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...
Rooted in five generations of Jewish life and community in Houston, Lisa Friedlander has spent a lifetime immersed in Jewish education, tradition, and connection. From her own early days at Beth Yeshurun Day School to her leadership in synagogue life and cherished travels to Israel, her journey now continues with deep pride as she watches...
Emily Kolodney’s AJA journey is rooted in community, joyful Jewish learning, and the kind of confidence that comes from being truly seen and supported. A proud alumna, Emily reflects on her years at Austin Jewish Academy as a formative time that shaped her identity, her leadership, and her voice. After graduating from LASA (Liberal Arts...
