Religious Education Teacher Ages 3-Grade 3
Name/Pronouns: Ann Beirne (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 13 years
Affiliations with RE: Interim DRE 21-22, Parent and Volunteer
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: So hard to pick just one! It might be watching my son flapping his arms and jumping while dressed as an Angel for the holiday pageant. The flying *almost* worked.
Hope for the Year: I hope for a year of growth and connection for my kids and for all of us!
Name/Pronouns: Ann Beirne (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 13 years
Affiliations with RE: Interim DRE 21-22, Parent and Volunteer
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: So hard to pick just one! It might be watching my son flapping his arms and jumping while dressed as an Angel for the holiday pageant. The flying *almost* worked.
Hope for the Year: I hope for a year of growth and connection for my kids and for all of us!
Religious Education Teacher Ages 3-Grade 3
Name/Pronouns: Sarah Henschel (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 20 years
Affiliations with RE: I grew up in the all souls RE program both as a student and a teacher while I was in high school. I am excited to give back to the community as an adult!
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Six flag trips with Christina, sleepovers in the steeple and pews, and the coming of age class with Paul and Nancy.
Name/Pronouns: Sarah Henschel (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 20 years
Affiliations with RE: I grew up in the all souls RE program both as a student and a teacher while I was in high school. I am excited to give back to the community as an adult!
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Six flag trips with Christina, sleepovers in the steeple and pews, and the coming of age class with Paul and Nancy.
Religious Education Teacher Grades 4-6
Name/Pronouns: Laura Hepler, (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 10 years
Affiliations with RE: Parent to Rachel (HS youth group) and Nicholas (now graduated!) Several years co-teaching 2nd grade classes (awesome kids), past member of the RE Committee.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Friendships made through Family Coffee Hour
Hope for the Year: I'm looking forward to a year of building, and re-building, community.
Name/Pronouns: Laura Hepler, (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 10 years
Affiliations with RE: Parent to Rachel (HS youth group) and Nicholas (now graduated!) Several years co-teaching 2nd grade classes (awesome kids), past member of the RE Committee.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Friendships made through Family Coffee Hour
Hope for the Year: I'm looking forward to a year of building, and re-building, community.
Religious Education Teacher Grades 4-6
Name/Pronouns: Jeong-A Kim (she/her)
Years at All Souls: Member since 2017
Affiliations with RE: PA co-chair (2018-2021), RE teacher for one semester last year.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: 2018, the year I introduced the donut eating competition to Halloween. The station was mobbed; we ran out of donuts. 2019 was a slightly calmer affair (for me, not for the children). Every year we have had the Coming of Age service, it has been special and beautiful.
Hope for the Year: That we get more parent volunteers!
Name/Pronouns: Jeong-A Kim (she/her)
Years at All Souls: Member since 2017
Affiliations with RE: PA co-chair (2018-2021), RE teacher for one semester last year.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: 2018, the year I introduced the donut eating competition to Halloween. The station was mobbed; we ran out of donuts. 2019 was a slightly calmer affair (for me, not for the children). Every year we have had the Coming of Age service, it has been special and beautiful.
Hope for the Year: That we get more parent volunteers!
Religious Education Teacher Grades 7-8
Name/Pronouns: Ann Scobie (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 11 years
Affiliations with RE: I have been an RE teacher off and on for about 6 years at All Souls...and cherish every single lesson that I have taught and has been taught to me by the children. My daughter Eva, has made some very good friends here through the RE program and always looks forward to coming to church.
Hope for the Year: I hope this year will bring about a stability of peace and supportiveness to our world and church community and many more joyful memories.
Name/Pronouns: Ann Scobie (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 11 years
Affiliations with RE: I have been an RE teacher off and on for about 6 years at All Souls...and cherish every single lesson that I have taught and has been taught to me by the children. My daughter Eva, has made some very good friends here through the RE program and always looks forward to coming to church.
Hope for the Year: I hope this year will bring about a stability of peace and supportiveness to our world and church community and many more joyful memories.
Religious Education Teacher Grades 7-8
Name/Pronouns: Ling Teo (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 3 years
Affiliations with RE: I have taught RE (1st and 2nd Grade with Ann Scobie) pre-pandemic. I’ve also been teaching middle school the past 19 years and love my job.
