Sarah Rapaport joined the Upper School as the Coordinator of Jewish Life and Community Engagement, a new office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) that will fulfill the school’s cultural needs while engaging with affinity groups and clubs. Rapaport will develop support and guidance for students, especially members of the Jewish community.

Rapaport previously worked at the University of Southern California (USC) for seven years. Her research focused on Jewish history, Middle Eastern Studies and comparative genocide studies. She focused on antisemitism and the Holocaust. Rapaport received her bachelor’s degree from Tufts University and received a master’s degree from Hebrew Union College.

Rapaport said she chose to work in education because of her life-long interest in learning.

“I think initially I was really good at school, which is how I think a lot of academics end up in that path.” Rapaport said. “I think my own passion and desire for knowledge sparked my desire to continue to engage with that. And what’s great about being a teacher is that you’re a lifelong learner. You’re constantly a student.”

Rapaport said she approaches teaching with an open mind and sees inherent worth in the viewpoints of others.

“I am a person that is interested in  engaging with a variety of opinions and ideas,” Rapaport said. “I value listening to others as a primary way that we can communicate and coexist in the world.”

Rapaport said she appreciates the engagement students bring to discussions.    

“I think it’s a really great opportunity to be in a place where students are intellectually committed to their own education and want to learn and explore different ideas,” Rapaport said. “I’m at a point in my life where there’s a younger, active, intelligent generation that is out there to help teach me things about the world too.”