Liora Susswein remembers Austin Jewish Academy as the place where her confidence, creativity, and Jewish identity were given room to grow. A K–8 alum (2008–2018), she’s now a graduating senior at William & Mary in Virginia, studying marketing while also working remotely for a Jewish lifestyle company. Recently, she served as vice president of her...
On the Friday before winter break, AJA students proudly shared their learning during our annual Portfolio Day—an event that highlights both academic growth and personal reflection. Portfolio Day gives students the opportunity to curate a collection of their work, reflect on their progress, and present their learning journey to an authentic audience of parents, teachers,...
At Austin Jewish Academy, Jewish life isn’t something students visit occasionally—it’s part of the rhythm of each day. Hanukkah is a good example of how learning, tradition, and community naturally come together across campus, at home, and beyond school walls. During the school day, students marked Hanukkah in ways that were active and age-appropriate. Classrooms...
After more than six months of careful planning and a comprehensive national search, Austin Jewish Academy is pleased to announce the selection of its next Head of School. Dr. Karyn Hopper Rayburn will begin her tenure in July 2026, marking an exciting new chapter for the school. The search process began in spring 2025 and...
Our Kindergarten students have spent the past several weeks immersed in a heart-warming PBL titled “Giving Thanks / Giving Back.” Their project centered on exploring gratitude, expressing appreciation, and discovering age-appropriate ways to give back to their community. Students began by brainstorming what it means to be thankful, creating a word web full of ideas...
This week, AJA 3rd and 4th-grade students brought their learning to life as they put key Jewish values into meaningful practice through on-campus field trips to Shalom Austin. On Tuesday, 4th graders volunteered at the JFS Food Pantry. This hands-on experience connected directly to their study of Parashat Toldot, where the theme of hunger appears...
