Noah Sumner will be embarking on his third year at Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun this month, but he is a long-time veteran in the field of education. He began his career 29 years ago teaching English at Spotted Eagle High School, a Native American immersion school for at-risk youth. Since then, he has taught elementary students to high school students in both public and private schools around Milwaukee. Some of these schools include Messmer High School, Pulaski High School, and Lincoln Center for the Arts. During his years in education, Sumner has enjoyed working with the at-risk and underserved populations.
In fall of 2022, Sumner decided it was time to send his youngest child, Benji, to Sunday School to begin his Jewish learning journey. Where else would he send him, but where Sumner himself grew up and became a bar mitzvah, Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun. Rather than schlep to Shorewood and back every Sunday, he decided to stick around Emanu-El while Ben was busy learning and get some lesson planning done for the week. The then-education director, Susan Cosden, noticed him sitting there and when she needed a sub, she knew just the right person to ask. Cosden reached out to Sumner about the subbing gig and he happily accepted. It went so well that she approached him with a permanent opportunity teaching second grade and asked if he was able to start after the first of the year. Sumner excitedly accepted this position and has since taught all about Jewish holidays, what it means to be Jewish, and the history of Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun.
This year, the new Education Director, Miles Roger, has asked Sumner to teach sixth grade. He is extremely excited about this year as he has an extensive background teaching middle and high school. When asked if there is anything challenging about teaching Sunday school, Sumner explained “It can be both difficult and neat to go from the rigid structure of secular school to the idea that we aren’t taking tests. Our goal for Sunday school is different; we need to make Jewish learning fun and worthwhile.”
Sumner is an educator who said he truly cares about children. During the week, you can find him subbing around town. His favorite teaching moments both in Sunday school and secular school are the “aha” moments, when kids really get it and understand where something comes from in Judaism. “Teaching Sunday school is fun; I just love interacting with the kids!” he said.
Sumner credits both his mother and a high school English teacher, Peter Piaskowski, for his becoming a teacher. His mother, Bonnie Sumner, was a teacher and volunteered much of her time at the kids’ schools, the Milwaukee Jewish Federation, and Milwaukee Urban League. “She wanted the world to be a better place for her having been here,” he said. As for his high school English teacher, Peter Piaskowski, Sumner said, “He loved English and loved kids.”
Sumner resides in Shorewood, near where he grew up, with his two wonderful boys, Atticus and Benjamin. In Sumner’s free time, you might find him exploring the underground music scene, reading or writing. As for his favorite things to do in Milwaukee? Sumner says it’s a tie between seeing live music at Turner Hall or Pabst Theatre and dancing the night away at Mad Planet!
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MEET AN EDUCATOR
Writer Nicole Boico is the associate director of the Coalition for Jewish Learning of Milwaukee Jewish Federation. This regular feature, from the Coalition for Jewish Learning, is to celebrate local educators. To suggest someone for coverage, contact Boico at NicoleB@MilwaukeeJewish.org.
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