Our Staff

PRESCHOOL & CAMP DIRECTOR

Sari

Sari is from Toronto, Canada. She has been at Beth El for the past 13 years, and in the education field for the past 27 years. She has lovingly taught Pre-K and Kindergarten.  She taught in Canada at the JCC for 13 years. In Florida she ran an after school program with classes in Judaics as well as arts and crafts. She was also a Camp Director in Canada.

Sari graduated with high honors with her BA in Early Childhood Education. She continues her education by attending NAEYC conferences every year.  She enjoys gardening, poetry, art and animals.

OFFICE MANAGER

Ros

Ros is originally from South Africa and attended the University of Cape Town.  She has  lived with her family in Phoenix for the past 16 years, 15 of them working at Beth El.  For the first three years she worked for the Beth El Youth Department and has worked here here at the Preschool for the past 13 years.  She adores the children and feels very fortunate to be around them all day every day.  She loves to read and is a regular visitor to the library.

TEACHERS & ASSISTANTS

Hadassah

Hadassah has taught at the Beth El Center for 21 of her 31 years in education. She is a fixture with the Toddlers and Two’s classes. Born in Israel,  she is just one of our native Hebrew speakers, which makes her invaluable in our Hebrew curriculum. She also enjoys Israeli dancing.

Nicki

Nicki is another long-time teacher, having worked at the Beth El Center for 17 of her 21 years in education. She has taught all the preschool “grades” from Infants through Pre-K. She studied Early Elementary Education for one year, and has her Child Development Accreditation. Originally from Goodyear, she enjoys quilting and art.

Tzvia

Tzvia is the mother of two daughters and the proud grandmother of 3 and ½ year old and 10 month old grandsons.  She was born and raised in Israel and her first language is Hebrew.  Twelve years ago she moved with her family to Phoenix, Arizona.  She has been teaching for 24 years, and has degrees in fashion, education and culinary arts.  In Phoenix she’s taught in different Jewish schools.  This will be her 5^th year teaching the three year olds.

Pamela

Pamela was born in Phoenix.  She has 3 grown children and 1 grandson.  This is her third year at Beth El.  She has worked in the public school system as an instructional aide with special needs children as well as a caregiver for the elderly.  Pamela loves to read, swim and do crafts.

Rachel

Rachel has a son in 1st grade and a daughter in eighth grade.  She worked at Beth El previously before taking time to stay home and raise her family.  She is a native New Yorker transplanted to Phoenix 20 years ago.  Although her degrees are in English and Secondary Education, she has found preschool to be her true love.  She has worked in the field of early childhood for 15 years and is looking forward to beginning this year long journey with the children.

Julie

Julie attended Beth El Preschool as a child, and feels very privileged to have this opportunity to return as a teacher.  She loves kids with all her heart, and finds it immensely rewarding to share and contribute to their personal and individualized growth and development.

Julie has 2 years experience working in a Jewish preschool, and volunteered at the Beth El camp while a high school student.  She is  currently a senior at ASU West and enjoys reading, practicing yoga, running, and being immersed in nature.  She is also also an avid skier and loves being active and making the most of life’s journey.  She has a passion for being of service and helping others.

Jennifer

Jennifer was born and raised in Riverdale, NY and has lived in Arizona for almost 12 years.

She is the proud mother of a beautiful little girl, and is happy that she will be growing up with her new friends here at Beth El.  She has worked at our school for the past few years in the Toddler room.  She loves animals and has two dogs.

Cassie

Cassie recently (December 2010) graduated from ASU with a BS in Psychology, focusing on child development and child psychology. She has worked with children since high school where she was a teacher in the on campus daycare program, had an internship at United Cerebral Palsy, and received a certification as a Developmental Disabilities Specialist from Glendale Community College in 2004. She has a four year old daughter named Lilly who attends Beth El.  She has plans to continue her education in the fall hoping to get a Masters degree in Social Work and to continue working with children doing Early Intervention.