Simona Chhahira

Simona Chhahira is the Program Director for K-12 Education and Engagement on the Academic Affairs team at the Jewish United Fund in Chicago. She supports K–12 schools, students, families, and educators by helping school communities better understand Jewish identity and experience. Through partnerships with schools across Chicagoland, she provides educational resources, guidance, and programming that foster inclusive environments for Jewish students, teachers, and staff. She also works directly with Jewish students, families, and community members who experience antisemitism in academic settings, offering support, incident response, and collaboration with schools to address concerns and strengthen community understanding. Prior to JUF, Simona worked as a teacher in both New York and Chicago for 4 years.  She earned her master's in Politics & Education from the Teachers' College at Columbia University, and a bachelor's from the University of Wisconsin – Madison with a major in Elementary Education.