Educators

Kavana programs area lead by these wonderfully talented educators: 

Sarah Adams
Sarah has served children and their families at the Stroum Jewish Community Center School as both a Teacher and an Education Coordinator for the past 8 years.  She recently completed the three-year Waldorf Teacher Training program, and is inspired by the warm, home-like environment that Waldorf education provides for young children.  Sarah has also received extensive training in the Reggio Emilia model of early childhood education.  Sarah in passionate about fostering empathy in young children. She helped to develop the Colors of Empathy project and was recently trained in the Seeds of Empathy program. She is currently completing her Bachelor’s degree with a concentration in Early Childhood Education.  

Maxine Alloway
Maxine coordinates Kavana’s family education programming, and leads our Prep and Practice and Havdalah Club programs. She is a PhD candidate in Education at the University of Washington, with a focus on teacher education. Prior to graduate school, Maxine worked as an elementary teacher in several locations and taught in supplementary religious schools for almost fifteen years. She enjoys working with the Kavana community to create meaningful programs that meet the needs of participants and hopes others can learn from the innovative work being done.  

Yehudit Blume
This will be Yehudit's second year teaching in the Gan.  She was born and raised in Israel and has many years of experience working with children of all ages.  Her qualifications include a teaching certificate and over 18 years of teaching experience in the U.S.  When not at Kavana, Yehudit enjoys spending time with her family and working in her garden.

Shannon Cruzen
Shannon leads Kavana's Family Shabbat program, and is a key player in our High Holiday family programs.   She has been a member of the JCC faculty for over a decade (working in their kindergarten, early childhood program, and as their pedagogical coordinator), and brings us a wealth of knowledge and experience about both early childhood education and Jewish education.   Shannon holds a BA in sociology (with a minor in science and music) from the University of Washington. She also holds a Masters in Education from Antioch University, and a teaching certificate in the State of Washington. Shannon is excited about bringing her insight and creative ideas to Kavana.       

Rachel Jacobson
Rachel has worked in Jewish formal and informal education for the past 7 years. She has taught in supplementary religious school, trained Bar/Bat Mitzvah students, led a variety of workshops on Judaism and the environment, and guided wilderness canoe trips for Jewish children and teenagers. Rachel holds a BA in environmental policy and has training and practice in small group facilitation. She is especially passionate about working with middle school-aged students to build Jewish identity and community, and is excited to bring this passion to Kavana.

Michal Keidar
Michal will lead the Moadon Yeladim group again this year!  Michal moved a year ago this September to Seattle from Israel (her husband works for Microsoft), and she brings her background as an experienced Social Worker and her passion for working with youth and families (as a social worker over the last 6 years and before that as a group leader for the madatzim/ Israeli Scouts) to the position. Last year Michal also spent time working with families and children through the YMCA. 

Einav Peretz
A native Israeli, Einav is the creaor and lead teacher of the Gan Kavana Preschool. She holds an MA in Occupational Therapy from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, and has many years of experience working as a child development occupational therapist and as a preschool teacher, both in Israel and in the U.S.  Einav shares her love of Hebrew with the kids of Kavana through games, projects, music and baking (yes, she is a challah-master, and soon your kids will be too!  In Hebrew!)
 

Galia Sion
Galia was born In Israel and grow up in Kibbutz on the north border of Israel. She has worked with children in many different capacities; first as a youth counselor and then for the I.D.F as an Education Training officer. After her service she spent a summer working as a camp counselor at the JCC in Corpus Christi Texas.  There she taught Hebrew, heritage and Israeli games.  Galia has a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Playwriting from Tel Aviv University. As part of her scholarship there, she created and taught in a rehabilitation program for prisoners and their children.  After graduation she worked for 3 years as a theater stage manager, mostly in children theaters.  Galia and her husband moved to Seattle over a year ago.  Galia has joined Kavana's Moadon Yeladim program as an educator -- welcome Galia!