Our Education Director, Candice Wesson, joined us in 2002. Candice grew up outside of Washington D.C. in Fairfax, VA and received her Bachelor’s degree in Education and Spanish from the College of William and Mary. After teaching first and second grade for two years in a public Spanish Immersion school in Alexandria, Virginia, Candice moved to Boston to earn a Masters in Education from Harvard. At Harvard, as Candice’s love for Judaism and education grew, she also became deeply interested in social justice and change through grass roots organizing.

She was captivated by the energy of the youth population, and impressed by the potential for open-minded religious practice to provide a foundation for strong, thoughtful contributors to society. These interests led to her subsequent work as a Youth Director (Temple Emunah, Lexington), creating informal Jewish education opportunities for High School Youth. Candice has worked with every age student, from pre-school through college and adult. She has led or co-led over 30 educational retreats (for 10-12 year olds, high schoolers, and adults).

At BETC, Candice is known for her approachability, sense of humor, team work, creativity, and dedication to the continual improvement of our school curriculum and other educational programming. Candice ensures that the school adapts to reflect and address the concerns of today’s families and youth. She dreams that our religious school will help create a generation of young Reform Jews whose knowledge about their religion will inform their decisions, and who strongly identify with Reform Judaism, act on the values that they learn, seek partners from within and outside of their own faith in engaging in the work of Tikun Olam (repair of the world), and have developed strong “spiritual muscles” through practicing prayer and thoughtful contemplation of Jewish values.

Candice lives in Arlington with her husband David, also a Jewish Educator, and daughter Talia. She loves yoga and music. Don’t be surprised if you see her playing violin with our tefillah band at one of BETC’s celebratory moments, or catch her or standing on her head at a retreat, viewing the world from a new perspective.

Susan Morrel joined Beth El Temple Center in January 2007 as the Family Educator and Assistant Education Director. Susan previously worked for Temple Emanuel in Worcester, MA for 13 years in several roles including Family Educator, B’nai Mitzvah Tutor, and Teacher. Susan earned her B.S. degree in International Marketing/Management from the University of Massachusetts and is currently in postgraduate studies at Hebrew College in Newton, MA working toward her masters in Jewish Education. Susan is the chair of the Greater Boston Jewish Family Educators Network, a committee of family educators sponsored by the Combined Jewish Philanthropies of Boston that meets monthly, providing support, professional development opportunities, and resources to its participants.

Susan’s love of Jewish Education is centered around establishing and building relationships. Susan is deeply committed to getting to know each BETC family. She enjoys working with families to provide the resources, support, practice, and skills to assist the parents in becoming partners and role models in their child’s Jewish Education. She provides engaging and enriching family experiences that enable families to strengthen their Jewish identity and come together to create Jewish memories. Getting to know the entire family and meeting them where they are on their individual Jewish journey, at whatever point that is, is key to Susan’s philosophy of Jewish Family Education.

Susan and her husband Dean live in Sterling with their four children, Alicia, 20; Stephanie, 19; David, 16; and Shaina, 9. In her free time, Susan can be found spending time with family and friends, often times on a soccer field watching a game or on a mountain skiing. Susan is also an avid reader, knitter, and Mah Jongg player.