Celebrating Education: Jewish Educational Services To Host Educator Awards Ceremony

By BJLife Newsroom
Posted on 05/17/24

Baltimore, MD - May 16, 2024  - On Wednesday, May 29th, Jewish Educational Services, an agency of The Associated will be hosting Celebrating Education: JES Educator Awards Ceremony and Annual Meeting.  This momentous event will take place at 7:00 pm at Congregation Shomrei Emunah, where we will pay tribute to not only our incredible awardees, including the 2024 Sam Kahan Distinguished Educator, but also to the 100+ educators who were nominated for awards, and we invite you to join us to celebrate ALL the teachers in our community who dedicate themselves to their students and to Jewish Education. Registration is still open - go to bit.ly/CelebratingEducation2024.

This year, we invited community members to participate in our Educator Awards program by nominating outstanding educators.   What an amazing response we received!   Each nomination reflected an educator whose commitment and passion were outstanding.  With over 100 nominations to consider, we undertook the difficult challenge of identifying the most deserving educators upon whom we bestowed the following awards:


Sam Kahan Distinguished Educator for Excellence in Jewish Education

Rabbi Gershon Riselsheimer from Ohr Chadash Academy


Inspiring Educator Award

Erica Allen from Krieger Schechter Day School and Rosenbloom Religious School of Chizuk Amuno


Early Childhood Teaching Excellence Award

Basya Kadish from Bais Yaakov Preschool


Early Childhood Teaching Excellence Award

Baily Wolowik from Cheder Chabad


Congregational School Educator Award

Toria Burrow from Bolton Street Synagogue


Ahavat Tzion Ivrit Award

Rochel Vim from Bais Yaakov Middle School


General Studies Educator Award

Sima Eastman from Talmudical Academy


Jewish Educational Leadership Award

Michelle Gold from Goldsmith Early Childhood Education Center


Special Education Award

Chani Rayman from JEWELS


Robin F. Jacobs Student Achievement Award

Adina Hackerman from Bais Yaakov High School


At JEWISH EDUCATIONAL SERVICES it is our mission and honor to support educators throughout the year. Through Professional Development, Coaching and Consultations, our Teacher HelpLine, and our Communities of Practice, we are here to lend a supporting hand.  Through programs such as Teacher Feature and EC Spotlights, we endeavor to bring attention to the amazing educators that are tasked with teaching our community’s children.  We believe that teaching is a higher calling and that educators warrant our appreciation and acknowledgement.  Our Todah Teacher initiative and Educator Awards, not only provide monetary prizes but also the recognition they so richly deserve.


Register today to celebrate the educators in our community.