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Judy Battaglia

Director

Judy Battaglia comes to The Spot with a unique and diverse background as a Professor of Philosophy at California Lutheran University. She has been a Jewish educator for more than 20 years and was a beloved teacher at the Jewish Learning Center at HAMAKOM for the past three years. Judy has a passion for bringing concepts of Jewish justice, values, and beliefs such as chesed (caring), tzedaka (fairness), achrayut (responsibility), kehillah (community), and tikkun olam (healing the world) to her students in engaging and creative ways.

Maya Rooks

Teacher

Maya Rooks comes to The Spot with deep roots in the HAMAKOM community, having been part of it since its days as Temple Aliyah and Shomrei Torah Synagogue. With over 10 years of experience as a teacher assistant and substitute, Maya brings a decade of dedication, care, and creativity to her work with children. She has a passion for the arts in all forms—including cooking, writing, and music—and loves finding imaginative, hands-on projects that spark curiosity and keep young minds engaged. Maya is especially inspired by the joy of nurturing each child’s unique spirit through fun, connection, and meaningful experiences that reflect the values of kehillah (community), chesed (kindness), sakranut (curiosity), and yetziratiut (creativity).

Kaelyn Sabal-Wilson

Teacher

Kaelyn Sabal-Wilson comes to The Spot with a decade’s experience as a cultural worker and educator. For the last five years, she has served as a Professor of English and African American Studies at Loyola Marymount University. She has a master’s degree in Creative and Life Writing from Goldsmiths University London.  In her spare time, she practices photography, sketching and collage, and appreciates art in all its forms. Kaelyn is deeply excited to be able to bring these gifts and interests to The Spot, to engage, teach and learn with students of different ages, and to bring Jewish values of uniqueness, chesed (loving-kindness), ometz lev (courage), herut (freedom) hachnasat orchim (welcoming guests) and lomed m'kol adam (learning from everyone) to life in her teaching practice.