Our Administration and Teachers
Administration
OUR EDUCATOR
Cantor David Fair is proud to have joined the United Jewish School in 2021, as its Cantor-Educator. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, he earned a B.A. in Theater and a minor in Music from the University of Maryland College Park. He received a Professional Studies Diploma and an Artist Diploma from the Cleveland Institute of Music. He received a Master of Sacred Music degree from Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City in 2020, where he wrote his Cantorial thesis on the topic, “Tsiporah’s Children: The Music and Lived Experiences of Black Jewish Americans.” He was ordained in 2021.
Before coming to Grand Rapids, Cantor Fair served as the Cantorial Intern at Temple Beth Israel in York, PA; Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST) in New York City; and Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, DC.
As the Cantor-Educator of the United Jewish School, Cantor Fair guides teachers in bringing innovative ideas and techniques to the classroom. He has taught religious school for well over a decade and specializes in teaching Hebrew, Biblical education, Israel education, and of course, Jewish music. He believes that in every lesson, kids can be engaged through a mix of touch, smells, physical activity, multimedia, taste, and of course, music! He believes kids should be doing most of the talking throughout a class—whether to the teacher, or to each other in small groups. If learning isn’t fun and interactive, it isn’t being done right.
Cantor Fair is an antiracism educator and has given sermons, lectures, and led workshops in this topic at Synagogues, Hillels, and Jewish organizations throughout the country. He believes that this is holy work. He is honored to have the opportunity to speak to people who are interested and open to learning about how we can all challenge our role in systemic racism. This past summer, Cantor Fair taught a three-class series with the children’s educational organization “Tkiya,” where he focused on teaching how to have these powerful conversations in a developmentally appropriate way for children ages 3-10.
Outside of his Cantor-Educator duties, Cantor Fair loves practicing yoga, making vegan feasts, buying cat toys for his cat, Mordechai, and spending time with his partner, Corey.
Cantor David Fair
Our director of administration
Janice Fonger joined the UJS Staff in 2023. Janice grew up at Temple Emanuel, teaching in the Temple religious school and UJS for more than 20 years. She also served as a Temple youth leader and Board member. Janice spent most of her career in the nonprofit arena currently serving as Director of Training with Michigan CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates). Among Janice’s blessings are husband Lindsay, daughter Celia (who attended UJS), son-in-law Nick and grandpuppy Goose.
Janice Schwartz Fonger
Teachers
Tom Hales (Gan Katan)
Our Gan Katan program is geared toward introducing 2 and 3 year olds to our Jewish Heritage and Jewish Community. Only meeting for the second half of our morning, (10:30-11:30am) parents also benefit by attending with their children.
(Pre-Kindergarten)
Claire Fisher, Kindergarten Teacher, UJS
Samantha Luken (First & Second grade)
Samantha Luken, 1st & 2nd grade teacher
Elisabeth Rosewall (3rd and 4th Hebrew) is a native Californian with a BS in Design from the University of California at Davis and has lived in Grand Rapids since 1985. She has taught both 4-7th grades and Hebrew since 1990 both at Temple and Ahavas as well as in South Haven. She currently focuses on Hebrew and tutors b’nei mitzvah students at Temple Emanuel. Elisabeth has a passion for learning and Jewish education and loves teaching Hebrew classes for adults. She especially enjoys those who learn differently and tries to find the spark in each. She feels blessed by her two children, Emily and Eric, (and the presence of cats in their lives).
