Maayan Torah hires principal, two more

Maayan Torah Jewish Day School has hired three new leaders – General Studies Principal Darcie Young, Director of Early Learning Lindsey Voorhees and Elementary Judaics Teacher Ela O’Connor – to move the school to “an even better and brighter Maayan.” The trio are joining the school over the summer to help the school transition for a strong start to next year.
Earlier this year, Maayan Torah founding general studies principal Aviel Brodkin announced her plans to go on leave effective June 30 (jewishportland.org/jewishreview/jr-stories/
maayan-torah-principal-plans-leave).
Darcie Young comes to Maayan from her role as the middle school principal at Politz Hebrew Day School in Cherry Hill, N.J.  She has more than 20 years in teaching and a master’s in educational leadership. Darcie has a passion for building relationships with her staff, students and families. As an ever-growing educator, she has recently trained in many areas including “On Your Feet in ELA: Standards-Based Learning that Engages” and “Scaffolding: Making Complex Tasks for All Students.” With a forte in technology integration, she is a Google-certified educator. 
Having spent six years working in Politz, she understands and is familiar with many Jewish values and observances. She completed Yad Vashem’s Graduate Seminar “Teaching the Holocaust” in Jerusalem. Darcie is the mother of two boys, who are both now in university. Her move to Oregon is part of her husband’s professional relocation to the area. She exudes a deep desire to help each student feel like a capable learner and precious gem.

Lindsey Voorhees has more than a decade of experience in early childhood development. She will oversee the Early Childhood Education department and act as a learning specialist for kindergarten to second grade.   
Lindsey comes to Maayan with years of classroom and director experience. Most recently, she served as head of school for Guidepost Montessori. Her expertise in early learning literacy will bridge students’ learning from ECE into elementary school.
Lindsey is also a trained postpartum doula and former foster parent. She is passionate in her pursuit to ensure each child has a joyful start to their education career.

Currently living in Denver, Ela O’Connor brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the Judaic classroom. The O’Connors are no strangers to the Pacific Northwest having lived in Seattle and were a part of the Seattle Kollel. Ela began her teaching in Torah Day School of Seattle while she was living there. She brings a passion for student engagement techniques and differentiated instruction. She will be teaching Judaics at Maayan in the middle elementary grades.

 

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