Two-Three Year Old Teachers

Sharon Berkowitz
My profound love and fascination for children have guided me down the path of early childhood education, with a special emphasis on Jewish culture. I love to incorporate Jewish holidays into the kids' learning and playtime at TBS. Born and raised in Israel, my deep connection to Jewish culture and traditions serves as my compass. 

​As an educator, my aspiration is to cultivate a nurturing and vibrant learning environment for young minds. I firmly believe in leveraging play to craft moments that are both memorable and enjoyable. Fostering curiosity within children and fully immersing myself in their unique world is where my passion lies. In my teaching approach, I'm devoted to making every child feel valued, loved, and  secure by fostering an inviting atmosphere that nurtures their growth. With boundless love, patience, and dedication, I am resolute in my commitment to teach and nurture each child, treating them as if they were my own.

Sabine Budd
Before joining the teaching team at TBS, I spent three summers working in the community and am proud to be a TBS preschool alum myself. I’ve also gained experience at Nobles Day Camp and as an infant swim instructor at Goldfish Swim School. I am passionate about building meaningful relationships with children and helping them find authentic ways to connect—both with each other and with the larger themes of TBS. By supporting their individual needs and encouraging personal interests, I will strive to create a classroom where every child feels seen, and is surrounded by creativity, music, and space for self exploration. 

Karen Cohen
I started teaching at TBSCC after I saw the benefits of a positive child-centered learning environment in my own children who attended TBSCC. I have a BA in Psychology from Brandeis University, a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master’s in Jewish Communal Service with a Certificate in Jewish Special Education from Gratz College. With my educational background and as a parent of four children, I have learned to work with each child as an individual, carefully supporting their development as part of our classroom environment. I create a classroom environment that is rich in both materials and experiences, while not being overwhelming. I love to help Judaism come alive for children weekly with our joyous Shabbat celebrations and by embracing the smells, visuals, music and traditions throughout the year of the Jewish holidays. I strive to connect and work collaboratively with families to highlight their child’s strengths and help them understand child  development. 

Hannah Cohn
I have a background in early childhood and elementary education, as well as additional experience providing 1:1 social support scaffolding for young children in their natural environments. I have also worked with children and teens in youth groups, summer camps, and volunteering both locally and abroad. I am skilled caregiver for families with young children and my interests include psychosocial development in neurodivergent children, trauma-informed care, and spiritual and healing arts. A humanitarian at heart, I am a passionate about living authentically and intentionally, teaching empathy, self-advocacy, and accountability through a lens of mindfulness and radical compassion. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Expressive Arts Therapy from Cornell College, and did graduate coursework with ThisWorldMusic at Dagbe Cultural Centre in Kopeyia, Ghana.

Rachel Foster
Before joining the TBS team, I taught toddlers in Seattle, developing and implementing engaging lesson plans that catered to the diverse learning needs of my
students. In that role, I participated in professional development activities to stay updated on current educational
trends and best practices in teaching methodologies and implemented individualized education plans for students with special needs or learning
disabilities, collaborating closely with the child's team.

Gitta Garrity
Originally from Sweden, I bring over 25 years of experience in early childhood education. I taught preschool in several local schools for about seven years before becoming a nanny (including for several TBS families!). I have  also been a substitute teacher at TBS. In those roles, I worked with a variety of different curricula and with children from various backgrounds and learning needs. 

Valeria Kvetnaya
 I hold a Master’s in Early Childhood Education from Fitchburg State University and bring a deep love of learning and of children to my work at TBS. I  have 10 years of experience teaching one and two-year-old children.
I am happy to be back to TBS after spending three years in the Chicago area and teaching at Moriah Early Childhood Center.
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Originally from a multilingual background, I’m fluent in Russian, Hebrew, and English, and I completed my college studies in Israel. My path to early childhood education was shaped by years of experience as a travel agent both in Israel and the U.S., where I discovered my love for helping others and creating meaningful connections.
I feel lucky to channel that passion into nurturing young learners and supporting their growth.

Diane Marget
​I have been connected to the Boston Jewish community for many years, via the PJ Library, local synagogues and the Jewish Community Center. When I am not at TBS - either working or worshipping - I enjoy giving tours for Boston By Foot for six to 12 year-olds! My educational philosophy involves providing a structured environment with lots of warmth. I enjoy reading to children and my favorite author is Sandra Boynton. My favorite part of the day is snack time, both for the food and the conversation with young children!

