Rabbi Shira Shazeer joined Gann Academy in 2021 after nine years at MetroWest Jewish Day School, most recently in the position of School Rabbi. She teaches in the learning center, is a class of 2026 advisor, has facilitated z’man kodesh experiences at Gann and participated in the faculty mussar group, and enjoys the informal opportunities that arise to make music with other faculty and students. Rabbi Shira earned her undergraduate degree in music theory and composition from Goucher College in 2003, and completed a course of study in Talmud and Halakha in the Drisha Institute’s Scholars Circle in 2006 before continuing on to the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College, where she received rabbinic ordination and a Masters of Arts in Jewish Studies in 2010. When years of classroom experience drove home the understanding that successful Jewish education requires pedagogy designed to reach each individual student, Shazeer returned to Hebrew College to pursue a Master’s degree in Jewish Education with a concentration in special education, which she completed in 2022. Before Gann, R. Shira’s day school experience included teaching Tanakh, rabbinic literature, Jewish studies, tefilah and music, and overseeing the Jewish life activities of a small K-8 day school. In addition, she has taught community education classes, created and taught a Jewish prenatal education course, taught Yiddish, tutored b’nai mitzvah students, worked with individuals and families to create and facilitate meaningful lifecycle events and rituals, played in a Klezmer band (accordion and vocals), composed and shared Klezmer and Jewish liturgical music, facilitated Shabbat and holiday services for children, families and mixed age communities. Shazeer also conducts HaZaPrep Boston, the middle school program of HaZamir, the international Jewish Teen Choir, and supports her growing children in their educational endeavors.
