Emily Cook

William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education

You get the sense when talking with Emily that she misses nothing, a key attribute for a teacher. Her calm demeanor and engaging style must have also worked wonders on her sixth graders in South Jersey.

Yes, before coming to William Davidson Graduate School of Jewish Education, Emily taught middle schoolers and loved it, but she always felt that she wanted more. “I wanted to have a chance to think about education in a broader context.” And that’s the reason she’s at Davidson. “Now I have a chance to study education from a Jewish perspective. I’m pursuing a doctorate in day-school administration, and I’m enjoying the switch—from teacher to student. I really appreciate the learning process at Davidson.”

Emily grew up in the Reform Movement and is once again excited to be engaging with Jewish texts. “My classes have extensive Jewish content, and that’s wonderful. And my Hebrew classes are great. I feel at home.” Emily is enjoying not only the content of her classes but also her fellow students. “I love the cross-section of students, the variety of careers they’ve come from, the age spread, and, most of all, the exchange of ideas. It’s exhilarating!”