MARCH 4 • 2021 | 15

For the ECC-Grade 8 
students at Hillel Day School, 
learning has been in-person 
this year, except for about 
10% of students whose 
families have opted for 
virtual learning. 
Of the teachers, Dr. Katz 
said, “They are teaching 
in masks all day, every 
day. They are providing 
an authentic, excellent 
education while ensuring 
that our students maintain 
physical distancing, wash 
their hands, wear their masks 
properly, and abide by all 
health and safety protocols. 
At the same time, they place 
importance on the students’ 
social and emotional welfare 
during this unprecedented 
time.”
Hillel PTO President Amy 
Sapeika said, “We’re always 
appreciative of our teachers 
and staff, but we’re working 
even harder this year to make 
sure they know how much 
we value them and all that 
they do for our students.”
Hillel parents sponsor 
a yearly mishloach manot
(Purim treat packages) for 

the teachers, but they made 
this year’s extra fitting. “It 
had a superhero theme 
because they truly are our 
superheroes,” Sapeika said. 
The Hillel Leadership 
Team has been bringing in 
coffee and sweet treats as 
an occasional “pick-me-
up” for faculty and staff. 
They even purchased warm, 
comfortable Hillel fleece 
jackets for every faculty and 
staff member. 
Julie Tigay has taught at 
Hillel for nine years; she 
teaches first and second 
grades and is the K-4 
Language Arts coordinator. 
She enjoys the treats and 
loves her new jacket but says 
it’s the emotional support 
that matters most.
“It’s not about the material 
things to me,” Tigay said. “It’s 
about being in-person and 

feeling supported to do what 
I love … teach and support 
children. This year, more 
than ever, a little goes a long 
way. We have been showered 
with various treats, kind 
words and more ‘jean days’ 
than years past. But the true 
gift is being in-person with 
our students.”
COVID considerations in 
the classroom can make it 
seem tempting for some to 
give up teaching and start 
doing something infinitely 
easier, like perhaps lion 
taming or oil rigging … but 
clearly these teachers are 
sticking it out because it’s a 
life’s calling and a passion.
Local Jewish day schools 
and parent bodies certainly 
seem to know how fortunate 
they are to have such 
dedicated, hard-working 
teachers. 

Love at Hillel

TOP TO BOTTOM: Hillel 
teacher Julie Tigay. Head 
of School Dr. Darin Katz. 
Hillel PTO President Amy 
Sapeika.

“OUR TEACHERS TRULY ARE

OUR SUPERHEROES.”

— HILLEL PTO PRESIDENT AMY SAPEIKA

COURTESY OF HILLEL DAY SCHOOL

Hillel teachers wearing their fleece 
jackets: Brittany Borsen, Rachael Kellert, 
Lauren Partovich, Kim Stern, Michelle 
Wolfe and Betsy Wolf 

