Meet The Directors

I have been teaching at Kol Ami for the past 20 years. During my time here, I have had the joy of working with children in our 2s, 3s, and Pre-K classrooms. Before joining the Kol Ami family, I taught in several other Jewish early childhood education programs.

I earned my degree from Ithaca College in New York, where I majored in Sociology with a focus on Therapeutic Intervention and minored in Art. My educational background has helped shape my approach to creating a warm, nurturing, and engaging learning environment where young children feel supported, encouraged, and excited to learn.

My husband and I have three children, two of whom currently live abroad, including one who lives in Israel. My husband is from Israel, and we enjoy traveling together to visit our children and spend time with our family.

I am originally from Israel. I began teaching at the preschool level in 2004 at Temple Solel, where I worked with Pre-K children. In 2010, I started working at Temple Kol Ami in the 2s classroom, where I have had the joy of teaching for nearly 15 years.

I love watching children grow and develop and celebrating each milestone along the way. I believe that what children learn at age two provides an important foundation for their continued growth and development. It is incredibly rewarding to be part of those early years and to help create a warm and nurturing environment where children can learn, explore, and thrive.

I was born in Chihuahua, Mexico, where I earned my degree in Mass Communications and completed additional courses in education. I taught communication classes to high school and college students in Mexico before moving to Arizona.

I have worked with preschool children for 22 years, including more than 19 years at TKA ECC and 15 years in the 2's classroom. I love watching our little ones grow, reach important milestones, and develop their own unique personalities.

I have been married to my wonderful husband, Ron, for 24 years. We have an amazing 19-year-old who graduated from TKA ECC and is now a student at ASU while also working as a teacher at TKA ECC. I’m so proud to see the love of learning continue in our family!

My name is Karina, and I have been part of the TKA family for nine years. I recently earned my Associate’s Degree in Early Childhood Education, and I am passionate about working with children and making a positive impact in their lives.

I am also a mom of two, ages 25 and 20. Outside of work, I enjoy running and spending time with my family.

I hold a BA in Art Education, a BFA in Fine Arts, and an MFA in Fine Arts. I have been an educator for more than 40 years and have always loved working with and teaching children. Throughout my career, I have taught art history at the college level, as well as art in high schools and elementary schools. For the past 12 years, I have had the joy of working in early childhood education.

I feel I can truly make a difference in the lives of young children, and I love their natural curiosity, creativity, and excitement for learning. I have also practiced and taught therapeutic art for 25 years and am a certified Holistic Nutrition Specialist and 200-hour yoga instructor. I love bringing creativity, wellness, and a love of learning together to help children grow and thrive.

I’m originally from Westport, Connecticut. I graduated from the University of Connecticut and have been an early childhood educator for 20 years. I taught at TKA ECC from 2013 to 2020 and returned in 2024.

I have two daughters, Charlotte and Georgia, who both attended TKA ECC. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, going to the beach, reading, and practicing yoga.

I am so excited to be your child’s teacher in the 1-year-old classroom at TKA ECC! I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education and my Master’s in Curriculum and Instruction from Northern Arizona University.

I’ve been working with children since I was 15, and my very first job was right here at Temple Kol Ami (Gan Yeladeem at the time). Over the past 32 years, I have taught in both preschool and elementary settings, including 15 years in kindergarten and first grade. Early childhood education is truly my passion, and 1-year-olds are my absolute favorite age!

I’m also a fourth-generation Arizona native, and Scottsdale is my home. On a personal note, I have 17-year-old twin daughters. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, swimming, exercising, and spending time at the beach and in the mountains.

I’m thrilled to be back at Temple Kol Ami and look forward to getting to know each of your amazing families. I can’t wait for a wonderful year of learning, growing, and making special memories together!

I have been part of the Temple Kol Ami family since January 2018. I attended Yavapai College in Prescott, Arizona, where I earned my Early Childhood Education certificate. Over the years, I have worked with children of all ages, from infants through the 1s, 2s, and 3s classrooms.

I have been caring for children since I was 11 years old and worked as a part-time nanny for four years during high school. The most rewarding part of working with children is building meaningful relationships with them and giving them so much love and care. The children I work with truly become part of my family, and those relationships stay with me forever.

I have been working at TKA ECC for two years. I enjoy working with young children and helping them through their daily routines, learning activities, arts and crafts, and outdoor play.

Outside of work, I enjoy art, baking cakes, and spending time with my family. I’m a positive and hardworking person, and I love creating a fun and caring environment for the children.

I’m an assistant teacher at TKA ECC. I have been working with our littlest learners in the infant room for the past two years. I’m passionate about my work and my babies, and I always bring a positive attitude to the classroom.

I take great pride in providing commitment, care, and plenty of TLC to all the children in our school. I love building meaningful relationships with both children and their parents, and I look forward to many more years of being part of the TKA community!

I’m so excited for my first year at TKA ECC! I have been a preschool teacher for eight years, with experience working with children ranging in age from older infants through Pre-K. I also have several years of experience nannying.

Outside of the classroom, I am a performer in local theater productions throughout the Valley, as well as a musician. I love both theater and music and enjoy incorporating them into daily life and learning. You may often find me acting out stories, putting on a little performance, or bringing out my guitar to make learning fun and engaging. I’m excited to bring my creativity, energy, and love of the arts to TKA ECC this year!

I’m an Arizona native and have lived here my entire life. I’ve been married for 31 years and have two grown daughters. I love animals, all things Disney, and college football! We have a house divided between ASU and USC, but I have to say—Go Devils!

I attended ASU and Maricopa Community Colleges, where I studied Early Childhood Education. I’ve worked in education for more than 20 years, with my main focus being preschool and Pre-K. It is definitely my happy place!

I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to our happy place in Room 5!

I am so happy to be part of the Temple Kol Ami family! I have been teaching at TKA ECC since January 2026 and hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Throughout my 25-year career, I have had the opportunity to teach children from infants through Pre-K and second grade.

Working with young children is truly my passion. I love watching them grow, learn, and discover the world around them each day. Outside of the classroom, I am the proud mama of three amazing adult children, and I feel grateful to spend my days doing what I love!

I’ve been working in early childhood education since 2022 and joined TKA ECC in 2026. I have experience caring for children ranging from five weeks to seven years old, both in the classroom and as a caregiver.

I’m currently working toward my degree in Early Childhood Education because I have a deep passion for working with young children. I love creating warm, engaging environments where children can learn, play, and grow. I believe in encouraging each child’s creativity and curiosity while helping them explore their interests and develop strong social and emotional skills.

I moved to Arizona from Texas two years ago, but I’m originally from New Jersey. I have experience teaching third grade, fourth grade, PE, and kindergarten. I also spent one year at Pardes as an instructional assistant, and last year I taught third- and fourth-grade history as well as AP Psychology. I’m very excited and enthusiastic about working in early childhood this school year! Outside of school, I teach fitness classes at the J, as well as Zumba and Latin dancing at other local studios. While I greatly miss New Jersey pizza, I’m very happy to be away from those Northeast winters—even if it means enduring the Arizona sun!