Rivy Poupko Kletenik Creative Problem Solver, Speaker, Scholar in Residence, and Writer
The room changes when Rivy walks in – there is a palpable shift in the spirit. Rivy exudes warmth, engagement, and curiosity. Whether as an enthusiastic teacher, trainer, coach, or consultant, Rivy is fully present – ready to roll up her sleeves and thrilled to work to improve things, shift the conversation, and help move a school, a person, or an organization forward.
Rivy has taught, led, and organized all her grown years in capacities ranging from Teacher to Head of School, Volunteer Co-Ordinator to Director of Professional Development, all performed as consummate educators.
Rivy loves to share her knowledge and expertise as a speaker or presenter to small or large groups, young and not-so-young. She is a powerful storyteller and an effective one-on-one coach.
Rivy Poupko Kletenik, a 2002 Exceptional Jewish Educator Covenant Award Winner, completed her sixteenth year as Head of School at the Seattle Hebrew Academy in June 2022. During her tenure, she transformed the school academically, dramatically enhanced its position in the community, and created a school overflowing with warmth, meaning, and belongingness. Shaping its Mission, Core Values, and direction, Rivy is proud of her work with the staff and school community.
Born in Pittsburgh, Rivy moved to Seattle in 1994 with her family. Having studied at Michlalah, Touro College, Yeshiva University, and Hebrew University, Rivy is a sought-after lecturer of all things Jewish. She has an enthusiastic love of the Torah, a passion for the nuances and craft of pedagogy, and thrills at the expert delivery of a well-taught lesson.
Rivy is an enthusiastic writer and lover of poetry and literature. Her column “What’s Your JQ” appeared for years in the JT News and then “Jewish in Seattle Magazine. She was awarded the Simon Rockower American Jewish Press Association Excellence in Commentary. She enjoys traveling across the country as a scholar-in-residence, a Limmud presenter, and a teacher in the Mussar Institute’s Kallahs.
Rivy has an insatiable curiosity for Jewish history and has devoted time to learning, training, and teaching about the Holocaust, participating in Centropa, Yad Vashem, and March of the Living. Her trips to Europe in search of family roots have been deeply meaningful, as reflected in her articles. Rivy is newly certified by BoardSource in Governance Training.
Rivy participates in the community at large, serving on the board of the Epiphany School and the JCRC and representing Jewish day schools on the Executive Committee of the Washington Federation of Independent Schools. Since 2013, Rivy has been a passionate member and volunteer at the newly formed Minyan Ohr Chadash, teaching, organizing, and being involved in programming, shaping its vision, and pitching in where needed.
‘Rivy’s presentation galvanized our staff around the Federation’s core purpose: to build and sustain connections across our community — one relationship at a time. Rivy’s person-centered approach invited all members of our team, no matter our function, to consider ourselves ambassadors for Federation’s mission.’"
