The teachers in our religious school were selected from the very best educators available in our area. Our teachers are caring, dedicated, and totally committed to working in partnership with you.
Kindergarten Teacher
Miriam Walter is excited to teach her third year of Kindergarten at Or Tzion this year. She has a Master’s Degree in Elementary Education from Oakland University. She taught swim lessons at the JCC of Metropolitan Detroit for a decade and taught 3rd grade in California for 1 year. Originally from Michigan, she moved from California to Arizona with her husband, Charles in 2016. She currently enjoys (and stays busy!) being a mom to their two kids, and in her spare time enjoys running, hiking, yoga, and swimming.
1st Grade Teacher/Hebrew Specialist
2nd Grade Teacher
Yaakov Molho, known to his students as Moreh Yaakov, has taught at Or Tzion for three years. He attended Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles, CA, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Yaakov together with his partner Pinina at Molho Photography, he is a professional photographer. Yaakov enjoys Music, Cooking, Technology, and Movies. He lives in Phoenix with his fiancee, He has a 12 year old daughter, and Stella, his mini terrier dog.
3rd Grade Teacher
Etty Falach moved from South Carolina to Arizona in 2008, with her husband Gabriel and three children. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education from Seminar Hakibutzim in Israel. Etty has taught Hebrew and Judaic studies for 16 years. She is excited to continue teaching 3rd grade in the Roz Goodell Religious School and to be teaching one of our fantastic Enrichment Classes.
4th Grade Teacher
Dr. Linda Bailey Freedman, known as Morah Linda to students, joins our teaching faculty after substituting earlier this school year. Dr. Bailey is a flute and piccolo specialist, teaching and performing in the greater Scottsdale area. Upon arriving in Scottsdale in 2015 with her husband and Mother-In-Law, she walked into the Or Tzion office and said, “I’m here to join.” Dr. Bailey earned a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in Flute Performance and a Theory Certificate from University of Washington. While working on her doctorate, Morah Linda earned the first ever awarded Jewish Teacher’s Certificate by the Jewish Education Council of Seattle, WA. This certificate is awarded to Supplementary Hebrew schoolteachers after intensive learning and continued dedication to Jewish education. Dr. Bailey performs flute/piccolo locally with Desert Echoes Flute Project and nationally with the National Flute Association’s Professional Flute Choir. When Dr. Bailey isn’t teaching she may be cooking and can often be found Israeli dancing on Thursday evenings.
6th Grade Teacher
Aviva Levine, known to her students as Morah Aviva, will be starting her third year teaching in the Roz Goodell Religious School. She holds a Master’s Degree in Forensics from National University and a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from American Jewish University. In addition to her work at Or Tzion, Aviva is the Development and Outreach Associate at Jewish Free Loan. In her spare time, Aviva loves spending time with friends and family, especially her two nephews, and exploring fun things to do in Phoenix.
7th/8th Grade Teacher
Sharon has been part of the Religious School at Congregation Or Tzion (Congregation Or Chadash when she began) since 2010. Sharon came to OT with a background in education, having taught many grade levels, subjects, student populations, and in several public school districts.
Sharon is married and has two daughters – Sophia and Samantha, both ¨graduates¨ of the Or Tzion Religious School program. In addition to her work with COT, Sharon works with Gesher Disability Resources as a Student Support Specialist.
When Sharon has a few free minutes, she does her very best to find an animal to snuggle. She is an equal opportunist, enjoying not only furry friends but reptiles as well. Sharon enjoys listening to music, reading, relaxing on the couch, and laughing with her husband and daughters.
7th Grade Teacher