Elena Kohn

3rd Grade Teacher

Elena received her BA in psychology and Jewish studies from UC Santa Cruz and was credentialed through the DeLeT program at Hebrew Union College. Elena completed the Masters in Arts and Teaching program at American Jewish University. She has taught for five years at Jewish day schools in Los Angeles.

Elena loves spending time with her husband, playing board games, and hiking.

Hometown:
Redlands, Ca

Alma Mater:
UCSC
Hebrew Union College
American Jewish University

Degrees:
BA in psychology and Jewish Studies
Masters of Arts and teaching

What’s your most epic travel experience?
While 5 months pregnant with Dominic, my husband and I travelled to Zermatt, Switzerland, so we could visit the Matterhorn!

Top of your bucket list?
I have always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride in the desert.

Favorite book(s):
Just one? Best book I read recently was “Lessons in Chemistry.” A book I read for comfort over and over again is “Enders Game.” My favorite kids book to read to my third graders is “Because of Winn Dixie.”

Your most epic teaching moment:
When we were learning during the Covid year, my class was one of the few back in person. The students decided (100% on their own) to create a nonprofit called “helping hands” to donate miscellaneous supplies to those who need and the entire class would stay after school and pack baggies. Shout out to the current 6th graders for just being amazing human beings!

Why you love teaching at Yavneh:
The drive to make the world a better place is at the heart of the teaching and learning at Yavneh. No one is surprised if we say we’re spending an entire unit learning about tzedakah and nonprofits for social studies or that the middle schools put on a bake sale to promote social justice- it’s just what we do here.

Highlight of the week:
Shabbat at Yavneh just had that special sauce.

Favorite subject to teach:
Economy and tzedakah! Keep and eye out for a cookie sale or whatever this years class chooses to sell.