One-Two Year Old Teachers

Emily Dennen
Before arriving at TBS I taught kindergarten, fourth and fifth grade and was a literacy instructor at the Jewish Community Day School of Rhode Island. Before teaching elementary school, I taught children ages 18months-3 years for four years. I am  knowledgeable in the field of child development, having studied this special area of interest as an undergraduate at Smith College, and during pursuit of my Masters degree at Brandeis University. I have a particular interest and experience in progressive models of education, including the Reggio approach.  ​

Ryjbara Elysee
I hold a Masters of Arts In Teaching from 
University of Massachusetts in Dartmouth. Prior to joining the TBS team I was a camp counselor at  YMCA West Roxbury and a tutor at America Reads. I am bilingual in English and Haitian Creole. ​As an educator my goal is to share the milestones of growth and learning that a young child experiences. They bring me joy every day!

Kate Fitzgerald
Working with children has always been my passion. The joy and excitement children exhibit when they are provided with a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment is incredibly rewarding. I believe developing trusting relationships with children and their families is a key component to creating such an environment.  I adhere to the philosophy that It Takes a Village to Raise a child, that every child deserves individual attention so that their needs are being met and that each child has inherent dignity - a born- given right to be treated with love and respect.  I have taught at The New England Home for Little Wanderers, am a Nighttime Post Partum Doulah, have nannied for numerous families and am currently raising my own family here in Needham. I graduated from Colby College with a BA in English and Writing.  I am dedicated to continuing my own learning and growth through formal training in child development and personal and professional experience. ​

Meghan Halpern
I hold a BA of Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst where I also developed an understanding of child development, teaching strategies, and curriculum development in many of my courses. At the same time I earned my TEFL teaching certificate, and began my tutoring career. For the past few years I have been a toddler teacher at Maimonides ECC and a TK teacher at Teddy Bear Club Lincoln where I taught children ages one to five. I came to TBS for the sense of community, and specifically Jewish community, that is so important to me. 
In my teaching I bring a creative approach to the classroom, with an emphasis on experiencing the natural world, and a passion for language and language development. Above all, I work hard to foster relationships of love, joy, and respect in the classroom, and value each of my students as the individuals they are. I can speak English, French, and Mandarin, a splash of Hebrew and my name in Hebrew is Elisheva. 

Kateryna Kozin
Before arriving at TBS I supported children’s hospitals and families with adopted children, working for a non-profit organization of children’s treatment and recreation in Ukraine. As part of that role, I helped open a children’s summer camp. In addition, I volunteered supporting orphan children. As an educator my goal is to learn from children and I enjoy teaching them each day!

Makaela MacEachern
I hold a BA in Art Education from Massachusetts College of Art And Design where I also explored child development and curriculum development and interned in kindergarten through middle school. For the past few years I have been a toddler teacher at a local preschool where I taught children ages one to three. In my teaching I bring a creative approach to the classroom I am a passionate teacher who works to individualize instruction to the needs of each child. 

Rebecca Michaeli
I am a Junior at Wellesley College, where I am currently working towards a Political Science major and Jewish Studies minor, and am a member of the Hillel and Jewish Life’s executive board. I have years of nannying, babysitting, and tutoring experience, and working with children has always been a joy for me. I am passionate about caring for children and being involved in a Jewish community, so I am thrilled to combine both of those interests through working at TBS. This is my second year at TBS, and I feel incredibly grateful to be involved in such an active and welcoming community!

Johari Pimentel
My educational background is in human services and I taught for many years in early education. I have always enjoyed working with children and their families. As a newborn coordinator, I had the privilege of connecting with families from the beginning in a supportive and empathic manner. Through such collaborations, I was able to build relationships with each family, which was a rewarding process. This same goal carries into my teaching where I make warm connections and enhancing care coordination at a place that has so much meaning to those involved.  I have a BS in Psychology and an MS in Human Services from Northeastern and an MA in Psychology from William James College.  

