The staff of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah is comprised of caring, creative and highly qualified teachers who have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in early childhood education or a related field. Each of our teachers brings her own special brand of warmth, enthusiasm, creativity, a profound respect for young children, and an enjoyment of teaching in a Jewish preschool setting. Our staff has worked closely with consultants from the Lexington public school and other local school sytems to adapt curriculum and provide learning experiences that accommodate a broad range of abilities, learning styles, and needs. The Pre-School actively funds professional development opportunities for the staff.

Pre-School Director:

Shelley Rossman is the founding director of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah. She received a BSEd. with a double major in elementary and special education and went on to complete an MSEd. with a concentration in early childhood education and special education. Shelley has worked with young children in secular and Jewish settings for more than thirty years. She served as an adjunct faculty member of the Early Childhood Institute of Hebrew College. In 1996 Shelley was honored by the Bureau of Jewish Education of Greater Boston with a Keter Torah award in recognition of outstanding dedication and contributions to Jewish education in the Boston community.

Pre-School Teachers:

Laurie Caplan joined the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah in 2007, assisting in the Pilonim room for four and five year olds. Laurie has a B.A. and an MSW degree. She has completed three courses at the Early Childhood Institute of Hebrew College and has one additional course needed to complete her early childhood certificate. Laurie enriches her coursework with her experience as a nursery school teacher at Temple Emanuel in Newton and as a former chair of the board of directors of the Temple Reyim Nursery School. She has served in a variety of volunteer capacities at the Rashi School where her children are enrolled.

Lucie Chag is our most senior staff member, enhancing the experience of our children for almost 15 years. She began as an assistant teacher, co-taught for several years, and assumed the role of Lead Teacher in September 2004. Lucie has a B.S. in education; she has completed several post-baccalaureate courses and participated in several workshops in early childhood education, and obtained EEC certification as a toddler teacher and preschool lead teacher. Lucie serves as the lead teacher in the Kofefim room of younger three year olds and the lead teacher in the T’layim room of toddlers.

Linda Eisenberg is an alumni parent who volunteered and substitute-taught in our program during the time that her son Daniel was enrolled in the Pre-School. As of 2007, Linda assists in the Barvazonim room for toddlers. Linda has a B.A. in sociology and human services and an MSW degree. As a social worker, Linda has worked with adults and families; her work with children include substitute-teaching at our Pre-School as well as organizing extra-curricular programming and leading activities for kindergarteners and older children at the Winbrook Elementary School in Belmont.

Linna Ettinger assists in the Pilonim room for four and five year olds and substitute-teaches in other classrooms. Linna has a B.S. in mathematics and is an alumni parent who has done extensive volunteer work and substitute teaching in our program.

Kate Hermann serves as Lead Teacher in the G’malim room for three and four year olds. Kate has more than 18 years of experience as an early childhood educator: five years as Lead Teacher in the G’malim room and over ten years of experience in our program. Kate has an M.A, in education with a specialty in teaching English to speakers of other languages. Additionally, Kate has completed several post-baccalaureate courses, participated in several workshops in early childhood education, and obtained EEC certification as a preschool lead teacher.

Sara Miller volunteered and substitute-taught in our program during the seven years that her children Talya, Kayla, and Avi attended our Pre-School abd she joined our staff in March 2004. Sara brings a wealth of experience as well as an MEd. in elementary education and a B.S. in speech pathology and audiology.

Lois Rohtstein assists in the T’layim room for toddlers. Lois is returning to our Pre-School staff for her seventh year. Before joining our staff Lois was a frequent volunteer in our classrooms while her daughter Marci attended the Pre-School. Lois has a B.A. and an M.A. in human service management.

Pat Saraiva assists in the G’malim room for three and four year olds. Pat joined our staff in March 2004 substitute-teaching in several classes and assisting in the G’malim and Pilonim rooms. Before joining our staff, Pat served in a variety of volunteer capacities for the schools that her children attended. Pat has a B.A. in history with a minor in education, as well as a number of graduate courses in library science.

Sarah Scully joined our staff in 2004 when her son Noah entered the Pilonim room. Sarah came to us with several years of preschool teaching experience at Another Place to Grow (Arlington) and The Open Center for Children (Somerville). She has a B.A. in English, an Med. in elementary education, and EEC certification as preschool and infant/toddler teacher. For the past two years Sarah has worked as part of the G’malim teaching team and one year ago co-taught our first toddler class, the T’layim room. Sarah currently serves as Lead Teacher in the Barvazonim room for toddlers.

Rachel Star began her career at the Pre-School as a substitute teacher and we were delighted when she joined our staff as the lead teacher of the G'malim room in 2005. Rachel came to us with several years of lead teaching experience in Jewish early childhood classrooms in Temple-based and Jewish Community Center programs. She has a B.A. in psychology, a post-baccalaureate certificate in early childhood education, an M.A. in school psychology, and EEC certification as a preschool lead teacher.