Harold Ohayon

Middle School Social Studies Teacher

Harold Ohayon is Yavneh’s Middle School Social Studies Teacher. He moved abroad after high school to undertake a yearslong saga that saw him wander the globe and garner two graduate degrees in political science. After working in public affairs in Northern Ireland, he moved to Japan to begin his teaching career. After several years of working at junior high schools in Sapporo, Harold returned to the United States in 2021 to become a fully certified social studies teacher. He brings his lifelong passion for world cultures and history to the classroom and strives to inspire students to seek their own adventures and journeys.

Hometown:
New York, New York

Alma Mater:
Hunter College
University of Limerick
Queen’s University Belfast

Degrees:
B.A. Archaeology, Religion, and Hebrew
M.A. in Peace and Development
M.A. in Violence, Terrorism, and Security

What’s your most epic travel experience?
Backpacking through Mongolia in the winter (it snowed in the desert!).

Top of your bucket list?
Swimming with seals in Antarctica and watching polar bears in Svalbard.

Favorite quote:
“The Beginning is lost;
the End stretches into eternity.
Don’t bother with them, they’re all irrelevant.
And since all is really nothing,
then nothing is truly everything.”
— Attar of Nishapur

Favorite book(s):
“The Bacchae” by Euripides.

Your most epic teaching moment:
Seeing students using topics covered in class for their art projects (Egypt and Rome for the win!).

Why you love teaching at Yavneh:
Never knowing what to expect. The students keep me on my toes!

Highlight of the week:
Chitchatting with students during break and lunch.

Favorite subject to teach:
Mesoamerican Civilizations.