TORONTO — From the “OI” (pronounced “oy”) “Opinions and Insights” notebooks her students write in every day to the English translation of When the Shark and the Fish First Met, a story written by kidnapped Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit, Noa Schwartz likes to bring Jewish elements into her classes at United Synagogue Day School’s Beth Tikvah campus.
A Grade 3 and 4 general studies teacher, Schwartz has also used Israel-related YouTube videos as springboards for lessons on media literacy.
“The curriculum tells you what [students] need to do, but not [what] the conduit [should be]. The conduit can be Judaism,” she said in an interview last week.
Schwartz’ Jewish identity was shaped in part by attending Jewish day school – the Hamilton Hebrew Academy – as well as at Camp Ramah and in her high school, where she was the only Jewish student. She was an observant Conservative Jew who kept kosher, attended Hamilton’s Beth Jacob Synagogue every Shabbat, and taught Hebrew school.
A native of Israel whose parents had made aliyah from Canada, Schwartz, now 36, returned with them to this country when she was only eight months old.
Before beginning her bachelor of education studies at York University, Schwartz studied sociology at the University of Western Ontario from 1990 to 1993.
As an undergraduate, she served as a BBYO adviser, an experience that influenced her career choice.
After she began teaching 13 years ago at USDS’ Beth Tzedec branch, Schwartz earned an M.Ed. from the University of Toronto. She worked at USDS’ southern branch for 10 years, teaching Jewish studies and running student council.
Although Schwartz, who is married with two young daughters, was not looking to work in a Jewish school per se when she graduated, she feels she lives a “blessed life.” As things turned out, she said, “I get to be all of who I am.”
One aspect of her teaching involves writing “educational poems” for her students on topics such as Jewish holidays, and Canadian history and geography.
A published author with two children’s books to her credit – Crazy for Canada and Old Timers – The One That Got Away, a book about Alzheimer’s disease – Schwartz said that her poems “become the backdrop, and what comes to the forefront is the knowledge part. It’s like a mnemonic.”
As a teacher, she said, she has high standards and high expectations. “I like to be firm but fair, funny but not frivolous.”
Teachers, more than anyone, are inclined to be learners, Schwartz believes. “It’s incredible to be part of it… In today’s data-driven world, we have to constantly be learning and growing.”
Even after 13 years at the same school, Schwartz remains enthused about her job. “I get very excited,” she said. “I really do like what I do.”
Schwartz, who has run workshops for teachers on helping empower students by giving them a variety of leadership opportunities, said that a leader can come from anywhere, and that, sometimes, children’s skills don’t present themselves unless they are given the right opportunity.
Constantly aware of her “teacherness,” Schwartz feels she is a better person because of it. “I give more to tzedakah, and I can’t go through a stop sign because God forbid a student should ever see me. It’s something I take so seriously… I would never want my students to be negatively affected.”
A lesson from the teacher: Schwartz is fond of philosophical quotes. Among her favourites are: “Change your thoughts, and you can change your world,” and “Keep your eyes on the horizon, and all else will follow.”
