Preschool teacher Anthony Nash, a Milwaukee native, is also a talented artist.
He went to college at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee not to study education, but art and design. He switched paths after an internship in college showed his that teaching might be his calling.
He interned at Discovery World, where he designed projects for children and their families. On weekends, he engaged with the kids at the museum, realizing, “I kind of like doing the projects with the kids more than I enjoy designing them.” This revelation prompted Nash to explore more education-related classes and internships.
After a couple of years as a lead designer at Laser Cutting, Inc., Nash couldn’t shake his love for working with children, he said. In his free time, he volunteered in a friend’s elementary school classroom, helping with art projects. Once again, he found more joy in engaging with students than in his design job. In 2021, he made the leap to pursue teaching, applying to schools in the North Shore area.
Karen Faust from Gan Ami Early Childhood Education in Mequon interviewed him. He fell in love with the school and started immediately, he said. After just a few weeks with the 2- and 3-year-olds, he knew he had made the right choice: “I love their energy; it matches mine! They get so excited about everything, and anything new I bring is the coolest thing ever. Watching them learn is so much fun.”
Now, almost three years later, his favorite aspect of teaching is the relationships he builds with students and their families. “We’re here in this intimate space together all day, every day, and my favorite part is the connections we make,” he said. He also enjoys babysitting former students to maintain those connections: “Work doesn’t feel like work when my students feel like my buddies. We’re here to hang out, make art, and learn together. It’s a fun job!”
Nash acknowledges that the hardest part of teaching is the limited time in a day, which often leaves him wanting more one-on-one time with each student. His inspiration comes from the kids he’s worked with over the years. He keeps the first drawing a child ever made for him in a shadow box, along with other cherished creations. “I’ve had teachers growing up who impacted me, and it’s rewarding to be that person for some of these kids.”
Since joining Gan Ami, Nash has learned a great deal about Judaism. He believes that Jewish values should be universal: “These aren’t just Jewish values; they should be values that everyone embraces.” This year, he is participating in the sixth cohort of BINAH (Building an Inquiry-Based Network through Hevruta), a yearlong teaching support program from the Coalition for Jewish Learning. He is eager to learn more and share his insights with his students and fellow teachers, he said.
Nash loves to travel, and he appreciates that his job allows him the freedom to do so. He recently returned from Denver and has plans for a trip to Australia soon. He lives in Fox Point with his roommate, and he enjoys having his brother and parents nearby in Milwaukee. When he’s not teaching or traveling, Nash loves playing pickleball with friends, creating art, and exploring new restaurants around the city.
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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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