Day School Alumni Spotlight: Aliza Margolese

School(s): Derech Emunah (2020), Torah Day School (2016)

How has your day school education shaped your life, values, and your involvement in the Jewish community?

From a very young age, I have always known I wanted to be a teacher. I distinctly remember playing “school” with friends and siblings, and I was typically the one at the front of the classroom. My teachers at Torah Day School inspired and cultivated this passion within me by showing me what it means to be a great teacher. Through the use of differentiated instruction and student-centered learning, the teachers were able to impart Jewish values, morals, and a love of learning onto their students. Because I was given the opportunity to learn in a way that best suited my needs, I was able to develop a sense of excitement for what I was learning, whether it be math, English, or Torah studies. Through their unique instruction model, Torah Day School reinforced the Torah values that I was raised with at home, enhancing my appreciation for Judaism and strengthening my commitment to living a Torah-true lifestyle. 

As I progressed through school, my love of Judaism and appreciation toward the institutions that educated me grew as well. As I mentioned, I have always wanted to be a teacher, but at some point it transitioned from a preschool game of “school” to an innate sense of responsibility and desire to give back to my community. 

More about Aliza:

Aliza Margolese is a fifth-generation Seattleite and has lived there most of her life. She attended Torah Day School of Seattle and continued on to Derech Emunah Seattle Jewish Girls High School. After graduating, she took a gap year in Israel, studying at Bais Yaakov Machon Raaya. Currently, Aliza is pursuing her Bachelor’s of Education at Women’s Institute of Torah Seminary and College in Baltimore, MD.