A Room Full of Gratitude
The cafeteria at Angier Elementary, the school that houses Gateways’ Jewish Education Programs, was an extra special place to be on Sunday morning just a few weeks ago. The room buzzed with a different kind of energy than usual— full of parents, staff, and community members all gathering for one reason: to celebrate our amazing teen volunteers.
This teen volunteer recognition event was all about showing our appreciation, especially for our 22 incredible graduating seniors. As a photo slideshow of memories played, we heard from our CEO, Tamar Davis, our Board President, Lisa Hills, and three teen speakers, Josh Binder, Alyssa Weinfeld, and Maya Schor, who shared what this program means to them. Each graduating senior was honored with a different award for their contributions to Gateways and the lives of our students.
Growing Into Leaders
Some of my favorite moments from the morning were meeting so many teens’ parents from all over Greater Boston and listening to the teen speakers reflect on their journeys. Every week in our programs, we see how much students benefit from the relationships with their volunteers. And this event made it so clear how much the teen volunteers have gained from their time at Gateways, too.
I have seen remarkable growth in our volunteers this year. In their training, we focus on seeing the whole child — understanding that all behavior is communication and approaching every interaction with empathy. I have watched these volunteers embody that idea in how they support their students, communicate with each other, and dive into our curriculum. I am always delighted to hear from teens that they used a strategy they learned at Gateways while babysitting or when communicating with children at their synagogue.
I could not be prouder of this group. These teens balance school, activities, and social lives, and still show up each Sunday morning ready to give their all; to come together as one community to support Jewish children with disabilities and diverse learning needs.
Applications Opening Soon!
As we celebrate our seniors, we are also excited to welcome new volunteers this fall. Applications open in May for the 2025–2026 school year, and we are hosting two virtual open houses on May 4 and May 7 for teens who will be entering grades 10–12. These info sessions are a chance to meet Gateways staff and learn about the program and application process.
If you know a teen who is patient, kind, motivated, and excited to make Jewish spaces more inclusive — please spread the word! Gateways teen volunteers join a warm, supportive community, make meaningful connections with their students, get weekly guidance from special education staff, and gain real-world skills that will serve them well into the future.
Help us grow the next generation of ambassadors for inclusion — one Sunday at a time.
Event Photos
About the Author
Jodi Katz
Jodi Katz is a graduate of Wheaton College in Norton MA with a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience. After graduation, she wanted to work in a school for students with developmental disabilities. She worked at the May Institute in Wilmington for 5 years, where she had roles on both the education and behavior teams for students ranging from 5-22 years old. She continued her education at Simmons University, where she received the Sutcliffe Award and graduated with a master’s degree in behavioral analysis. She is now a Board-Certified Behavior Specialist (BCBA) and has worked with multiple populations including ASD, ADHD, ODD, global development delay, down syndrome, and others using a range of assessments including VB-Mapp, ABBLS-R, Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA), and Functional Analyses (FA). She is excited to be at Gateways as the mission aligns with her personal belief that every student should feel empowered to create meaningful relationships with those around them.