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Faculty

Noa Bourke                              
Hebrew School Director

Noa is a New England native who has spent decades living in Boston and the surrounding towns.  In addition to loving Jewish education, Noa is a professionally trained nurse and has worked in hospice, pediatrics and solid organ transplant practice.  Noa has been deeply involved in Jewish education for more than 25 years and has taught students in all the major Jewish denominations and has been the Director of Education at three synagogues. He has been a member of CAA since 2012, and enjoys attending services and community events. You may have seen him on shabbat chanting haftarah or with the kids downstairs as a substitute.  Noa is avid outdoor walker and black belt chocoholic. He tries to do more of the former and less of the latter.   Noa can be reached via email.

Jennifer Beard                           
Hebrew School Teacher

Jennifer Beard is a well-practiced Hebrew School Teacher. She has been involved in Jewish Education at several levels for a number of years. She teaches youngsters in grades 3-7 and tutors B’nei Mitzvah. She has also taught adult Hebrew. She loves chanting Torah, haftarah and leading services. As well as teaching Hebrew, Jennifer has been a registered nurse and a biology teacher at community college.

Beverly Shapiro                          
Hebrew School Teacher

Beverly Shapiro, also known as Morah Ganessa, has returned from a long hiatus to Florida.  As a former teacher at Congregation Ahavas Achim, she was known to be involved with the Hebrew School, working with students through Kitah Gimmel (3rd grade).  She also was involved with adult education sponsored by the Lappin Foundation, claiming "I work with students from diapers to Depends".  Morah Ganessa will be returning to CAA to work with our Kitah Gan to Kitah Bet (K-2nd grade) students.

Ganessa is widowed with five adult children, nine grandchildren and one great-grand child.  She is recently retired from St. Lucie Public Schools, Port St. Lucie, Florida after working as a substitute teacher for grades K-8, specializing in the ESE and Autism units for fourteen years

Reina Smoley-Balog              
Tot Shabbat Leader

Morah Reina is excited to join the CAA Hebrew School staff this year as our new Tot Shabbat teacher! 

Reina brings over 20 years of experience as a counselor and educator working with diverse children and
families to her role here at CAA. She recently completed the Center for Small Town Jewish Life’s prayer
leader class and has co-led Friday night services this summer. Reina is from an interfaith family and
enjoys reading, yoga, hiking, writing and floral bouquet-making in her free time. Come join Morah Reina
for Jewish songs, movement and stories at Tot Shabbat!

Tue, October 15 2024 13 Tishrei 5785