If you have heard a guitar being played or kids singing songs in class in HBHA’s lower school, then that would be in Barry Soltz’s second-grade classroom. This year, HBHA welcomes a new second-grade general studies teacher, Barry Soltz.
Soltz joins us with a teaching philosophy of “teaching the whole child.” He says, “I like the idea of teaching the child and not the grade. We meet the kids where they’re at, and then we go from there.” This philosophy of teaching the individual child and meeting their needs is exactly the way HBHA manages their students, so he could not be a better fit.
Soltz came to teach at HBHA because of its reputation for individual and focused teaching. He felt that he would excel in teaching in an environment that fits his own ideology.
Another reason Soltz came to HBHA is that he is Jewish, and “I want to reconnect with my culture,” he says.
Big goals are in store for Soltz in his first year at HBHA. He says that his first year is a “trial and error year” where he learns what works and what doesn’t. Soltz says, “The more I learn what works, the more beneficial it will be for my students when it comes to the learning environment. So my goal for this year is to find new ways to help the kids succeed, and in return, we all succeed.”
Soltz also shines in keeping his students motivated and entertained. It is just four words that he uses: engagement, preparedness, fairness, and fun. Soltz says, “First, I ask myself, is the task appropriate? Are they able to succeed with the assignment? I believe that 98% of the issues that teachers face are: Is the assignment on their level?… I make sure the assignment is appropriately matched to their skill level.”
Soltz hopes his students will have fond memories of his class. He says, “You know, it won’t all be good. There will be some bad. But as a whole, it will create a fondness when they look back and think, yeah, we had fun while learning. Mr. Soltz really cared.”
Out of school, Soltz is all about music. He says he “loves music” and “lives and breathes music.” He even incorporates guitar and music into his class with their morning song, “Menchkin Crew Pledge,” which they sing every day to the tune of Yellow Submarine by the Beatles.
Soltz’s teaching philosophy, clear kindness, and care for his students will benefit second graders for years to come.
This year, HBHA welcomes Isabella Kania, our newest classroom aide. Kania comes to HBHA from the Goddard School, Overland Park, Kan., where she was a co-teacher. She says that the Goddard School was a daycare and different from the K-12 school that HBHA is, so this is a different experience. Kania decided to join HBHA because, when she was exploring new opportunities, she knew she wanted to work at a Jewish institution or organization.
Kania said, “I wanted to work at a Jewish organization or institution just to have that connection, and it’s easier to go into a Jewish environment for me than it is to other environments.”
So far in Kania’s first months here at HBHA, she loves it. She likes how unique it is and how everyone is close. “I was a little nervous at first because I was worried the kids were going to be like, who are you, and I mean, obviously, they were curious, but everyone was super welcoming,” said Kania.
Kania’s journey to education started in high school, where she discovered she liked working with kids. She was able to volunteer in high school with childcare organizations. She says, “They were always so joyful and into everything. They were always down to do whatever and have fun.”
She says that the children’s excitement is what interests her the most in education. Kania loves art and decided to get her degree in fine arts; she attended Kansas City Art Institute, where she graduated with a B.F.A. in painting. She wanted to get involved with art education, so her role at HBHA is a reflection of her interests.
“It is difficult to divide your attention among all the students,” said Kania, “The most challenging part of teaching in a classroom with a larger group of kids is dividing your attention.”
Kania says that it is fascinating to see children mature, especially in a K-12 school. She says, “It’s also really cool to see kids grow up. And especially, I think it’s nice for a school like here that is K-12 because you can literally see them grow up…That’s really sweet and cool.”
Overall, Ms. Kania is an excellent fit here at HBHA, and we are thrilled to have her!
There is a brand-new addition to Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy’s front office: Diane Svensson, R.N.. Svensson is HBHA’s school nurse. After gaining extensive experience as a nurse practitioner in private offices and being a nurse at the Jewish Community of Greater Kansas City’s summer camps. Svensson decided to pursue a career as a school nurse.
Svensson chose to become a school nurse because working in a private office didn’t allow her to do what she wanted for her family. She was missing important events in her children’s lives that she felt obligated to attend. So, when Svensson heard about a job opening at Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy, she knew it was exactly what she needed in order to be there for her children’s most significant moments. Working at a school allowed her to adjust her hours to match the flow of her life.
Svensson spends her workdays in meetings, filling out paperwork, and treating students. She shared that “it’s a very small amount of time of actually having to look at kids, and figure out what is wrong with them.”
After already working in the Jewish community in Kansas City, working at HBHA was not that different for Svensson. Last summer, Svensson was a nurse at J Camp, a summer day camp, which is in the same building as HBHA. After having a great time at J Camp, Svensson heard of a job opening at HBHA, and she knew “that would be so perfect. I can still do summers at J Camp, and this during the school year,” Svensson said.
