Life Lessons

Shalom School promises structure, nurture and hugs

By Jessica Laskey
Photography By Linda Smolek
June 2025

Jilian Bar-or has a sign in her office that reads, “This is the Work.”

It’s a reminder why she loves her job as head of Shalom School on Sierra Boulevard.

“I’m so committed to the work Shalom School is doing,” says Bar-or, entering her 12th year at the school. “We serve such a specific purpose in the region that’s very important and valuable.”

An independent day campus that serves students age 2 through sixth grade, Shalom School offers rigorous academics and a nurturing environment rooted in Jewish traditions.

“The school is super universal and accessible to all. Not all families and teachers are Jewish,” Bar-or says. “But we take Hebrew and Judaic learning just as seriously as traditional subjects. This plants seeds of meaning that will last into adulthood.

“For example, with shabbat, every child can benefit from learning to take a day of rest after many days of focused work. The cadence of the Jewish year has something to teach everyone.”

For Bar-or, the cadence of the past few years was hectic. Since becoming school leader in 2021, she closed the infant classroom and opened two pre-kindergarten classrooms that feed into kindergarten.

She eased the transition into making the school multiage, which means students learn in combined classrooms: first/second, third/fourth and fifth/sixth grades.

“This is the best way to do truly differentiated learning,” says Bar-or, who earned her teaching credential at UC Davis and started as a sixth-grade teacher at Natomas Charter School. “That way we can figure out exactly where each student is and design lessons to make sure students advance in the skills they need. If a second grader needs fourth-grade level math, they can take that class because all math classes are held at the same time across campus.”

Bar-or introduced a lower tuition rate last spring to make the school accessible for more families. Annual tuition went from around $18,000 for K–6 to $10,000, which brought a big uptick in elementary school enrollment.

The tuition shift is part of a schoolwide plan to increase accessibility while ensuring the school’s future—a balancing act Bar-or understands with her background in fundraising, admissions and academic counseling.

“You have to have a therapist’s bedside manner and an accountant’s mind to do well in (the academic counseling) world,” Bar-or says. “You have to keep up with data and trends, but it’s also such an emotional time for families.”

“My first job at Shalom School was as admissions coordinator and my skills from counseling definitely aligned,” she continues. “We start students at age 2, which is very often parents’ first foray into having someone else care for their child. It’s like going from senior year of high school to the first year of college. You’re holding parents’ hands to help that transition to go smoothly.”

The combination of smarts and sensitivity is a hallmark not only of Bar-or, but of the community Shalom School seeks to build.

“We are a landing spot for families,” Bar-or says. “A lot blossoms here. We’re such a vital part of the educational ecosystem in Sacramento. Time and time again, when new young families find us, we’re their first sense of home. We’re a warm hug we give our parents and students with excellence and structure.”

For information, visit shalomschool.org.

Jessica Laskey can be reached at jessrlaskey@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram: @insidesacramento.