Hi, I am Emma Barron! I was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. After graduating from Boston University in 2020 with a degree in Scenic Design for Theater, I returned home to work and be closer to her family. I currently teach in the Uptown JCC Early Childhood Center. During my free time I enjoy painting, reading and walking my dog Ollie on Bayou St. John. I cannot wait to spend my Sundays with the Gan Class exploring the Jewish holidays and teachings through storytelling and collaborative art projects.

  I am Penina Berman, and I teach Ilanot, which is PreK and Kindergarten. I am a sophomore at Xavier University of Louisiana and I study Biology. In my free time, I like to bake fresh challah, sing opera, and draw. I am looking forward to teaching about mindfulness in Judaism, especially how it plays into prayer and our interactions with other people. Here's to another great year of Shul School!

Hi, my name is Scott Hart. I was born in Washington, D. C. and grew up in the Maryland suburbs. My alma mater is the Catholic University of America, where I studied music education. I served in the U. S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard transferred me from Alaska to New Orleans- where I met Linda. We were married 7 months later. After the Coast Guard, I studied elementary education at U.N.O., so that I could teach all subjects, not just music. I have been working as a teacher ever since. People tell me I’m a good cook and baker. I am a film enthusiast and do photography. Linda and I have a dog, a lhasa apso named Tashi. We love the little guy and we treat him very, very well. This is my second year teaching at Shir Chadash’s Shul School. 

My name is Sierra Sager! I am the current Board and Grants Manager at JEF by day, and an amateur climber by night. I enjoy spending time with dogs, organizing themed gatherings, live music, and going on nature excursions. I’m most looking forward to having lots of fun with my class and learning more about the world through their point of view. It’s also such a rewarding full circle moment to provide the Jewish education I had as a kid!

Hi there! My name is Ali Perez, and I am so happy to be teaching some of Shir Chadash’s youngest congregants. This year, I look forward to our Shul School students continuing to discover what aspects of Jewish life spark their creativity and curiosity. I hope to provide a nurturing, inclusive classroom where they are encouraged to explore our stories, fearlessly ask their most difficult questions, and feel how important they are to our Jewish community. By the end of the year, my goal is for all our students to both know and feel that they are created b’tzelem Elohim.