Naomi enjoys working with children and has strongly believed in the Montessori method of teaching ever since enrolling her oldest child in a Jewish Montessori preschool at the age of 2.5. She received her own training, and has been teaching in Jewish Montessori preschools since 2010.
Frieda (Schlesinger) Joshua Primary Teacher
Frieda loves working with young children and has been doing so since her teenage years. She has been teaching at SCDS since 2018. She enjoys building connections with the children and watching them thrive in the classroom environment. Frieda attended training at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in Evanston.
Julie Cohen Primary Teacher
Julie is passionate about helping children grow, and creating a healthy environment for them to do so. She has a certificate in Montessori Fundamentals, and joined the SCDS team in 2019. Julie attended training at Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center in Evanston.
Anna Aurora Elementary Teacher
Anna loves to discover the beauty in the world with children and has been an educator for twenty years. With experience varying from CPS to Montessori, her eclectic experience gives a quilt of tools to utilize when teaching. With an MFA from Maine College of Art + Elementary training at the Midwest Montessori Teacher Training Center + the varied career experience + a parent of two little girls, she brings a lot of expertise, intuition, and creative ideas to the classroom. Anna is thrilled to be a part of the Shaarei Chinuch family.
Hadasah Esquivel Primary Co-Teacher
Hadasah takes to heart the honor that is the involvement in children's growth and development. She loves fueling the excitement in a child's accomplishments. She has accumulated multiple medical training and certifications. Hadasah participated in the preschool training at the Jewish Montessori Training Center.
Geula Deray Primary Co-Teacher
Geula has taught children of various ages throughout her career. Her work with children with additional challenges helps her tune in to the unique needs of each child in her care. She is passionate about the Montessori method of teaching, and loves how it fosters independence and confidence from a young age. Geula participated in preschool training at the Jewish Montessori Training Center.
Ruth Wait Music Teacher
Ruth Wait is a classically trained musician with 17 years' experience teaching music privately and in the classroom, from preschool to high school. Ruth is passionate about making music exciting and hands-on by allowing her students to explore and express themselves using various instruments and methods. From violin to trumpet, didgeridoo to glockenspiel, guitar and many more, Ruth loves to bring instruments into the classroom so students can see why instruments sound different & unique. Ruth is also a parent at Shaarei Chinuch and has been a member of the Chicago Jewish community for 9 years.
Rebecca Wiesenthal Office Manager
Rebecca manages the day-to-day office operations at Shaarei Chinuch Day School. She enjoys working behind the scenes to provide a positive experience and a productive learning environment for our students, families, and staff. Rebecca received her Bachelor’s in Health Science from North Park University and has been a member of the Jewish community in West Rogers Park for over 25 years with her husband and their children.
