We have a team of outstanding classroom teachers for all of our classes. As early childhood professionals, each one of our teachers has a love of children and expertise in child development. They work with each child to provide experiences and opportunities that foster curiosity and exploration and develop the child’s unique talents. We recognize that a highly-qualified and well-trained staff are among the primary factors which contribute to an excellent and high-quality educational program. Ongoing training is a requirement of our Massachusetts licensing agency, and is central to our program. Our goal is to exceed the minimum number of professional development hours per year.
Director of Early Childhood Education and Young Family Engagement
Aileen enthusiastically joined the Gan Aliyah team in 2020. Aileen has worked in the field of early childhood for over 20 years. She has taught infants through Kindergarten aged children. Aileen was the director of a synagogue preschool program in the Chicago area prior to relocating to Boston. She holds a Master of Science degree in Elementary Education and a second Master of Science degree in Early Childhood Education, with an emphasis on Leadership and Advocacy. Aileen has 3 children (Bess, Skye, and Henry) and lives in Newton.
Preschool Teacher
Andrea’s journey in the early education world began as an assistant teacher, where she discovered her passion for making a difference in the lives of children through early learning. Although initially pursuing psychology in college, Andrea’s passion for teaching led her to shift her focus towards early education. She is now committed to furthering her education in this field to better serve her students. While she has worked with all age groups, Andrea finds particular joy in working with preschoolers and toddlers. She enjoys singing and spending time with her family during her free time.
Toddler Teacher
Brianna grew up in a large family with many younger cousins, which fostered her love of caring for children. Helping her mother in their home childcare first exposed her to the world of joy that is early childhood education. Brianna brings several years of experience as as well as vibrant and nurturing approach to the classroom. She believes in blending creative expression and outdoor exploration with Jewish values, creating a rich environment where every child feels cherished and loved. In her free time, Brianna loves spending time with family, being in nature, and learning new skills for cooking and crafting.
Toddler Teacher
Dezeray is proud to join such a wonderful community. She brings 8 years of experience working with children from infancy through age 5. She has a true passion for working with the youngest learners and says working with them is one of the most fulfilling aspects of her life. She enjoys spending time with family, painting, traveling and going to the gym. Dezeray looks forward to working with families at Gan Aliyah as partners in each child’s growth and development!
Preschool Teacher
Stella is an enthusiastic and experienced teacher who engages the children in both English and Hebrew. It is her passion to observe children incorporating the knowledge she has given to them in their play and hear them formulate their own interpretations. Stella is truly passionate about Israel and enjoys making it come to life in her work. Stella arrived here in 1999 from Israel, where she completed a four-year program at David Yelin Educational College in Jerusalem, earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Since then she has worked in Jewish early childhood education, including preschool and Day School settings here as she did in Israel. Stella also teaches at Temple Emanuel on Sundays, with children ages 5-6. She lives in Sharon with her husband Alex, and their two boys Nathaniel, and Ben.
Toddler Teacher
Makayla has had a lot of experience with children from birth to 5. She is the oldest of 4 in a family of six. Being an older role model and interacting constantly with her younger siblings have enhanced her desire to nurture and protect. She gravitated towards early childhood because of how fragile little minds can be; she wants to impact their life and help them grow. Makayla’s experience includes work in a preschool for 7 years. During that time, she attended both Massasoit Community College and Bridgewater State University to pursue a BA in sociology with underlying classes in ASL, child development, and communication sciences and disorders. She worked in Early Intervention in the greater Plymouth area for a few years and spent a year working with autistic children. She finds working with kids to be rewarding in so many ways! All her experience has aided in her ability to individualize based on each child’s needs and better help them to succeed.
Lead Teacher, PreK
Opal loves leading our PreK team at Gan Aliyah. She comes to us with experience teaching preschool to kindergarten age children. Opal holds a Lead Teacher Preschool certification from our licensing agency, along with an initial license in PreK-2 from the Massachusetts Department of Education. Opal grew up in Brockton and graduated from Brockton High School. She continued to obtain her Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education from Lesley University. After graduating, Opal went on to teach at a local Jewish Preschool. During that time period, she continued her academic path by enrolling in the Special Education Master’s degree program at Bridgewater State College. Opal believes in fostering a kind, nurturing and independent environment. “Being able to witness and help foster a child’s natural curiosity and willingness to learn is a gift.” Opal is married and has two children. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading and cooking.
Toddler Teacher
Miriam brings many years of experience as a teacher to her work at Gan Aliyah. She also spent 3 years working with Early Intervention working with children with special needs and their families. Miriam has a passion for finding the joy in everyday moments and shares her positivity with everyone. Miriam is originally from Guatemala, where she received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of San Carlos of Guatemala. She lives in Sharon with her son.