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 18 months-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.  ​

Dara Dephore
​After my three children attended the TBS Children's Center I wanted to stay involved in the community. Before joining the TBS team as an assistant teacher,  for nine years I was a frequent substitute in the classrooms. I love spending time with children individually and in small groups.

Meireluce De Souza
Before coming to TBS, I worked as a preschool teacher in Brazil for 5 years. When I first moved to the United States, I worked as a nanny for three different families.
As a teacher, I hope our children learn a little each day—while having fun! I aim to provide love, attention, and consistent care, offering hugs, joy, and a nurturing presence. Nurturing comes naturally to me, and I believe that’s reflected in my teaching. I truly love what I do and feel grateful for the children I get to work with each day.

​Meghan Halpern
Hello! My name is Meghan Elisheva and my teaching is grounded in the deep belief that every child has the right to play, to be outside, and to be deeply loved. These values guide every part of my classroom practice — from the way we greet each other in the morning to the time we spend outside (rain or shine!), to the joy we find in shared experiences.

I bring a powerful passion for Jewish life and learning into my classroom. From morning tefillot and brachot to the rich cycles of the Jewish year, I strive to create a space where Jewish identity is lived, celebrated, and felt throughout the day. Judaism isn’t a subject in our classroom — it’s the heartbeat.

My teaching style is creative, sensory-rich, and relationship-driven. I weave art, music, and nature into everyday experiences, creating opportunities for children to express themselves, connect with the world around them, and feel seen and valued for who they are.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, hold multiple teaching certificates from EEC and also hold a Massachusetts teaching license (PreK–2) through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 
Above all, I am committed to nurturing a classroom culture of love, respect, and belonging, where each child is honored as whole, capable, and sacred. At the heart of my teaching is a commitment to building relationships rooted in love, respect, and deep listening. I see each child as whole and holy — already full of their own ideas, feelings, and stories — and feel truly honored to help them grow.

Megan Jaeger
Working with kids, and in particular, being a teacher, has been something I have wanted to do ever since I was old enough to walk.
While growing up, my mom ran a home daycare out of our house,
which sparked my inspiration of wanting to do something along the
same lines as her. I have been in the childcare field since I was in middle school, starting out as a mother’s helper. Since then, I have
been a nanny, an assistant teacher in a pre-k classroom, an infant/toddler teacher, an administrator in a childcare center, and a behavior technician, working with young children who have autism. I graduated
high school from Ashland High School in 2017 and I am currently working on obtaining my lead teacher, and eventually director,
certifications through EEC to further my education in the early childhood field. I have a passion for psychology and teaching children, with watching little minds grow and develop being my favorite part. When I’m not spending my time with little ones, I enjoy playing darts in the MinuteMan Dart League, spending time with my two sisters, or
taking my dog to play fetch at the park.

Talia Joseph
My name is Talia Joseph, and I’m so excited to be part of the TBS community. I recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies. Before joining TBS, I worked as a teacher’s assistant at the Child Development Lab preschool in Madison, where I had the opportunity to work in both the infant and Pre-K classrooms. Those experiences helped to develop my passion for early childhood education
I am deeply passionate about early childhood education. I believe the early years of a child’s life are incredibly important. They build the foundation for lifelong learning, confidence, and success. That’s why I work hard to create a classroom environment where every child feels safe, loved, and excited to explore the world around them. My goal is to nurture curiosity and help each child grow through play, discovery, and meaningful connections.

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!

Meredith Mackenzie
I hold a Master's 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 returned 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! ​

Raquel Orellana
I moved to MA from Guatemala where I owned three restaurants.
I've worked at Temple Beth Shalom for 7 months in the ones classroom. I love that I always learn something new with them. They are always very clever! 
You can always find me playing and laughing with the children. 

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 enhance 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.

Aygun Sattarzade
​I have always had a passion for teaching young children and creating joyful, engaging learning experiences. Before joining TBS, I taught preschoolers at Needham Montessori School, where I cherished watching each child’s curiosity and confidence grow. I hold a BA in ESL Teaching and a Master’s in Linguistics, and I love bringing my background in language and communication into the classroom. Every day, I feel grateful for the opportunity to nurture children’s love of learning.

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.

Ashley Varriale
I hold a bachelor’s degree in clinical psychology from Northeastern University. I am also in the process of completing my Master’s degree in Curriculum and
Instruction from Boston College. My experience is in teaching infants through pre-k, and I have followed the Reggio Emilia philosophy approach to education. As an
educator, I believe in providing students with access to developmentally appropriate curriculum that highlights hands-on learning opportunities.​

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.