Elise Mashimo
​As the oldest sibling, my passion for being an educator stems from my own childhood, in which I took on the role of a caretaker for my younger brothers. Throughout my own educational experiences, I have discovered ways to incorporate a variety of learning strategies, and that has encouraged me to fulfill a career in early childhood education. Prior to teaching at TBS, I worked directly with families with children of different learning capacities for the past 10 years. From these experiences, I have learned the importance of creating a rich and unique learning environment and providing a multitude of development opportunities so each individual child can prosper. My goal is to form a connection with each child and their learning habits so that I can facilitate their growth and development. I also know the importance of keeping families involved with their child's learning process, so I intend to incorporate parental suggestions and feedback. In my classroom, each child will be given a safe place to initiate and embark on their own learning journey and feel comfortable being able to express themselves.

Edelis Melo
Before coming to  teach at TBS, I worked as a behavioral technician at the Bierman Autism Center and as a mental health associate at Pembroke Hospital.  I am passionate about providing children with a safe and engaging environment where they can all feel valued and thrive. I bring a lot of energy and love, providing children with provocations and opportunities that spark their natural curiosity. Children bring a smile to my face every day!

Katie Phelps​
I have a strong passion for working with young children. I love listening to children and finding moments of joy and discovery. I have been teaching in early childhood for many years.  Before joining the Temple Beth Shalom community, I taught preschoolers at the Needham Children's Center, Radcliffe Child Care Center, and Children's Corner at Newton Wellesley Hospital. 

Sarah Pultz
At the core of my educational philosophy, I truly believe that “it takes a village.” I am committed to developing strong relationships with the children, families and staff of our school, working together to create a safe and supportive atmosphere.  Children are innately curious about the world and learn through a variety of experiences and access points.   By encouraging children to interact with their environment, ask questions and try new things, we enable children to learn in a meaningful and authentic way. I have an interdisciplinary approach to teaching which brings many subject areas together and encourages self-expression.  I am a certified, licensed Elementary School teacher with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from UMASS Amherst and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Simmons College. I have over 10 years of teaching experience with children from Infants through 5th grade. 

Jennifer Reiling 
I graduated from Smith College with a degree in Psychology and I have been teaching preschool for 18 years. Prior to coming to TBS, I taught at Explorations, a preschool in Medfield and at Dover Nursery School. I am passionate about working with children and creating a nurturing, rich environment in which children can grow and learn.  A strong sense of community and building relationships with the children and their families is a very big part of that environment. Learning begins with play and I believe in being on the floor right along with the children. As the children share with me, I like to share with them and I try to bring my love of reading, art and the outdoors into the classroom.

Renee Rull
I began teaching in early education when my own children were preschool age.  Twenty years later it still brings me so much joy to learn and grow with young children,  presently at TBS.  I have a degree in Art Education  from Boston University which enables me to nurture the creative spirit of each child.  I am entering my tenth year of teaching at TBS.  Previously I taught in my hometown of Medfield in a private preschool and also worked as a special Ed assistant in the public schools.  I love celebrating all the Jewish traditions and sharing my knowledge as part of our curriculum at TBS.  

Natalie Sheiffer
As a teacher, I believe that students play a part in shaping their educational experience. I focus on learning each child’s individuality and giving them the support they need to succeed. I strive to build meaningful relationships with each student so they can feel comfortable to learn, grow, and explore their interests in the classroom. I love the creativity that comes with being a member of a pre-k classroom. I have over ten years of experience working with children of all ages. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Vermont. I grew up in Needham and participated in many programs at TBS. I am excited to have an active role in the TBS community again.

Gabi Soble
It is a privilege and an honor to work in a school environment that is child-focused, warm, caring, safe, educational and geared towards the individual development of each child. I continue to be inspired by teachers’ focus on the students while we create a creativity-inspired learning environment. I love teaching in a Jewish school. Shabbat is a favorite time each week, enabling me to share my own love of Shabbat and Judaism with my students. 

​River St Denis
I have taught infants through five year-olds for the past three years. In that setting, I  created a warm and nurturing environment. I also served as a nanny for children ages 2-13 where I regularly lead outings and activities, integrating arts and nature-based play. I am a BM Candidate in Bass Performance  at the Berklee College of Music in Boston.

Skyndy Suffrin
I fell 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. 

Lindsay Tolland
Before coming to TBS I taught children ranging from age three months to kindergarten at  Chestnut Children’s Center in Needham. I love to do messy sensory and art activities with children and believe children learn best through these types of hands on experiences. ​