Alison Weikel joined Temple Shir TIkva in 2018 as our Director of Education and is responsible for meaningful and engaging learning programs for our Kindergarten through 12^th grade children and teens. Alison’s commitment to Jewish education is based on the idea that Judaism, Jewish community, and Jewish learning can offer us something we cannot get anywhere else. She believes strongly in listening to children and teens and to their parents, providing flexibility, support, and solutions to difficult situations.

Alison’s background includes undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Pennsylvania as well as certificates from the Mandel Teacher Educator Institute and the University of Cincinnati in Jewish educational leadership. She is one of the 2014 National winners of the Grinspoon Award for Excellence in Jewish Education. Alison came to us from The Valley Temple in Cincinnati, Ohio where she was Director of Education for almost 10 years.

Before entering Jewish education, Alison spent several years in public education in Pennsylvania, New York and Germany. She is a strong believer in ongoing professional development and mentoring of teachers and has presented and published on several topics including reflective practice, innovation, teacher inquiry, and practitioner research.

Alison lives in Carlisle with her husband, Rob. They have  two college-aged children, Josh and Maddie. When she is not at TST, Alison loves to garden, cook, and read, and she’d love to talk to you about any of those interests!