Barbara Simon

Purple Room & Pre-School Founder

I teach:

in the Purple Room.

I have been at Akiba-Schechter since:

1982

I like to teach because:

I have the best job in the world - I am a teacher in the Purple Room at Akiba-Schechter. Each day in the Purple Room I help three year olds become more independent and nurture their love of learning. I do this in the school day's many moments of seeing, hearing, and appreciating each child as an individual. Seven of my eight grandchildren have attended Akiba's Pre-School and watching them flourish at Akiba has been a joy!

My favorite part of teaching is:

That my inspiration comes from the children themselves, and my role is to enable them to discover themselves, each other, and the world around them.

I'm known by my students for:

Loving activities that are spontaneous and messy.

When I'm not teaching, I

Am an avid runner, and there are few days that Chicago weather stops me from a run along the lake.