Temple
Beth Or
Preschool
Teacher
Biographies
Teachers
Alana Ellis, lead teacher of the Dolphins (four-year-olds) and Extended Enrichment teacher, has taught at TBOP for seven years. She brought with her the Letterland program from England that both the Dolphins and the Tigers (the other four-year-old class) love! Ms. Alana has an AAS degree in Early Childhood Education, the Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development and 30 years of experience working with young children. She worked previously in the UK with special needs children. In the classroom, Ms. Alana is known for her silly British sayings, fun dance parties and hugs when the kids arrive each day.
Andrea Shapiro is the assistant teacher in the Dolphins four-year-old classroom. Andrea has been at TBOP since 2008, and she has been a camp counselor, after-school counselor and assistant teacher for Temple Beth Or Religious School on Sundays. She has an AAS degree in Early Childhood, the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential, a Certificate in Early Childhood: Infant/Toddler Care, an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development and will graduate in May 2010 with a Bachelor Degree in Human Development and Family Studies with a concentration in Birth - Kindergarten. Ms. Andrea also interned at Sterling Montessori Academy, First Environments and Bright Horizons preschools. She is well-loved for her constant smile, her interest in helping the children learn to grow and develop, and a willingness to try anything that sounds fun.
Jackie Berger is the assistant teacher for both the Bumblebees and Busy Bees two-year-old classes. Ms. Jackie has a Bachelor of Science in Management Science from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and has been an assistant teacher at Temple Beth Or Preschool since August 2005. All three of Jackie’s children attended preschool TBO Preschool and Jackie was a board member and preschool board president. She and Ms. Kathy have taught two, three and four year old children together and are a super team!
Anne Sheflin has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing and has substituted at TBOP for many years. She is currently the assistant teacher in the Bear Cubs and Lion Cubs classes (two-day one-year-olds). Ms. Anne is even more familiar than many with the preschool, as all three of her children attended preschool here. In the classroom, Ms. Anne is a loving and calm presence, ensuring the children feel safe and secure as they first venture into the classroom environment.
Cristina Arkin is the lead teacher in two of Temple Beth Or Preschool’s classes: the Bear Cubs and Lion Cubs (one-year-olds). She has been at Temple Beth Or Preschool since 2008, and she is also the teacher liaison on the TBOP Board. Ms. Cristina has a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. She was also an assistant director at a preschool in Tallahassee, Florida, before moving to Raleigh with her family. Ms. Cristina is affectionate with all the children and brings a wealth of great ideas and energy to the classes she teaches.
Goldene Eisenberg is the preschool’s permanent substitute teacher, having helped in this capacity at the school since 2003. She assists each Tuesday in the Extended Enrichment Program. Her children also attended the preschool several years ago. Ms. Goldene has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, a Human Resource Management degree, the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. The children feel very comfortable when their own teacher is unable to be at school because Ms. Goldene is a steady presence at the preschool each day.
Lauren Bobbitt is the lead teacher in two different morning classes: in the Monkeys (two-day two-year-olds) and in the Elephants (three-day three-year-olds). She is also the lead teacher for the Extended Enrichment Program on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Ms. Lauren plans the learning experiences for Creative Construction activities on Mondays, Exploration Station on Wednesdays and Mitzvah Makers on Fridays. Lauren has a Bachelor of Science degree in Child Development and Family Studies from UNC Greensboro, which is equivalent to a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Education. She is certified as an Early Educator by the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. Ms. Lauren began working at TBOP in 2006 and, in total, has taught preschool-age children for 12 years. She is a creative teacher much loved by parents and children alike for her soothing style in the classroom and ability to identify each child’s strengths.
Mandy Mauro is the lead teacher in the Butterfly Bunch classroom (five-day three-year-olds). Ms. Mandy began working at TBOP in 2004. She has a Bachelor of Science in Human Development and Family Studies, which is equivalent to a BS in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Mandy is certified as an Early Educator by the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. Ms. Mandy brings her love of nature into the curriculum, incorporating gardening and a classroom animal each year, as well as fun art projects that help the children develop their own creativity.
Mary Brandwein, is an assistant teacher in the five-day three-year-old classroom (the Butterfly Bunch) and in the afternoon Extended Enrichment Program on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Ms. Mary has been at TBOP since 2003. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education Pre-K – 6 and an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. Ms. Mary enjoys bringing music into the classroom, building on extracurricular work in her own music studio, and is known by the kids as a good bet for a welcoming lap when they want to enjoy a book.
Kathy Frankel is the lead teacher for both two-year-old classes. The Busy Bees are a two day a week class and the Bumblebees are three days a week. Ms. Kathy heads up the Boker Tov (Good Morning early program) from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. each day. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Speech Communication, the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. She was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2009 by Community Partnership. Kathy has taught at TBO Preschool since 2004. Her ability to work with all types and abilities of children is awe inspiring.
Latoya Clarke is the assistant teacher in the four-year-old Tigers classroom. Ms. Latoya joined TBOP in 2010 and she is currently attending North Carolina Central University working on a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood and Social Work. She has the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and has worked in childcare for six years. She’s been a Brownie Leader and loves working with children, reading, spending time with family and friends and learning about different cultures and people.
Tara Hannum is the assistant teacher for both the Monkeys (two-day two-year-olds) and the Elephants (three-day three-year-olds). She is the assistant teacher on Fridays for Extended Enrichment. Ms. Tara has been at TBOP since 2009 and is currently enrolled in a lateral-entry teacher licensure program at NCSU and enrolled in early childhood classes. Ms.Tara has a Bachelor of Arts in Art and a Master of Art in English. Ms. Tara’s warm, easy-going nature helps even the youngest students feel comfortably at home.
Wendy Turner, our Tigers (four-year-olds) lead teacher and Tuesday (Book Buddies) and Thursday (Let’s Get Moving) Extended Enrichment lead teacher, joined TBOP in 2009 when she and her family relocated to Raleigh. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and has completed 12 semester hours towards a master’s degree in Early Childhood Education. Ms. Wendy was the director and lead teacher at a preschool for three and four-year-old children in Bar Harbor, Maine, and she has an Early Intervention Specialist Certification from that state, where she also worked as a developmental therapist and special education teacher. Ms. Wendy’s students love the fun activities she organizes and her ability to create an entire plan stemming from a simple expression of interest by the children.
Administrative Staff
Jann Goldenthal has been the director of Temple Beth Or Preschool since 1988. She has also taught in the Temple Beth Or Religious School, and her daughter attended TBOP when Ms. Jann first became director. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in Child Development. She has the State of NC Administration Credential Level III, the North Carolina Early Childhood Credential and an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. She has taught two-, three- and four-year-old children in a child care center. Though the work of maintaining the preschool’s consistently high quality keeps her busy, Ms. Jann is always at the door in the morning to greet the children and enjoys spending time in the classrooms.
Shannon Ford, Temple Beth Or Preschool’s financial administrator, has been a part of the TBOP administrative team since 2001, and Shannon’s three children attended TBOP. She attended ECU and has the Early Childhood Credential and an Early Educator Certification from the North Carolina Institute for Early Childhood Professional Development. Shannon is a wonderful resource for the parents, ensuring the operational elements of the preschool run smoothly for everyone.
