-- Kulanu and JET Staff --
Reach your teacher by email:
| Morah Sara (sara@shirhadash.org) | Moreh Matan (matan@shirhadash.org) | Moreh Scott (scott@shirhadash.org) |
| Moreh Rina (rina@shirhadash.org) | Moreh Char (char@shirhadash.org) | Morah Talia (tmusicer@shirhadash.org) |
| Morah Jojo (jojo@shirhadash.org) | Morah KJ (kj@shirhadash.org) | Moreh Everett |
| Morah Rachel (rachel@shirhadash.org) | Rabbi Rafi (rabbirafi@shirhadash.org) |
For more info on these teachers see below!
K/1 Morah Sara
I have been a member of Shir Hadash for 30 years, along with my husband and daughter. My daughter was named here and also celebrated her Bat Mitzvah at Shir Hadash. Overall I have taught here for 24 years, both in the Kulanu program, the Hebrew program, and in the JET program (once called Hebrew High). I have also served on the board as the ECC representative and as VP of Religious School (now Youth and Family). I enjoy cooking, reading, watching cooking shows and hanging out with our cat.
Grades 2/3 Moreh Matan
Matan Leiba is in his last year at University of California Santa Cruz, studying Psychology and Education. This is his second year teaching at Kulanu and he is excited to continue contributing to the wonderful Shir Hadash community. In his free time, Matan likes to shoot hoops and play the piano. Matan is driven to make each class the best for his students and always looks forward to working with the 2nd/3rd graders each week!
Grade 4: Moreh Scott
Scott Sandler has been a proud Jewish educator since 1997. Scott taught 5th grade at Kol Tikvah in Woodland Hills before moving to Santa Cruz in 2002 and joining the staff of Temple Beth El. At Temple Beth El, Scott taught 4th grade Hebrew and both 2nd grade and 7th grade. Scott is currently teaching 4th grade Hebrew and Kulanu at Shir Hadash. Aside from teaching at Temple School, Scott serves as the English Department Co-Chair at Gavilan College where he teaches Composition and Reading, Critical Thinking, Literature, and Creative Writing.
Grade 5: Moreh Rina
Rina is currently an undergraduate at UCSC studying applied physics and works part-time as a behavior interventionist. They are new to Shir Hadash and Kulanu this year and are excited to be part of the community! During the summer, Rina works at Camp Ramah in California with campers with disabilities. Rina is passionate about education and Judaism, and so stoked to be teaching 5th grade.
Grade 6: Moreh Char
Char Casty is a senior Geology major at UCSC, and when they aren't teaching Kulanu, they like to play music, go hiking, and take photos! They're hoping to bring a fun, informative, and engaging experience to the classroom for Kulanu Sundays!
Kulanu Songleader: Morah Talia
Talia Musicer is a high school senior at Notre Dame High School and is so excited to be the song leader and a Hebrew teacher at Kulanu! She has been at Shir Hadash since Kindergarten and has been a Madricha for the past 5 years. When not at Kulanu she loves to sing, dance, craft, and spend time with friends.
Curriculum Coordinator: Morah Jojo
Jojo Sidney is a senior Cognitive Science and Film double major at UCSC. This is her second year working with Kulanu and when she isn't working, she is spending time with friends, cooking and watching TV (aka studying)! 
JET Art Track: Morah KJ
Morah KJ is thrilled to guide the JET Art Track this year - fostering a creative studio environment for our teens that pairs learning about Jewish Artists, discussion art, and practicing specific techniques with time for creativity and exploration through hands-on projects. KJ is a professional watercolor and illustration artist, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Multimedia Design from the University of Oregon Robert D. Clark Honors College.
Jet Debate Track: Moreh Everett
Biography Pending… Probably Being Written Between Cups of Coffee
Our beloved teacher has definitely promised to send in a biography paragraph. Any day now. Truly. We believe in them. Until then, please enjoy this placeholder, which is doing its best to look official while we wait for the real thing to arrive.
Assistant Director of Education: Morah Rachel
Rachel is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and completed her 4 year degree online while raising her two children. She taught at Congregation Shir Hadash for many years, developing a curriculum for the Sunday school kitchen. Rachel joined our staff initially to help out temporarily, but her inner educator has brought her to be an integral part of Kulanu and JET. If you can't find her in the office, check the garden and/or the kitchen!
