Elizabeth Appelbaum loves working in the Baltimore Jewish special needs community. After volunteering for special needs organizations for many years, Appelbaum, 31, is now the coed events coordinator for Yachad.
After growing up in Baltimore, Appelbaum went to seminary in Israel. When she came back, she attended Thomas Edison State University for special education. Appelbaum then furthered her education at Grand Canyon University for a master’s degree in special education.
Now, along with her work at Yachad, Appelbaum is a fourth through eighth grade teacher at Darchei Noam Montessori.
Elizabeth Appelbaum lives in Pikesville and belongs to Suburban Orthodox Congregation.
What does a day in your job look like?
In the morning after Tefillah, we have a group meeting where the students work on putting together a schedule. We use this really cool tablet called Jotit, and my co-teacher and I put their daily schedule in there. It has spaces for them to write what they’re going to do. If they’re not in a chumash lesson, they can find new work they haven’t done yet. After helping them play or reviewing their daily plan, I will either be bouncing from lesson to lesson, observing what’s going on in the environment and noticing who needs assistance and who needs more independent time. That’s how the day goes of observation and lessons.
What’s your favorite thing about teaching?
The moment when the student realizes that they completed something that they thought was impossible or they had no confidence in, and then realizing, “Oh, I can do it.” And they want to try again if it’s math or write more for writing, things like that.
What’s it like teaching kids that are different ages?
It is challenging, but also a lot of fun. I like watching how they interact with each other and seeing how the younger students are learning from the older ones and vice versa. They bring up the immature side of the older students in a fun way sometimes.
How did you get involved in Yachad?
I got involved in the special education world when I was about 19. Then with Yachad, I spent the summer working at Camp HASC in Parksville, New York. When I came back, I wanted to do something more. I’m very good friends with the [Yachad] Baltimore local director Sima Levine and got in touch with her. I started off as a program assistant, just helping at events here and there. Over time, I became more of the specific event coordinator for the coed events.
What kind of events do you run?
We have a movie night. We have dinner at Tov Pizza once a month. We go bowling and have different art nights, a lot of varieties of activities. We have activities Monday through Thursday at night.
What’s the most meaningful part of that job?
The relationship building. [I like] having this group of people that I’m always excited to see at events.
How would you describe your relationship with Judaism?
I’d say it’s meaningful or philosophical. I really enjoy reading the works of Rabbi Sacks. That brings me a greater sense of depth and understanding.
What’s your favorite Jewish holiday?
Sukkot. I really like being out and being in a Jewish neighborhood. It’s so cool hearing the neighbors outside. There are plenty of opportunities to cook and bake interesting things.
What’s one thing someone would be surprised to learn about you?
Probably just how much I enjoy baking. I like how relaxing it is and the process of putting something together and having it come out well, and then the reactions. [People like my] chocolate chip cookies. I have a skill for making really tiny ones. You can eat, like, 100 at a time.
What’s your favorite part about Baltimore?
I think it’s the people I know here, people I’ve grown up with and people I’ve met in recent years. I’ve been introverted. I find it kind of funny that I’m saying the people in the area; I like that close feeling.
