by Kathy Bossuk
With Teacher Appreciation Week approaching, we want to shine a spotlight on the remarkable educators who shape our students’ lives every day. What makes our faculty truly special is not just their dedication in the classroom, but how they embody our school values in their personal lives.
Our school community is built on the pillars of Pursuit of Wholeness (Rodeph Sholom), Love of Learning (Limmud), Community (Kehilah), and Responsibility (Achrayut), alongside our commitments to Israel and TDB (Tzedek, Diversity, and Belonging). We invited our teachers to share how they live these values outside school walls, and their responses that follow reveal the passionate, multifaceted individuals who guide our children’s education.
Caylin Waller: Advocating for Justice and Inclusion
Outside her role as a Twos Teacher and Tzedek, Diversity, and Belonging (TDB) coordinator, Caylin exemplifies our values of responsibility and commitment to TDB through her work as executive director and co-founder of Theatre Advocacy Project (TAP). This nonprofit organization creates “safe and equitable working conditions for all theatre professionals” by supporting “accountable, compliant, and inclusive workplace culture.”
Her master’s thesis, “Creating Accountability in American Theatre,” won the NYU Steinhardt Research & Scholarship Showcase. Now serving as an Expert in Residence for NYU Steinhardt’s Performing Arts Administration program, she mentors students and leads workshops on inclusive HR practices. Per Caylin, “I feel grateful to be a part of the Rodeph Sholom School community where I am able to marry my passions of education, the arts, and building spaces of belonging for all.”
In the photo, Caylin is speaking on a panel at the 2024 RISE Theater Summit. Photo by Heather Gershonowitz/Playbill.
Todd Loyd: Nurturing Big Hearts in Little Kids
As a Threes Teacher and host of the “Little Kids, Big Hearts podcast,” Todd embodies our commitment to Community and TDB in innovative ways. The podcast brings together children and special guests for “honest and thoughtful conversations about the world around them.”
Todd’s teaching philosophy centers on helping “children not just learn about the world, but feel connected to it–and to themselves.” He finds inspiration in Fred Rogers’ wisdom: “Anything that’s human is mentionable, and anything mentionable can be more manageable.” This approach illustrates our values of Love of Learning and Pursuit of Wholeness.
In the photo, Todd holds the Signal Award—Little Kids, Big Hearts won the Silver in 2024 for Best Kids Podcast of the Year!
Check out the podcast on one of these platforms:
Our Teachers in Action: Fitness and Philanthropy
Elementary Division teachers Katie Appel, Rachel Beaton, and Sophia Stamatakos recently completed the NYRR Maybelline Women’s Half Marathon, exemplifying our value of Pursuit of Wholeness. Rachel and Katie will be training for the 2025 NYC Marathon this November.
True to our values of Community and Responsibility, Katie is fundraising for the NYRR Team for Kids, supporting youth fitness programs, while Rachel is fundraising for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
Abby Eshaghpour: Finding Wholeness Through Yoga
Abby exemplifies our value of Pursuit of Wholeness through her dedicated Iyengar Yoga practice. Since the pandemic began, she has been part of a small, consistent group of 4-6 people practicing yoga together online weekly. Abby shares that her teacher inspires the group “to concentrate so that we may quiet our minds and challenge ourselves physically.” She believes that when they focus and attempt physical challenges in class, they develop abilities that can be shared “with others in other areas of life.” Through this practice, Abby demonstrates how personal discipline and mindfulness contribute to overall well-being and growth.
Samantha Moshen: Building the Foundation for Learning and Growth
“What is success? To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better… To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; That is to have succeeded.” -Ralph Waldo Emerson
As a Kindergarten teacher celebrating 15 years in education, Samantha embraces our value of Pursuit of Wholeness through her commitment to “laugh with my students, grow with my students, and learn from my students.” She beautifully articulates how early childhood educators serve as “the foundation of a house,” building children up to become “better, stronger, confident students.” We are grateful that Samantha brings this dedication to our community.
Celebrating the Whole Educator
These glimpses into our teachers’ lives reveal the depth of character they bring to their work every day. When our faculty live values like continuous learning, community engagement, and pursuit of justice in their personal lives, these principles naturally infuse their teaching.
As we celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week, we extend our gratitude to these educators who do not just teach our values—they live them. Their authentic commitment to personal growth and making the world better inspires our students to do the same.
Thank you to our contributors and all our faculty for the countless ways—both seen and unseen—that you enrich our Rodeph Sholom School community and the world beyond!