Chloe Raisman
As a dedicated and responsive toddler  teacher I am comfortable working with students of different skill levels to promote learning and boost educational success. I use the theory of growth mindset to develop young minds and inspire love of learning. STEM learning is a part of the daily curriculum of my classroom as I give toddlers the opportunity to explore basic concepts of the world around them. Before coming to TBS I taught toddlers at Little Corner School House in Needham.

Barbara Rome      
I am a graduate of Boston University with a bachelor of science degree in personnel management.  Before coming to TBS, I worked for various preschools in the area including JCC of Newton, Rosenshine Nursery School at Temple Reyim and the Suzuki School of Newton where I worked with children ages 2-5.  As an educator I believe in supporting children in developing a love of learning through music and art, and work to support their social and emotional growth.

Kateryn Silvestre
Before coming to TBS, I worked as a preschool teacher at Champions in Boston and a babysitter for children ages 5-11.  I am currently a student at Bunker Hill Community College. Children's growth and development is amazing to me. I appreciate their intelligence and curiosity. To foster a passion for learning in children I give them a few materials and an idea to get them started and then encourage them to use their imaginations from there.

Meredith Mackenzie
I hold a MA in Early Childhood Education from The University of Colorado, Denver.  I obtained my masters through a practicum program at Boulder Journey School in Boulder, Colorado.  There I learned to really hear the many voices and languages of children, and learn alongside them.  My teaching is rooted in respectful guidance and co-creation, emergent and child-led curriculum, aesthetic and rich environmental design, and teamwork with students and co-teachers.  Children have strong voices, they are firm in their ideas and interests, and as a teacher I see it as my duty to hear the impassioned and curious voices of our youngest citizens.  I return home to Massachusetts after furthering my education, and starting my family in Colorado.  I am so excited to join the TBS community and to grow alongside the teachers, families and students! ​

Skyndy Suffron
I feel in love with early childhood after spending the summers assisting my mother in her role as a kindergarten teacher. I have always been amazed by how a child’s brain works. When I took my first class in human development, I was hooked! Before coming to TBS I taught toddlers at the Rock & Roll Preschool in Cambridge and The Institute for Pan African Cultural Education in Boston. I love the way toddlers ask questions and notice so many things that the adults around them never stop to see. I have an Associates of Science in Early Childhood Education from Urban College of Boston and am currently earning my Bachelors in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. 

Abby Williams
I graduated from the University of Connecticut with a degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Early Childhood Education. I always knew I wanted to be a teacher. My career as an educator started off working at the UCONN child labs with infants and toddlers. After graduating, I taught two and three year olds at Beginnings School, followed by being the Assistant Director at Radcliffe Child Care Center for eight years.

I am a lifelong learner and am always looking for ways to grow as an educator. I am looking forward to joining the TBS community as a Curriculum Coach to collaborate with teachers to create warm, and welcoming classroom environments where children feel valued and respected. My work has been inspired by the Reggio Emilia philosophy for the past 8 years and I enjoy incorporating loose parts and sensory/process experiences in the classroom. I enjoy partnering with parents and always enjoy inviting in family members to be a mystery reader or share a special skill with the children. I believe children are born with a desire to connect with others and it is our job as educators to guide their relationships by encouraging children to listen to each other and work together.

Sophia Zimmerman
I have taught children of all ages, from 6 months to 5th grade. In addition to teaching at TBS, I also work in the afterschool program at the JCC where I  assist in after-school classes such as Swim, Hebrew, Dance, and Art. 

Rachael Murray
The relationships I build with my students are the most rewarding part of being a teacher. I have taught many ages, in both public and private schools, and I truly cherish each individual child and their unique attributes. I believe in creating an engaging and nurturing classroom with rich experiences for learning.  I enjoy incorporating early literacy, nature, baking, music, cooperative games and imaginary play into the preschool curriculum. Having earned a Master’s degree in Music Education, my educational approach is well suited to encourage creativity, curiosity and exploration.  I believe in the power of strengthening our students’ cultural identity and community foundation through Ahavat Yisrael and Tikkun Olam. Supporting the growth of my students academically and emotionally is my professional focus and my passion.