Stephanie Rotsky

Stephanie Rotsky grew up in a family where her father actively lived his commitment to and pride in being Jewish. Growing up, he sang the loudest at Shabbat and holiday services and insisted that she and her brothers know where they came from and who they were. Her mother, having experienced the blessings of a large extended family, a love for Jewish traditions, and a desire to contribute to the community, put these values at the core of her family life. Over the years, Stephanie’s three wonderful younger brothers have been her greatest fans and examples in their own right of giving back to the community in powerful ways.

Stephanie had the good fortune of growing up in Beachwood, Ohio, where she was introduced to one of the most powerful Jewish experiences of her life, Camp Wise. Stephanie’s years as an overnight camper ultimately led her to join the staff while she was working toward her teaching degree at Ohio State University. The vibrant community, enthusiasm for Jewish living, and connection to Israel helped shape her Jewish identity and the educator she would become.

After teaching in both public and private schools and spending time in Israel, Stephanie pursued a graduate degree at the Hornstein Program at Brandeis University in 1986. There, Stephanie joined a learning community of classmates, faculty, and Jewish communal professionals and learned how to educate and empower students to effect change in the world.

Rim Meirowitz, founding Head of the Rashi School, invited Stephanie to join the faculty of Rashi after her graduation from Hornstein. Now in her 16th year there, Stephanie spent several years as a second grade teacher. However, for the past six years, she has held the unique position of Social Justice Coordinator. Not only did she create this position, but it is the only such position in the U.S. She works with teachers, students, and families to infuse social justice themes, curricula, and programming throughout the school community. Over the years, Stephanie has created many innovative projects such as a Pesach/Social Justice Curriculum, a first-ever Social Justice Artist in Residency, the Tamchui Philanthropy Project, and an all-school civil rights unit of study anchored in Jewish text. Stephanie is currently writing a book about how the Rashi School embodies the concept of tzedek and tikkun olam, with the goal of disseminating her work to other educational environments. Her commitment to connect learning with action has become the hallmark of her work.

Stephanie is happiest working directly in the classroom with teachers and teaching students in grades K – 8. She is exhilarated by helping students of all ages realize their power and responsibility as Jews to pursue justice and repair the world. She responds to many lunch meeting requests from her students who work with her to develop and implement mitzvah ideas and hands-on action projects, ensuring that ideas are taken seriously and translated into efforts to change the world.

Stephanie’s sense of awe and deep love for children continues to be inspired by her six nieces and nephews.