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The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Lauren Ngoi Early Childhood Education Associate Director at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and Voices for Good Fellow. Where did you grow up? San Francisco, CA. What is your favorite dessert? Bombolino. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? A vintage, broken Forty Niners cup. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A paramedic. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Spotify. What’s your favorite movie? Mommy Dearest. Keva or kavanah? Work toward focusing on living in the present. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Rosh Hashanah. What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? I clocked out and was leaving, when a child ran inside the classroom from the playground passing the available teachers crying, "I want Lauren, I want Lauren." I turned around and comforted her and her mom showed up shortly after. What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? The community!

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Amanda Schwartz Family Life Director at Judaism Your Way, and Voices for Good Fellow. Where did you grow up? Centennial, CO. What is your favorite dessert? Brownie sundae. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? CDs since I have no way of listening to them at this point. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A rabbi. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Google maps. What’s your favorite movie? Princess Bride. Keva or kavanah? Normally I would say kavanah but lately I've been leaning into keva. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Shabbat. What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? "You're the GOAT." What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Getting to show my students how amazing Judaism is and having them reflect that reminder back on me.

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Rachel Dubowe Senior Assistant Director at URJ Camp Newman, and Voices for Good Fellow. Where did you grow up? Los Angeles, CA. What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? Probably old camp shirts. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A teacher or an author. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Instagram. What’s your favorite movie? Wet Hot American Summer. Keva or kavanah? Kavanah. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Passover. What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Creating accessible, teachable Jewish moments in our every day lives.

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Nicole Francis Senior Director of Preschool, Youth and Family Engagement at PJCC and Voices for Good Alumna. Where did you grow up? Belmont, CA. What is your favorite dessert? Chocolate chip cheesecake. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? My whole couch! Hahaha What did you want to be when you were growing up? A lawyer. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Probably the mail app for work (but I'm trying to fix that!) Photos and Instagram would be tied for second. What’s your favorite movie? Wicked is currently on repeat at my house. Keva or kavanah? Kavanah. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Pesach! (I love order) What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? A five year old walked up to me and tried to order a 'pinot noir'. What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Connecting Jewish values in unexpected ways and watching teachers make these connections with the children. One of my favorite examples of this was our outer space, light up sukkah!

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Ben Lieberman Assistant Director of Youth Education at Congregation Beth Sholom. Also works at the Brandeis School of San Francisco. Where did you grow up? Irvine, CA. What is your favorite dessert? Ice cream. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? My old camp t-shirts. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A teacher. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Spotify! Or Safari. What’s your favorite movie? Cool runnings. Keva or kavanah? Katanas. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Passover. What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? I want to be a teacher just like you one day. What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? To me it’s my form of practice and prayer.

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Ann Bergstrom Teacher at Gan Avraham Preschool in Oakland, CA. Where did you grow up? San Francisco, CA. What is your favorite dessert? Chocolate cake. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? Whatever you do, don't look in my basement. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Sports broadcaster (baseball/radio). What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Email. What’s your favorite movie? Finding Nemo. Keva or kavanah? Kavanah. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Purim (costumes and cookies, together at last!) What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? "Will you marry me?" What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Celebrating Shabbat.

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Lena Fishman Executive Director at the Golda Meir House Museum. Lena is also on the board of the Rocky Mountain Jewish Historical Society, and this year she is receiving their Community Leadership Award. She is also the president of The Denver Kehillah, and a current Voices for Good Fellow. Where did you grow up? Denver, CO. What is your favorite dessert? Fruit cobbler. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? 20 year-old hiking boots. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Vulcanologist. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Facebook. What’s your favorite movie? School of Rock. Keva or kavanah? Kavanah. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Sukkot. What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? Before I entered the world of museum education, I was a special education teacher. I once worked with a struggling student that spent most of elementary school hiding under his desk. Fifteen years later he is now a thriving college student working on getting a degree in history and he serves as the Golda Meir House Museum student intern! Every week he reaches out to me to ask what HE can do to support me! What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Creating opportunities for learners to find a connection in their own story to the story of the Jewish people.

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Jane Elisa Simon Jewish Resource Specialist at Temple Sinai in Oakland, CA and Artist in Residence at the East Bay JCC. Where did you grow up? New York. What is your favorite dessert? Blueberry pie with vanilla ice cream! What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? A broken knife. What did you want to be when you were growing up? Big enough to not have to go to bed when my mother said so! What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Shazam. What’s your favorite movie? American Fiction. Keva or kavanah? Kavanah. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Sukkot. What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? Upon turning four — "what happened to the three part of me?" What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Being part of an ancient chain of tradition, culture and values.

The Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Ariela Ronay-Jinich Founder and Executive Director of Olamim - Latin Jewish Belonging for Families. Where did you grow up? Mexico City. What is your favorite dessert? Flan. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? I still can't accept I should really throw it out... What did you want to be when you were growing up? An earth activist. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Safari - although ChatGPT is gaining. What’s your favorite movie? Ponyo. Keva or kavanah? Keva with kavannah. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Shabbat! What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? I still remember when we... What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? Being a Jewish educator makes me a more engaged Jew — it asks me to examine what is most meaningful and relevant to me and to the communities I serve and care about. I love the opportunity to teach values, stories, and culture by reaching into a rich treasure chest of heritage that spans thousands of years and all continents. Get to Know Other Educators Educator Spotlight: Lauren NgoiThe Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Lauren Ngoi Early Childhood Education Associate Director at the Peninsula Jewish Community Center, and Voices for Good Fellow. Where did you grow up? San Francisco, CA. What is your favorite dessert? Bombolino. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? A vintage, broken Forty Niners cup. What did you want to be when you were growing up? A paramedic. What’s the most used app on your phone? (Be honest!) Spotify. What’s your favorite movie? Mommy Dearest. Keva or kavanah? Work toward focusing on living in the present. If you could only celebrate one Jewish holiday, which one would it be? Rosh Hashanah. What’s the best thing a student has ever said to you? I clocked out and was leaving, when a child ran inside the classroom from the playground passing the available teachers crying, "I want Lauren, I want Lauren." I turned around and comforted her and her mom showed up shortly after. What’s your favorite part about being a Jewish educator? The community!Read moreEducator Spotlight: Amanda SchwartzThe Jewish LearningWorks team put together ten questions, designed to open a window into the life of the educators in our communities. Dive in to get to know who they are, be surprised, inspired, or both! Amanda Schwartz Family Life Director at Judaism Your Way, and Voices for Good Fellow. Where did you grow up? Centennial, CO. What is your favorite dessert? Brownie sundae. What’s one thing you own that you should really throw out? CDs since I have no way of [...]