Dr. Esty Gross is dedicated to advancing effective teaching practices to optimize individual student proficiency in Hebrew. She believes that mastering Hebrew enhances students’ understanding of Israeli culture and the Jewish People, strengthens their Jewish identity, boosts their overall academic performance, deepens their understanding of their native language, and fosters appreciation and tolerance for other cultures. Through studying Hebrew, students can become active change agents, comfortable with diversity, confident in advocating for the Jewish People, and equipped to address societal inequalities.

Dr. Esty Gross is an accomplished educator with over twenty-five years of experience in Hebrew and second language instruction and curriculum development. She is the Chief of Staff and Director of Education at Hebrew at the Center עברית במרכז (HATC) and serves as a Visiting Lecturer at DeLeT Lehorat Ivrit program at Hebrew Union College. Prior to her tenure at HATC, Dr. Gross served as the Education Director for Hebrew Studies, Global Division, at the Center for Educational Technology המרכז לטכנולוגיה חינוכית (CET), a leader in Hebrew curriculum and professional development for the Jewish educational field worldwide. Her career includes roles as an Adjunct Professor in the MAT-TESOL program at the University of Southern California, Associate Coordinator of DeLeT L’Ivrit, and various leadership positions in Jewish day schools in Los Angeles. Dr. Gross is also recognized for her contributions to the field, having co-chaired the National Association for Hebrew Teachers (NAHeT) and participated as a member of the Council for Hebrew Language and Culture in North America. Dr. Gross has presented in countless schools and conferences, has written numerous articles on equitable second language education, and authored and co-authored Hebrew textbooks. 

Esty earned her doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Southern California. She also holds an M.A. in Management and Leadership in Education from Tel Aviv University, a Coordinator and Master Teacher Certificate from Hebrew College, and a B.A. in English Linguistics along with a Teacher’s Diploma for Teaching English as a Second Language from Bar Ilan University.