Whole School, Specialist & Sub Teachers
Whole School Teachers
Patrick Cahn
Whole School Teacher Before arriving at TBS I spent six years at Harvard Yard Child Care Center where I taught older infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. At TBS I have taught a wide range of ages in the Children's Center and Mayim, from two year olds through fifth grade. You will often find me on the floor building alongside the children, or facilitating an art project. My degree in Anthropology has also proved useful in my teaching practice. I am a storyteller, and use adaptations of folktales in the classroom. I also encourage students to tell their own stories, and to reconstruct stories from books that we have read. |
Erica Cohen
Whole School Teacher I have over 20 years of teaching experience in various educational settings. This includes working for the Newton Public School system in the special education department. I obtained my Master's degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. I also have a Bachelors degree in Education and Sociology. Coming from a long line of teachers, I always knew I'd work with children. I love to see the progress a child makes over the course of the school year. I enjoy utilizing a child's strengths to inspire them to learn more. I feel it is important to focus on meeting each child's individual needs at their level to allow the student to reach their full potential. I value my Jewish heritage and I feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful community at TBS. |
Jo D'Angelo
Whole School Teacher My experience as a nanny for many local families has given me insight into the experiences and growth of young children and their families. I have a BA in Theater Arts from University of Minnesota and have worked as an actor and artistic director of many local productions. At Temple Beth Shalom I have taught many ages as a substitute teacher and continue to bring my arts background into the classroom for our young learners. |
Mizgin Hamza
Whole School Teacher I first came to TBS through my son, enrolling him in preschool and kindergarten after we moved to Needham. Watching his development and learning inspired me to learn more about child development and early education and I joined the team as assistant teacher in the ones classroom. I grew up in Syria, where I was an assistant elementary school teacher teaching third and fourth graders and owned and operated a hair salon. I also earned an Associates degree in Banking at the Institute for Commercial Banking in Aleppo. I am fluent in Arabic, Kurdish, and Turkish. |
Cara Karelitz
Whole School Teacher As an experienced educator and parent of two, I believe that meaningful learning happens at the intersection of inquiry, joy, and personal connection. In my role at TBSCC, my goal is to support the fantastic work of my colleagues and ensure that all children feel safe and have a sense of belonging in this community. Prior to joining the TBSCC team, I worked as a high school English teacher at Boston Latin School for eight years. I have a BA in English from Union College and an Masters of Teaching from Simmons College. My own children–now elementary schoolers–had wonderful experiences and made wonderful connections at TBSCC, and I’m thrilled to be joining this group of educators. |
Revital Pagliuso
Whole School Teacher Before arriving at TBS, I taught at the JCCs of Greater Boston for 13 years. I strive to provide a nurturing environment for toddler and preschool-age children and their families across all of the classes I encounter. I love exposing children to the warmth and joy of Jewish celebrations, leading Shabbat celebrations and teaching Hebrew songs and words. I am bilingual in English and Hebrew and enjoy sharing my love of language with young children. |
Renee Rull
Whole School Teacher 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. |
Ashleigh Sedaghatpour
Whole School Teacher I am a holistic educator who specializes in teaching children in a patient and intentional way. I take pride in my ability to bring culture into her classroom through cooking, music and story telling. A Massachusetts native, I studied at the University of Miami (FL), obtaining her Bachelors in Cognitive Behavioral Psychology with a focus in adolescence and the Philosophy of Education. I began my career working as a Behavioral Therapist, before leading roles as an inclusion specialist and teacher in public school settings, Montessori and Waldorf based schools. I remain a passionate and dedicated constructivist early childhood educator with a transparent and goal-oriented approach, committed to transformative education. I love the TBS community and cannot wait to meet you and get to know your family! |
Allison Shapiro
Whole School Teacher As a teacher, I strive to provide a warm classroom environment where my students feel safe and respected. My goal is to foster the growth and development of our children that will result in a lifelong love of learning. My own children attended the TBS Children’s Center and made strong connections to Jewish values and traditions. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. I led Newman Elementary School PTC Curriculum Enhancement Committee, worked at Rivers summer camp, and was actively involved in Needham Girl Scouts, all experiences that enable me to provide fun opportunities for creativity and discovery. |
Natalie Sheiffer
Whole School Teacher |
Lindsay Tolland
Whole School Teacher 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. |
Alessandra Varon
Whole School Teacher I earned my BFA in Film, Television, and Media Arts along with a minor in Theater Studies from Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. I also hold a TEFL Certification, which enabled me to teach English as a second language to students in China aged 4-12. In addition to teaching at TBS, I also teach as a drum tech for the Quincy-North Quincy Marching Band and in the afterschool program CinemaKidz in the Boston area where I lead classes that teach the basic tenets of filmmaking, animation, and hands-on media arts to students in grades 1-6. As an educator my goal is to facilitate an environment based on empathy, mutual respect, and creativity where children are free to explore and develop their interests and capabilities as they form habits and gain knowledge that they will carry throughout their lives. I aim to provide a space where children are comfortable being uncomfortable as they navigate the new waters of the world. |
Nicole Zemel
Whole School Teacher I have been a part of the TBS community for the past decade beginning when my three children attended the Children's Center. I joined the TBS team professionally, first as a substitute and then as pre-k teacher. I love getting to know the uniqueness of each child. As a teacher, I listen to children and believe that children are best served by adults who honor and protect time for them to learn, reflect, and grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually. |
Geet Kaur
Whole School Teacher |
Specialists
Cantor DJ Fortine
Music Teacher I received a BA in Music and Judaic Studies from the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music where my primary focus was on music theory, performance, and music education. I am a guitar player and pianist and was formerly the Head Song Leader at the Union for Reform Judaism's Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA. |
Emily Perlman
Shabbat Music Leader I bring a passion for Jewish music, over 20 years of summer camp and song leading experience, a degree in early childhood education from Tufts University, and certification in music education. My other roles at TBS include B. Mitzvah tutor, Cantorial soloist, and Israeli Dance instructor. Best of all, I am married to Rabbi Jay Perlman! You can watch me in action and sing along with our TBSCC Shabbat Celebration playlist on YouTube. |
Bri Phelan
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) Coach Before CLI, I worked as a third grade ELA teacher for Teach for America in the Mississippi Delta. and then as as a special education teacher and Language Based Learning Disability Program Lead at Match Community Day Charter School in Hyde Park, MA. In that role I provided reading intervention to struggling readers, consulting with general education teachers on best literacy practices in the classroom, and coaching fellow special education teachers in the subject of reading intervention. I have a Master’s Degree in Special Education, Moderate Disabilities with a focus in Literacy and I come to Temple Beth Shalom with a long standing fire in my heart for early literacy education, |
Substitute Teachers
Rachel Weinstock
Substitute Teacher I was a Certified Public Accountant for many years before following my heart into the preschool classroom! Here I find great joy in nurturing and guiding children on their path to discovering new things about themselves and their world. I especially enjoy sharing Jewish rituals, traditions and values. These values feed into the social and emotional learning that happens in preschool, which is an important part of children's foundation for learning. Prior to working at Beth Shalom, I was a Preschool Teacher at Temple Emanuel in Newton. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. |
Dara Dephore
Substitute Teacher After my three children attended the TBS Children's Center I wanted to stay involved in the community. I am a frequent substitute in the classrooms, where I love spending time with children individually and in small groups. |
