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.

Michael joined EWS in 2008. Currently he teaches eleventh and twelfth grade electives which include: Jewish Magic and Mysticism, Jewish Ethics, Modern Jewish Philosophy, Genesis, and Comparative Religion. This year he is also teaching a tenth grade honors class. Michael is a Boston area native who received his undergraduate degree with honors in religious studies from the University of Pennsylvania and his graduate degrees with distinction from the joint program between Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary. He taught Judaism and Comparative Religion at the University of Alberta and served as Hillel Director at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. After leaving Hillel, he became Dean of Jewish Studies at the Milwaukee Jewish Day School; receiving the Milwaukee Association of Jewish Education’s Teacher of the Year award in 1993. While living in Milwaukee he also served part time as Rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El of Waukesha, and during the summers was the Judaism specialist at BBYO’s Chapter Leadership Training Conference in Mukwonago WI. Before coming to Houston, Michael taught 8 years at Gann Academy in Waltham MA where he taught Tanakh and Topics in Jewish Thought as well as serving as a class dean. He also taught at Hebrew College’s Prozdor supplemental high school program and founded its Masoret classes for exceptional students. Michael has taught all areas of Judaism and Comparative Religion. He is the Translator of an ancient Jewish magic text—Sepher Ha-Razim-The Book of the Mysteries, published by the Society of Biblical Literature. In his spare time he is a student of Science Fiction and Fantasy who is trying to figure out how to remain a Red Sox and Packers fan while living in Houston.

Rachel joined the Middle School at EWS in 2013 and taught there for nine years until moving to the Upper School in 2022. Before joining the EWS staff, Rachel participated in the OTZMA Fellowship in Israel and had the opportunity to attend a Hebrew ulpan, volunteer in a small community in the Negev, and learn as an intern at the Bible Lands Museum in Jerusalem. Earning a full scholarship, she also studied Jewish Education, with a focus on Jewish day schools, and Jewish history, with a focus on ancient Judaism, at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. Rachel currently teaches 9th-grade Judaics as well as Holocaust and Memory for Upperclassmen. When outside the classroom, Rachel loves spending time with her husband, two dogs, and daughter, Libby. She loves exploring Houston’s amazing Chinatown, baking Challah, and continuing her passion for Jewish learning.