, gymnastics, swimming and school, but special family time is always set aside for Shabbat.

Stephanie connects and welcome families who are new to Jewish engagement or new to Cincinnati, helping them meet other young Jewish families and try out the variety of Wise Temple activities. She’s looking forward to meeting young families interested in a warm, fun and engaging Jewish and social community!

Jeff Stern

DIRECTOR OF MEMBER ENGAGEMENT

Jeff Stern is excited to support members of the Wise community as they build strong and meaningful relationships with one another through engaging and impactful programming. You may have seen Jeff in recent years at Wise, as he brings his musical background and experience to the community through participation as a cantorial soloist for Shabbat, b’nai mitzvah, and festival services throughout the year. He looks forward to continuing in this capacity and deepening his relationships in the Wise Community leading member engagement.

Jeff joins the Wise Temple staff with a long background in non-profit leadership, ranging from the performing arts to social services to education. Most recently, Jeff served as the Chief Engagement Officer for the National Runaway Safeline, leading the organization’s communications and fundraising efforts. In Cincinnati, Jeff has taught at St. Xavier High School and worked as the Director of Development & Communications at Crayons to Computers. He also continues to apply his musical background, performing in choral ensembles across the city.

A native New Yorker, Jeff holds a Doctor of Musical Arts from the University of Miami (FL), a Master of Music from the University of Minnesota, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Music from The George Washington University. Jeff lives in Hyde Park with his wife, Gwynedd Davis, two daughters, Clara and Eliza, and the family dog, Stanley.