Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy—known as EKHLA—is an open enrollment charter school that offers instruction in Hebrew language and the culture and history of Israel in an educational environment with high academic and behavioral standards. On February 1, 2024, EKHLA will begin accepting enrollment applications for the 2024–25 school year. Open enrollment will conclude on February 29, 2024. We have put together a guide to help you learn more about EKHLA and take steps to enroll your child for the next school year.
About EKHLA
EKHLA’s mission is to prepare confident students through high academic and behavioral standards, who are grounded in Hebrew language and Israeli culture.
EKHLA in San Antonio
As the only public Hebrew language Academy in South Texas, EKHLA serves students in grades K–8. Their campus is located at 11327 Dreamland Dr., San Antonio, TX 78230 (map). The main phone number is 210-890-7267, and you can reach them by email at office@ekhla.org.
On their most recent district report card and school report card, they earned a B rating.
Download the free San Antonio Charter Schools app for an interactive map that includes EKHLA and many more. You can also find campus information about EKHLA (and many other schools of choice) in our Guide to Charter Schools in San Antonio.
Enroll at EKHLA
Families can apply online to enroll their children at EKHLA. Open enrollment for the 2024–25 school year will begin on February 1, 2024 and will continue through February 29, 2024. The lottery will be during the first week of March 2024. Families can still apply for enrollment after the lottery, but they may be added to the waiting list.
EHKLA is offering school tours for adults at 9:00 AM on the following Fridays: February 2, 9, 16, and 23; March 1 and 22; April 5; May 10; and June 7, 14, and 21, 2024.
They are also holding an open house—adults and children welcome—from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM on February 10, 2024. Reservations are required; save your spot by filling out the online form or calling 210-890-7267.
Follow EKHLA on social media on Facebook.
In addition, please join the San Antonio Charter Moms discussion group on Facebook to post questions and search previous discussions about EKHLA. Families with students who are currently enrolled at EKHLA can comment based on their experiences.
Facts about EKHLA
Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy (EKHLA) is a K–8 open enrollment public charter school with a focus on Hebrew as a second language. They offer a rich and innovative curriculum, with passionate teachers and extraordinary student support. Their dedicated teachers know their students individually. They educate the whole student to be gracious, kind, and tolerant. Their goal is to develop curious lifelong learners who have a sense of responsibility to the world. Their purpose is to inspire their students to know who they are, what they want, and to have the confidence to achieve their dreams.
For sports, they currently offer soccer, volleyball, tennis, lacrosse, and basketball for grades 4–8. In their after school enrichment program, they offer dance and tumble, chess, crochet, transition awareness breathing, making makers, storybook makers, and Spanish. They offer daily after school care until 6:00 p.m.
Charter Moms Chats
Watch Kathryn Cohen, Principal/Superintendent at EKHLA, Tracy Smith, Vice Principal at EKHLA, and Gabriela Tawil, District Coordinator and Athletics Director at EKHLA, speak with Inga Cotton on Charter Moms Chats on February 1, 2024 at 4:00 PM Central live on Facebook and YouTube.
Kathryn Davis Cohen is the Principal/Superintendent at EHKLA. She received her B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with a specialization in Mathematics from the University of Texas San Antonio, followed by her M.Ed. in Educational Diagnostician from Texas Woman’s University. She has completed certifications in elementary mathematics grades 1–8, elementary self-contained, principal, and educational diagnostician.
Ms. Cohen has over 20 years of experience working in education. She has worked as a middle school math teacher, self-contained elementary teacher, educational diagnostician, and various roles in administration. Ms. Cohen was instrumental in launching the Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy.
Ms. Cohen is also involved in the community where she has served on Boards at the Jewish Federation of San Antonio and Jewish Family Services. She has three children, likes to cook, and enjoys reading.
Tracy Smith is a Vice Principal at EKHLA. She received her Bachelor’s degree in General Education and Special Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 1991. She completed her Master’s degree in Educational Administration at Angelo State University in 2015.
Mrs. Smith has taught in Austin, Georgetown, and here in San Antonio. She served in the field of Special Education for several years in a variety of settings. She transitioned into the role of classroom teacher, where she taught language arts and social studies in middle school, as well as in several elementary grades. During her last few years as a classroom professional, she taught second and third grade. Throughout her more than 30 years of educational experience, she also worked as an educational consultant, conducting workshops for other educators across Central Texas. She has held several supervisory positions and is currently one of the Vice Principals at EKHLA, focusing on grades K–2.
She is very lucky to have all of her family here in San Antonio, including husband Wayne, daughters Jordann and Kassidy, and grandson Baylin. She enjoys cooking, gardening, outdoor activities, and writing. Some favorite times are family game nights and vacations.
Gabriela G. Tawil has a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from the University of Notre Dame with a minor in Accounting. She received her MBA in International Logistics from Texas A&M International.
She worked for a division of General Motors, Delphi Packard Electric, as a Logistics Manager for ten years, traveling internationally to General Motors car assembly plants and manufacturing cross docks throughout Mexico, the United States, and Canada. Consulting and implementing ISO 9000 guidelines for General Motors led to her being based in South Texas and engaged in Business Solutions and Information System Solutions for the Michigan-based division on the border of Texas.
Gabriela, along with her husband, James Tawil are raising their six children, four of whom are students at EKHLA. The entire family lives an active lifestyle of biking, hiking, running, soccer, and traveling. The great outdoors plays a vital role in the family’s daily lives, as well as volunteering and serving throughout the San Antonio community.
Gabriela is currently the District Coordinator and Athletics Director for EKHLA, where she is passionate about sports, fine arts enrichment programming, fundraising, marketing and development for the school district, and community responsibility. She has worked at EKHLA since its first year as a public charter school in 2013–2014.
Read More About EKHLA
- “Charter Moms Chats — EHKLA, With Kathryn Cohen, Tracy Smith, Simran Jawanda, And Gabriela Tawil,” YouTube, February 2, 2023
- “Charter Moms Chats — EKHLA, With Gabriela Tawil and Tracy Smith,” YouTube, February 8, 2021
- “The coronavirus means San Antonio parents have to make choices this fall—and some have more options than others,” Melissa Fletcher Stoeltje, San Antonio Express-News, August 8, 2020
- “Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy enrollment and lottery information,” San Antonio Charter Moms, January 6, 2014
- “Modern Education,” Miranda Koerner, San Antonio Magazine, December 2013
- “Trying to Keep Religion Out of Charter Classrooms,” Edgar Walters, Texas Tribune, October 18, 2013
- “Eleanor Kolitz Hebrew Language Academy charter school opening in San Antonio in August 2013,” San Antonio Charter Moms, June 15, 2013
- “Area’s Jewish families debate educational options for children,” Abe Levy, San Antonio Express-News, June 14, 2013
- “Ben Yehuda Academy in San Antonio is part of a national Hebrew charter school trend,” San Antonio Charter Moms, January 23, 2013