Hope for the Year: A hope I have this year is to foster a community that cares for one another and incorporates the UU principles to our everyday lives.
Name/Pronouns: Ling Teo (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 3 years
Affiliations with RE: I have taught RE (1st and 2nd Grade with Ann Scobie) pre-pandemic. I’ve also been teaching middle school the past 19 years and love my job.
Hope for the Year: A hope I have this year is to foster a community that cares for one another and incorporates the UU principles to our everyday lives.
High School Youth Group Facilitator
Name/Pronouns: Rochelle Brock (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 1st Year! I’m currently a graduate student at Manhattan College studying to be a school counselor. I was born and raised in Jamaica and also grew up in Connecticut! After completing my undergraduate studies at UCONN, I moved to the Bay Area for 4 years where my love to teaching youth grew tremendously. Besides working with youth, I love all things nature, reading, cooking/baking and spending time with friends and my dog!
Hope for the Year: To build authentic connections with youth and fellow volunteers through service to our community.
Name/Pronouns: Rochelle Brock (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 1st Year! I’m currently a graduate student at Manhattan College studying to be a school counselor. I was born and raised in Jamaica and also grew up in Connecticut! After completing my undergraduate studies at UCONN, I moved to the Bay Area for 4 years where my love to teaching youth grew tremendously. Besides working with youth, I love all things nature, reading, cooking/baking and spending time with friends and my dog!
Hope for the Year: To build authentic connections with youth and fellow volunteers through service to our community.
High School Youth Group Facilitator
Name/Pronouns: Adio Heyward (he/him)
Years at All Souls: 1st Year! I’m currently a graduate student at Manhattan College studying to be a school counselor. I am a longtime resident of the Bronx. My interest in working with young people stems from a desire to make a difference in the lives of children. In the past I have worked with 3 to 5 year olds at a Headstart program in the South Bronx. I am currently interning at Hamilton Grange, an elementary/middle school in Manhattan. I am looking forward to working with high school aged children in RE!
Hope for the Year: To improve the life of at least one person through guidance, compassion and support.
Name/Pronouns: Adio Heyward (he/him)
Years at All Souls: 1st Year! I’m currently a graduate student at Manhattan College studying to be a school counselor. I am a longtime resident of the Bronx. My interest in working with young people stems from a desire to make a difference in the lives of children. In the past I have worked with 3 to 5 year olds at a Headstart program in the South Bronx. I am currently interning at Hamilton Grange, an elementary/middle school in Manhattan. I am looking forward to working with high school aged children in RE!
Hope for the Year: To improve the life of at least one person through guidance, compassion and support.
Enrichment Hour: Dungeons and Dragons, Faery's Tale,
Name/Pronouns: Neal Sofge (he/him)
Years at All Souls: All Souls NYC since 2018; at All Souls DC before that (2009) and First Unitarian Pittsburgh before that (2004).
Affiliations with RE: Daughter, Maia, in RE program for four years, now in first year of college; Carlos, 10th grade, high school group
Favorite RE Memory: Getting drafted to play a part in the Christmas Pageant
Hope for the Year: No more remote school or church!
Name/Pronouns: Neal Sofge (he/him)
Years at All Souls: All Souls NYC since 2018; at All Souls DC before that (2009) and First Unitarian Pittsburgh before that (2004).
Affiliations with RE: Daughter, Maia, in RE program for four years, now in first year of college; Carlos, 10th grade, high school group
Favorite RE Memory: Getting drafted to play a part in the Christmas Pageant
Hope for the Year: No more remote school or church!
Enrichment Hour: Children's Choir
Name/Pronouns: James Backmon (he/him)
Years at All Souls: Long time member, past co-chair of the social justice task force.
Affiliations with RE: Director of the All Souls Children's Choir and Founding and Artistic Director of the New Amsterdam Boys and Girls Choir. I am a long-time resident of East Harlem. I have worked with a number of choirs in the NYC area including the Boys Choir of Harlem, New York Boys Choir, and Rainbow Voices. I worked with the legendary folk singer Pete Seeger and other New Yorkers to form the intergenerational choral organization NYC Street Singers.
Hope for the Year: No more masks!
Name/Pronouns: James Backmon (he/him)
Years at All Souls: Long time member, past co-chair of the social justice task force.
