Quick answer: Hoda Kotb reunited with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman on Sept. 8 for daughters Haley and Hope’s first day of school. Kotb shared family photos on Instagram celebrating Haley, 9, starting fourth grade and Hope, 7, entering second grade, continuing the former couple’s friendly co-parenting relationship.
New Hoda Kotb family photos capture a back-to-school milestone with ex-fiancé Joel Schiffman. The former morning show anchor and the financier came together on Sept. 8 to send their daughters Haley, 9, and Hope, 7, off to their first day of school.
Kotb shared the family drop-off pictures on Instagram, marking the girls’ move into fourth and second grade. “It’s here,” she wrote in the caption, adding, “4th and 2nd grade! Whaaaatttt?”
The reunion was a family occasion for the former couple, who ended their engagement in 2022 after eight years together. Since their split, Kotb and Schiffman have remained friendly while co-parenting Haley and Hope.
A first-day photo with both parents
Kotb, 62, wore a blue Denver Broncos sweatshirt and white jeans for the school send-off, while Schiffman, 68, wore a gray suit. Their daughters both chose pink for their return to the classroom, with each putting a different spin on the color.
Haley wore a striped T-shirt dress with all-white sneakers. Hope paired a tiered floral dress with a denim jacket and running shoes with pink laces.
The Instagram caption kept the focus on the children’s new grades. The photographs document the parents sharing that milestone; the context is their continuing co-parenting relationship, rather than an announcement about their romantic lives.
What Kotb has said about their split
Kotb has spoken warmly about Schiffman since their engagement ended, while also explaining why the relationship did not work. In a 2024 appearance on The Jamie Kern Lima Show, she described her respect for him in direct terms.
“Joel is one of the best people I know, and he really is a great human being,” she said. “And I feel like I’m a pretty great human being, but sometimes two great human beings together isn’t quite enough to make it work.”
She pointed to “growing at different paces” as the reason they amicably went their separate ways. “It’s hard to be in sync,” Kotb explained. “I think a lot of people are probably in these situations.”
Those comments provide the background to the new family photographs. The end of their engagement did not end their shared role in raising the girls, and Kotb has continued to acknowledge Schiffman’s importance in her life as a parent.
“I have two incredible children I share with him”
Kotb adopted Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019. In a 2022 interview, she reflected on her years with Schiffman and made clear that she did not view the relationship with regret.
“I don’t regret one day, not one minute, not one second of our time together because it brought me here,” she said. “I have two incredible children I share with him.”
She also credited Schiffman with helping her take the step toward becoming a mother. “And it’s because of Joel that I have Haley and Hope, without question. I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone. That’s not something I love to admit, but it’s true.”
Kotb has offered a practical glimpse of how they divide parenting time, too, saying they “have it down” when it comes to raising their daughters. “He’ll have a Saturday, and I’ll do the Sunday. We switch each week,” she explained.
The latest school-day pictures show another shared moment in that arrangement: both parents joining Haley and Hope as they head into a new school year. This time, the milestone is fourth grade for Haley and second grade for Hope, with Kotb’s delighted caption doing the talking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Hoda Kotb reunite with Joel Schiffman?
Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman came together on Sept. 8 to send daughters Haley and Hope off to their first day of school. Kotb shared photographs of the family drop-off on Instagram.
How old are Hoda Kotb’s daughters, and what grades are they in?
Haley is 9 and is starting fourth grade, while Hope is 7 and is entering second grade. Kotb adopted Haley in 2017 and Hope in 2019.
When did Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman break up?
Hoda Kotb and Joel Schiffman ended their engagement in 2022 after eight years together. Kotb later described them as “growing at different paces,” and the pair have remained friendly co-parents.