3rd & 4th Grade Hebrew Curriculum, UJS
Avi Forstein (3rd & 4th grade Judaics)
I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, SD. My Abba was the only Rabbi in South Dakota for the 1980s and most of the 1990s; CBS News did a story on him in 1980, you can watch it here: https://www.youtube.com/
Avi Forstein, 3rd & 4th grade Judaics Teacher, UJS
Shoshana Jackson (5th & 6th grade Hebrew)
Shoshana Jackson has been teaching with UJS in the 5th & 6th Grade Hebrew classroom since her family moved to Grand Rapids in 2015. They are members at Congregation Ahavas Israel. Previously, she has taught both Hebrew and Judaics for Reform and Reconstructionist schools in Ann Arbor and served the JCC there as their Youth, Teen & Camp Director. Shoshana loves languages: she has formally studied six languages, including Arabic during her time as a linguist in the US Army. She is neurodivergent and believes all students can be successful with the proper application of the right coping tools! Shoshana thinks being Jewish is the coolest thing ever and wants to share that enthusiasm with students and their families in UJS.
Shoshana Jackon, 5th & 6th gr Hebrew, UJS
Shelby Denhof (5th and 6th grade Judaics)
Shelby Denhof is a certified educator with more than seven years of public school teaching experience. Embedded in her practice is her passion for experiential learning, storytelling, and service. Her reflections on teaching can be found on websites such as Cult of Pedagogy, McGraw-Hill Education, and Edutopia. Shelby is a National Writing Project fellow, a National Geographic Certified Educator, and a two-time National Endowment for the Humanities fellow at both Stanford University and the University of Utah. Outside of teaching, she enjoys the outdoors, traveling abroad, and cooking. She lives in Grand Rapids with her partner Fred and their two cats.
Shelby Denhof, 5th & 6th grade Teacher, UJS
Nicole & Jordan Newman (7th grade)
Jordan and Nicky are excited to be back teaching 7th grade! Jordan is a pharmacist who enjoys cycling, jiu-jitsu and amateur (ham) radio. Nicky is a nurse practitioner who enjoys sci-fi novels, PBS and overpriced spa services. When they’re not teaching their awesome students, they can be found at their home in Grand Rapids, tending both their garden and their 2 spoiled spaniels, Pavlov and Dash (see picture).
Nicole & Jordan Newman, 7th grade teachers
Rabbi Michael Schadick (8th Grade)
Rabbi Schadick, of Temple Emanuel, is excited to be leading the 8th graders this year. As the “mitzvah core, jr” class, we would like to get the students out of the building on many Sunday mornings and perform mitzvot around our Grand Rapids community. Rabbi looks forward to brainstorming ideas with the students themselves to guide how to organize and arrange class structure this year.
Mitzvah Core Team (9-12 grade)
This new program, with combined leadership including: Rabbi Schadick, Rabbi Krishef, Cantor David Fair and Shelby Denhof, provides our teenagers exploration through Jewish education with charitable service projects, leadership opportunities, community building, exploring creative ways to experience Jewish life, and deep conversation in Jewish values and philosophy. This group meets Sunday afternoons from noon until 2pm.
Rabbi Michael Schadick, 8th grade teacher
Shelby Denhof and David Fair, Mitzvah Core Leaders
Susie Yoder (Art)
My name is Ms. Susie Yoder. I graduated from Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Art Education. I love learning and trying new things, & I love sharing what I’ve learned. When I’m not teaching, my hobbies include reading, playing board games, cooking, yardwork, & spending time with my spouse & our cat.
Susie, Yoder, Art Teacher, UJS
Zoe Post, Baking Expert
Zoe Post is from Holland, MI and studied Religion at University of Evansville in southern Indiana. During the summer after their freshman year of college, they participated in an internship in New York state that centered on interfaith dialogue through sustainable agriculture. This was the first time Zoe met a Jewish person and was introduced to Judaism. After Zoe graduated college, they served two years in Peace Corps in the agricultural sector. It was in rural Paraguay where Zoe began to perfect their challah-baking skills.
Upon their return to the States, Zoe moved to Grand Rapids to be closer to their now-wife Susie. Zoe converted to Judaism and became a member of Temple Emanuel in 2020. Currently, Zoe is a full-time ceramic artist, part-time gardener, and hobbyist baker.
Zoe Post, Baking expert, UJS
Corey Dane, Yoga, Mindfulness and Meditation teacher, UJS