by Jessica Rubinstein, Keshet Day School Teacher
Although this isn’t my first year as an educator, it is my first year teaching at Keshet Day School. This has truly been a full-circle moment for me. From a young age, Keshet has played a big part in my life. As a little girl, I began volunteering with Buddy Baseball and continued to take on greater responsibilities as I grew older. Keshet beautifully brings together my passion for supporting individuals with disabilities, my connection to Judaism, and a deep sense of community that I feel both personally and professionally.
Like any school, there are inevitable ups and downs, but after coming from a job where I didn’t feel fulfilled, it’s a tremendous relief to come to work each day and truly love what I do. The support at Keshet is unlike anything I’ve experienced. No matter the challenge, I know I have a team behind me, ready to listen, support, and collaborate so that we can all succeed together.
One of the things I’m most proud of is that, even though our students attend a therapeutic day school, they are given every opportunity to connect with and be included alongside their same-age, typically developing peers. A favorite memory of mine from this school year would be when I brought one of my students to participate in a Purim activity with their peers at Solomon Schechter Day School. They were all passing out mishloach manot (treat bags), and a Schechter student went out of their way to give one to my student. The shock and excitement on his face when another boy simply handed him a gift bag is something I will always hold dear to my heart. For our students, such a small act of kindness can be the difference between truly feeling included in their community.
I’m proud to work for an organization that values all individuals as important members of their community. This philosophy inspires me to promote communication, self-advocacy, and independence in my classroom.
My advice to aspiring educators is to be patient with yourselves during those first few years of teaching. It took me a while to understand that your first teaching job doesn’t have to be your forever job. Seek out a school, district, or program that truly supports you and makes you look forward to going to work each day. As a teacher, guide your staff and students to understand that while the community may not change to meet their needs, they can learn strategies to adapt and thrive within it.
