Sandy Gilford
Kindergarten, General Studies

Sandy Gilford’s first teaching experience at OHDS was in 1999, when she taught all grades for three months as an art specialist.  Through that happy introduction to its students, faculty, and mission, Sandy realized the uniqueness of OHDS and admired it.  Fortuitously, a full-time teaching position in kindergarten opened just then, and Sandy began a rewarding teaching career here.  In kindergarten, she incorporates into the curriculum all the things she most enjoys:  working with children and their parents, exploring the amazing English language, singing, experiencing and learning about nature, gardening, experimenting with color and art materials, connecting more deeply with nature through drawing, and thinking about Hashem through learning about His creation. Sandy has a B.A. in Psychology and a Masters in Social Work, specializing in children and families.  She has worked as a rehab counselor, recreational therapist, corporate manager, Hebrew-school teacher and director, and more.  Sandy has lived in San Francisco for 25 years; she married and raised her two children there.  Sandy also has long-standing and strong connections to the East Bay.  She studied, worked, and learned about Judaism here during her years as a student at UC Berkeley, and later worked at Beth Jacob’s Hebrew school for several years.  While living in the East Bay, she went to Chabad, Beth Israel, the Northside Minyan, and sometimes Beth Jacob.  In San Francisco, she attends Richmond Torah Center of Chabad.