Faculty

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2013.

Education/degrees:
B.A. in Speech Communication from Northeastern Illinois University
M.A.T., LBS1 from National Louis University

I like to teach because:
I like to share my knowledge and experience and love for learning with my students. I also like learning from my students.

My favorite part of teaching is:
Watching students learning new information independently and in groups, seeing the joy and sense of accomplishment when they achieve and succeed in their academics.

I became a teacher because:
I love seeing students learn, grow and realize their abilities in many different areas.

I'm known by my students for:
Being enthusiastic, caring, and interested in each individual student I teach.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Like to spend time with my husband and children. We like to hang out at our lake house in Wisconsin. I also enjoy reading, drawing and traveling.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
1997

Education/degrees:
B.S. in Biology, Teaching Math & Science, University of Illinois at Chicago
M.Ed., National Lewis University, with specialty in the acquisition of a second language

I like to teach because:
It brings the best out of me by expressing my Judaism and my love for Israel

My favorite part of teaching is:
When I am successfully engaging the minds of my students in learning in a safe classroom environment.

I became a teacher because:
That’s what I love and do best. I feel rewarded when I see my students enjoy learning with a sense of accomplishment.

I'm known by my students for:
Being a caring teacher who is there for them when they need help.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Care for my family, stay in touch with my friends, catch up on my reading, work on my hobbies such as gardening and needlepoint.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2012

Education/degrees:
Bachelors Degree in Psychology

I like to teach because:
I enjoy teaching others how to become independent in their learning.

My favorite part of teaching is:
When a student grasps the skills I am teaching.

I became a teacher because:
I am naturally inclined to teach.

I'm known by my students for:
Passion in teaching.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Am studying.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2013.

Education/degrees:
B.A. in English, Latin and Hebrew
Certificate in Foreign Language Education

I like to teach because:
As librarian, I have the opportunity to introduce new books and genres to so many students.

My favorite part of teaching is:
Hearing from the students what books they recommend that we should purchase for the library, and mentoring the library interns.

I became a teacher because:
I love becoming a part of my students’ educational journey as they become part of a community of learners.

I'm known by my students for:
Being firm, fair, and enthusiastic about books.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Enjoy reading and relaxing. I also work as a family support specialist, assisting families who are dealing with a crisis.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2017.

Education/degrees:
MA in Educational Policy, BA American Studies

I like to teach because:
I am fascinated by the power of stories in humanities—both historical and fictional. We tell stories to try to uncover truths about who we are as individuals, as a community, and as a society. I’m excited to explore with students how different types of stories help us achieve that goal.

My favorite part of teaching is:
That moment when the students are so engaged in what they are discussing or learning that they forget that I am there.

I became a teacher because:
Kids are so fun to be with and to learn with, and I love to help them realize just how much they can do. Every day is a new opportunity and a new challenge!

I'm known by my students for:
We'll see...

When I'm not teaching, I:
Am trying to keep up with my three little ones, biking around the neighborhood, or reading.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2009

Education/degrees:
Ohel Chana Women’s Teaching Institution, Melbourne, Australia
Beth Rivka Teachers Seminary, Brooklyn, NY
Touro College, New York, NY

I like to teach because:
I believe that children will gain a true appreciation for Torah and learning when it is brought to life and it is full of excitement.

My favorite part of teaching is:
Watching the children learn new information, gain knowledge, come to conclusions on their own, work together, smile and recognize that they are our future and that they mean so much to everyone.

I became a teacher because:
I love seeing children advance, achieve their goals, and watch the subjects being taught come to life.

I'm known by my students for:
Being an example of what I am teaching, and being there for each student.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Am a mother/wife, run a Jewish students’ organization at the University of Chicago, exercise, catch up on laundry and cook dinner.

Upstairs Blue Room

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2002

Education/degrees:
M.S. in Psychology

I like to teach because:
I believe that the years of being four or five years old are very important. Children start showing their independence but still need guidance to become community members. I make sure that each child I see gets a warm hug every morning. I encourage them to ask questions, to be more curious, and believe that learning is fun. At the end of the day I always try to send each child home with a big smile on his or her face.

My favorite part of teaching is:
Getting surprised by children’s honesty and humanity, and being challenged by their curiosity.

I became a teacher because:
I wanted to be part of this ongoing process of learning and tyring to make a difference.

I'm known by my students for:
My smile and instant puppet shows.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Listen to music, cook or write poems.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2019, but I used to teach here in the 1990s and have returned after a 19-year hiatus.

Education/degrees:
BA in Sociology, Columbia University
BA in Bible and Jewish Education, Jewish Theological Seminary of America

I like to teach because:
because I love the fast pace of early childhood.

My favorite part of teaching is:
Working with small children and helping them explore the world around them.

I became a teacher because:
I was in a great place to study Jewish Education.

I'm known by my students for:
Singing and being silly.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Am singing and loving my family to pieces. I have three great kids and a supportive husband.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
1999

I like to teach because:
It requires flexibility. One thing that has worked for me is to go with the flow of the children: Each class and each child is different, and what works for one might not work for another

I became a teacher because:
Teaching is in my blood; I have many teachers in my family and my mother has been a great inspiration to me.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Am learning to knit, learning to speak Japanese, and studying Fine Arts at the Art Institute of Chicago.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2013.

Education/degrees:
Bachelors in Science and Masters in Early Childhood Education

I like to teach because:
I can’t really pick out a particular area that I like to teach. I love doing individual work with the children to get to see their own ideas come out. It is so fun to give them all the same topic and then getting to see how they make it their own.

My favorite part of teaching is:
seeing when a child has one of those “Aha” moments. Their entire face lights up when a connection is made and then there is this enthusiasm that is so contagious.

I became a teacher because:
I am thinking back to when I was in Kindergarten myself and thinking how fun it would be to be the teacher, and that was it. I have never wanted to do anything else, except run my own pet store, and I have loved every experience I have had.

I'm known by my students for:
being silly.

When I'm not teaching, I:
am usually hanging out with my dog. We love to go for walks and going to the park.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
2003

Education/degrees:
B.A. Education Major, University of Michigan
M.Ed. Curriculum & Instruction, National Lewis University

I like to teach because:
I would always bring my favorite books for the teachers to borrow when my children were in Preschool at Akiba, so I was thrilled when Carla asked me to be the Library Teacher!

My favorite part of teaching is:
The smiles and hugs I get from the children when I come to share wonderful books.

I became a teacher because:
It allows me to be creative and do the things I love: tell stories, sing songs, do art projects and be with children.

I'm known by my students for:
The Library Song.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Spend time with my family, bake, walk my dog, and read.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:
1999

Education/degrees:
B.A. in English Language and Literature, University of Chicago

My favorite part of teaching is:
The art that children make. It never loses its “wow” for me. I try to let children know how much their work thrills me. When designing an art project in the classroom, I plan carefully and prepare materials so that the children will be able to create and explore, not merely follow directions. I believe that the most successful projects result in works that are both unique and pleasing. This is where a teacher’s careful planning comes in. You need to set out materials that actually work together (glue that really sticks, colors that don’t always end up being brown, etc.). I’m always excited about the process and the results.

When I'm not teaching, I:
Love to go bird watching, explore the city, and take photographs with my husband and children.