For nearly four decades, Sally Baer has been and continues to be a guiding light in Memphis, inspiring countless Jewish students with unwavering dedication, wisdom, and a profound love for working with kids. This year, Sally celebrates 36 remarkable years (double chai!) at Bornblum Jewish Community School – originally called Solomon Schechter Day School, Sally’s been there since Day 1.
Born in Memphis to parents, Bill and Ruth Rhodes, she and her brother, Barry, lived in a wonderful “neighborhood with other kids. I was very social, roller skating, exploring the outdoors, biking. We always played outside,” Sally remembered of her happy childhood. “My dad would whistle when it was time to come in – we could be on the other side of the block and everyone knew it was dinner time, and the kids would disperse.”
Fast-forward to college and marriage. Closing in on 50 beautiful years, Sally and Rick married in June 1976. At the time, Sally had just finished her senior year at Memphis State (now University of Memphis). A few years later, they had daughter Melissa, followed by daughter Tracy a couple years after that.
Deeply immersed in Jewish Memphis, all of Sally’s initial jobs were at the Memphis Jewish Community Center (MJCC). First was overseeing the game room, then working the front desk. While in college earning her bachelor’s in early childhood education, she ran Memphis State’s Jewish Student Union (JSU, now Hillel). Upon graduation, she asked the MJCC’s preschool director Margaret Friedman, to teach the 3-year-old kiddos. Given her first teaching job as a probationary year, Sally was thrilled. “I loved it! Racelle Mednikow was my mentor,” she recalled. “The next year I taught pre-K 4, then kindergarten, then I taught in a few public schools before joining Schechter,” in its inaugural year, mostly teaching 2nd grade.
When longtime educator Barbara Ostrow was retiring, Schechter’s then head of school, Avi Halzal, asked Sally to take the role. “I said, ‘No, I love the children, I love teaching them, there’s nothing like 2nd grade.’ Avi then told me, ‘If you’re an administrator, you could impact the whole school and touch many lives,’” Sally remembered. “So, I became the assistant head of school under Avi, whom I thought the world of. He was a solid mentor.”
As joyful years passed, Sally decided to go back to school for her master’s degree – at the age of 50! “No degree prepares you for what you do in a school. We learn from mistakes and watching other experts around us. But, being an admin, I felt like I wasn’t being a role model in school with only a bachelor’s. And remember, when I was an undergraduate, women didn’t get master’s back then,” Sally said. “So I got my master’s in educational administration through the University of Phoenix. I worked at school all day, then worked on my online degree all night, for 18 months. I slept on Shabbos. Rick was patient beyond words. I have so much respect for people who work and go to school. At the time, my kids were grown, I don’t know how people do it with young kids.”
While shaping the minds of future generations, Sally and Rick were quite active at Anshei Sphard Beth El Emeth Congregation, even chairing the famous kosher BBQ contest, and Rick served as president. When Anshei joined Baron Hirsch Congregation, they became members.
“We’re more observant than other family members, keeping kosher,” said Sally, which she’d learned from her mom. “Rick cooks most of the time, but I do Shabbos and holidays. I get pumped for holiday cooking! Everyone comes to us! We’re the central place for Pesach seders, Rosh Hashana, Chanukah celebrations. Lots of Rick’s family joins us. Having family together is so important.”
With busy weekdays, Sally looks forward to Shabbos, so she can enjoy reading for fun, especially thrillers. She also plays Canasta with a fabulous group of friends, who’ve played regularly for 47 years! Family and friends are also her big focus these days, including fellow Bornblum teacher Annette Eisenberg – the two have been friends since they were toddlers.
Another hobby some might not know about: Sally is a pool shark! “I spent hours playing anyone who came in the MJCC game room when I worked there. My brother and father played pool. I really enjoy it,” says the aficionado. “We have a pool table in our house. Friends come over and play. I taught my grandson, Zach, granddaughter Samantha, great-nephew Micah. It’s competitive when he’s in town!”
Rick also plays, but notes that when they’re out and about, Sally will often be the only woman at a table full of men. And she dominates!
While the school calendar years progress, “the fun grows” for Sally as she began teaching many kids of her former students, enjoying already established relationships with those parents. “As a provider of experiences, hearing what these former students, now parents, remember and what mattered to them is so special.”
Dual-titled as assistant head of school, Sally also continues to bring happiness and assistance to students as the director of student services. “Similar to a school counselor, I help parents with outside resources when needed and the kids talk to me about all kinds of things. I love these relationships,” she said with sincerity. “We meet in the ‘Makom Shalom’ (place of peace) at school, where kids can decompress and share if they’re sad, frustrated, worried – I hear everything from social to family. We have fidgets and sensory items too. I just love it,” she said. “I also created ‘The Baer Box.’ It’s a spot on the school wall with red (urgent), yellow (soon), and green (no rush) cards – students write me a private note if they need to talk. I check the box several times a day and find the right time to bring kids to Makom Shalom.”
With 3 beautiful grandkids – Melissa and Julian Spector have son Hudson; Tracy and Jef Flynn have Zach and Samantha – people ask Sally when she’ll retire from the profession she’s had her entire adult life. “I love what I’m doing and where I am with it. Teaching was the perfect job at the time,” she said with a smile, “and my passion is as director of student services now.”
Excited for Bornblum’s 36th anniversary gala March 30, Sally is also being honored. “Seeing students grow up to be influential in the Jewish community and keep it thriving and growing is amazing. There are so many stories!” she said proudly. “This has had me on a high this whole school year!”
