From Marketing to the Classroom: Abby Swerin's Story

For a little over a decade, Abby Swerin built a career in marketing, first in the consumer space, and later moving into corporate roles. Her job took her across the country and to a number of major tech and consumer companies. But something shifted two years ago, when she found herself wanting to do something that felt more purpose-driven.

Growing up, Abby had formative experiences attending Camp Interlaken JCC, a sleep-away camp three hours from her home in Madison, Wisconsin. As a teen, she worked as a counselor at another summer camp and loved the opportunity to instill a strong Jewish identity and sense of connection in the campers.

Because of those experiences, working in Jewish education felt like an obvious choice for her career pivot.

From the beginning, ElevatEd’s support was crucial in making that possible. As part of her participation in our Emerging Educators Program, Abby took courses, received access to training resources, and participated in a mentorship initiative.

“Through caring teachers and leaders, and engaging materials and activities, I built confidence and a strong foundation for learning. The program also helped identify areas where I needed extra support, allowing me to receive resources and encouragement early on,” she said.

This support made all the difference in Abby’s career shift.

“When you switch industries you can deal with imposter syndrome, so I'm so grateful for the support of the program. It's so rewarding when you feel invested in,” she said.

In September, she joined the staff of Jewish Council for Youth Services in Chicago, as an assistant teacher for its early childhood education program.

“I'm very values-driven so it felt like a natural fit,” she said.

One especially impactful aspect of the program has been the mentorship component, through which Abby has participated in weekly conversations with a senior teacher at her school.

“She’s been a wealth of knowledge for overcoming challenges as a new teacher. We talk through situations I’m facing at work, and she encourages reflection and goal setting to get me where I want to be,” Abby said.

Already, Abby has made significant growth in her career as a result of the training and mentorship. In fact, she recently completed training through ElevatEd to become a lead teacher.

“I'm so excited and grateful for the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on children's early Jewish learning and development. It's a privilege to have the opportunity to create a positive, inclusive and engaging classroom where each child feels safe, valued, curious and encouraged to explore and grow.”