Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Andi Bales Molnar came to Portland with her husband in the summer of 2016. She earned a Bachelor’s in Child Development from California State University, Chico, and a Master’s in Human Development and Leadership in Human Services from Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California.

Over the past 20 years, Andi has directed various early learning programs for children and families living in poverty, including Head Start and Early Head Start. Some of her accomplishments in early learning include receiving national recognition for program quality, expanding programs, and providing trainings throughout her communities. She also directed the child development center for Peninsula Temple Beth El in San Mateo, California for several years.

She is dedicated to creating positive change through relationship building, family engagement, and respect. Some of the issues most important to her are social justice causes, supporting the LGBTQ community, helping families in crisis, addressing food insecurity issues, and working towards educational equity. She is looking forward to supporting the many programs and groups at Havurah Shalom.

When Andi isn’t working, she enjoys an active lifestyle through running, barre, yoga and hiking. Andi and her husband, a History teacher working with middle schoolers and high schoolers, also enjoys spending time with their three nephews, cooking together and seeking out new adventures.