Affiliations with RE: Director of the All Souls Children's Choir and Founding and Artistic Director of the New Amsterdam Boys and Girls Choir. I am a long-time resident of East Harlem. I have worked with a number of choirs in the NYC area including the Boys Choir of Harlem, New York Boys Choir, and Rainbow Voices. I worked with the legendary folk singer Pete Seeger and other New Yorkers to form the intergenerational choral organization NYC Street Singers.
Hope for the Year: No more masks!
Religious Education Substitute Teacher, OWL Facilitator
Name/Pronouns: David Freiman (he/him)
Years at All Souls: 25 years
Affiliations with RE: Taught variously 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Certified Facilitator Our Whole Lives Sex Education curriculum, led Children's Choir, Christmas Pageant, Nominating Committee, Parents Association Co-Chair, Religious Education Committee, Friendship Circle facilitator, Halloween party fortune teller.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Watching the children in chapel last year absorbing and understanding the Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles.
Anything else you would like to include: I have two adult children who graduated from All Souls RE, and 3 young children currently in the program: Will, Pluto, and Sam. My wife, Ann Beirne, was Interim DRE last year. I am also a Certified Yoga Instructor and Yoga Therapy Practitioner.
Hope for the Year: I hope that everyone will come together with grace and continue the healing from the disruption of the pandemic.
Name/Pronouns: David Freiman (he/him)
Years at All Souls: 25 years
Affiliations with RE: Taught variously 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, Certified Facilitator Our Whole Lives Sex Education curriculum, led Children's Choir, Christmas Pageant, Nominating Committee, Parents Association Co-Chair, Religious Education Committee, Friendship Circle facilitator, Halloween party fortune teller.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Watching the children in chapel last year absorbing and understanding the Unitarian Universalist Seven Principles.
Anything else you would like to include: I have two adult children who graduated from All Souls RE, and 3 young children currently in the program: Will, Pluto, and Sam. My wife, Ann Beirne, was Interim DRE last year. I am also a Certified Yoga Instructor and Yoga Therapy Practitioner.
Hope for the Year: I hope that everyone will come together with grace and continue the healing from the disruption of the pandemic.
Religious Education Communication Volunteer
Name/Pronouns: Marisa Osorio (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 4 years
Affiliations with RE: My son, Carlos, is in the 10th grade and in the high school youth group.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Picnics, holiday pageants, Halloween party and Coming of Age services.
Hope for the Year: May the RE program grow and flourish this year. Wishing our new DRE all the best and many blessings. May families continue to heal from the pain that they've felt due to the changes in the RE program during the past years. I love this community. I also know how difficult it's been. Wishing peace to all.
Name/Pronouns: Marisa Osorio (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 4 years
Affiliations with RE: My son, Carlos, is in the 10th grade and in the high school youth group.
Favorite All Souls or RE Memory: Picnics, holiday pageants, Halloween party and Coming of Age services.
Hope for the Year: May the RE program grow and flourish this year. Wishing our new DRE all the best and many blessings. May families continue to heal from the pain that they've felt due to the changes in the RE program during the past years. I love this community. I also know how difficult it's been. Wishing peace to all.
Religious Education Communication & Marketing Volunteer
Name/Pronouns: Name/Pronouns: Gogo Zheng (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 1st Year! I just completed a Master's Degree at Johns Hopkins University in Creative and Innovative Education. I am interested in the business functions which allow educational entities to soar. When I am not working, I enjoy photography, calligraphy, tennis and walking. I am happy to contribute to All Souls NYC and attended the UU congregation at Shelter Rock when I lived in New York. I was raised as a Buddhist and believe that fate has brought me to this religious education community!
Hope for the Year: "I hope that more people can join the Religious Education program and that children can enjoy our classes."
Name/Pronouns: Name/Pronouns: Gogo Zheng (she/her)
Years at All Souls: 1st Year! I just completed a Master's Degree at Johns Hopkins University in Creative and Innovative Education. I am interested in the business functions which allow educational entities to soar. When I am not working, I enjoy photography, calligraphy, tennis and walking. I am happy to contribute to All Souls NYC and attended the UU congregation at Shelter Rock when I lived in New York. I was raised as a Buddhist and believe that fate has brought me to this religious education community!
Hope for the Year: "I hope that more people can join the Religious Education program and that children can enjoy our classes."