Directory

Steve joined EWS in a part-time capacity in 2006 while serving as Education Director of a suburban Houston synagogue. After 20 years of synagogue work, Steve began to teach at Emery/Weiner full-time in the 2010-11 school year. Steve has previously served as the Eighth Grade Counselor at EWS, and presently teaches Eighth Grade. During his gap year following high school, Steve participated on the Young Judaea Year Course, a 10-month work-study program in Israel. Following that life-changing experience, Steve received his undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a minor in Hebrew Language. Steve then earned a Master’s Degree in Jewish Education from the American Jewish University, in Los Angeles. Steve serves on the Board of Directors of Hillel at the University of Texas at Austin and also serves on the Camp Committee of the URJ Greene Family Camp, where he spends as much time as camp will allow each summer. Additionally, Steve teaches Haftarah as a member of the B’nai Mitzvah tutoring team and eleventh grade Religious School at Congregation Emanu El, and teaches seventh grade Religious School for Congregation Beth Yeshurun. Steve enjoys sports (watching his Longhorns, Astros and Texans), playing guitar, and spending time with family and friends.  He is married to Suzie Finger Daum and is the father of two Emery/Weiner alumni who are both studying at the University of Texas at Austin.

Samantha joined EWS in 2014. She has taught every level of high school, including Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Aquatic Science and Environmental Science during her decade in education.  Prior to her career in education, Samantha was an environmental consultant specializing in wetland and coastal ecology and coastal land use. At Emery, she brings her love of all things outdoors into her classroom, including her pet frogs, cornbread and beans. In her free time, Samantha enjoys sailing, scuba diving, and traveling with her husband and three children.

Head of School Stuart J. Dow graduated cum laude from Yale University with a B.A. in History (concentration in Jewish History), and from the University of Texas School of Law with a J.D. While at Yale, Mr. Dow received The Cogswell Prize, and later, while at the University of Texas School of Law, he won The Thad Hucheson Moot Court Competition and was named the Best Advocate at the Locke Purnell Honors Mock Trial Competition. Beyond his formal education, Stuart has studied at Hebrew University and the Pardes Institute for Jewish Studies, both in Jerusalem. In addition, he has lived in Israel and worked as a journalist for The Jerusalem Post. Stuart is the founding head of school for The Emery/Weiner School, serving his first stint from 2001 to 2010. After taking two years off, during which time, he consulted and served as President of Razar Media Group, Stuart returned as head of school in 2012.