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 systems 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 from the University of Michigan and attended Lesley University where she completed 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 graduate school of education at Lesley University and is currently a faculty member of the Early Childhood Institute of Hebrew College. In 1996 Shelley was honored by the Boston Bureau of Jewish Education with a Keter Torah award in recognition of outstanding dedication and contributions to Jewish education in the Boston community. Under Shelley’s direction, the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah completed its Magen Hagan Judaic Early Childhood Accreditation in April 2008 and received a Solomon Schechter Gold Award from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism acknowledging the program as the gold award winning nursery school (in its size category) in North America in 1995 and 2009.

Administrative Assistant:

Ailsa Wu returns to the Billy Dalwin Pre-School as our administrative assistant, continuing her work in the office as well as helping out with special projects and in the classrooms as needed. Before joining us full-time in October 2008, Ailsa used her considerable skills in writing, organizational management, website and computer proficiency as a news producer at Boston.com and in freelance web development. Ailsa has a B.A. in History and Asian Studies.

Pre-School Teachers:

Kayleen Aardema returns for her fourth year as an assistant teacher with our four-year-old classes. She has several different types of experience with young children. She has worked as a toddler teacher, as a nanny for four years, and as a substitute in a kindergarten class. Kayleen has completed an Associate's degree in early education as well as her nanny certificate.

Laurie Caplan is beginning her fifth year at the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah and her fourth year as a Lead Teacher with our four-year-old classes. Throughout Laurie’s career at BDPS, she has collaborated with Rachel Schine to develop and implement a unified curriculum for the four- and five-year-olds in the Dubonim and Pilonim classes. Laurie has a B.A. and an MSW degree. In June ‘11 she completed a Masters degree in Jewish Education-Early Childhood Education at Hebrew College. Laurie enriches her coursework with 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 also served in a variety of volunteer capacities at the Rashi School where her children Matthew and Shira are enrolled.

Lucie Chag is our most senior staff member, enhancing the experience of our children for almost nineteen years. She began as an assistant teacher, co-taught for several years, and assumed the role of Lead Teacher in September ‘04. Lucie has a B.S. in education; she has completed several post-baccalaureate courses, participated in many 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 three-year-olds and the lead teacher in the T'layim room of toddlers.

Linda Dinjian is entering her fifth year as the assistant teacher in the Barvazonim room for toddlers. She is an alumni parent who volunteered and substitute taught in our program during the time that her son Daniel was enrolled at the Pre-School. 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 has included substitute teaching at our preschool as well organizing extra curricular programming and leading games for kindergarteners and older children at the Winbrook Elementary School in Belmont.

Linna Ettinger assists with our four-year-old classes. Linna has a B.S. in mathematics; she is an alumni parent who has extensive experience as a volunteer, as a substitute teacher, and as a part-time classroom teacher w/us for the past six years. She is currently enrolled in a Masters degree program at Hebrew College in Jewish Education-Early Childhood Education.

Kate Hermann returns as the Lead Teacher in the G’malim room for the ’11-’12 school year. Kate has more than twenty-one years of experience as an early childhood educator; eight years of experience as the Lead Teacher in the G’malim room, and 14+ years of experience in our program. In addition to Kate’s experience at the Billy Dalwin Pre-School, she has also served as a Co-Teacher of the Pre-Kindergarten class at the Kehillat Nursery School in Brookline and as a Lead Teacher for the after-school kindergarten program at Concord Children’s Center. Kate has a M.A. in education with a specialty in teaching English to speakers of other languages.In addition to this, Kate has completed many post-baccalaureate courses, participated in several workshops in early childhood education, and obtained EEC certification as a Preschool Lead Teacher.

Sara Miller is returning for her eighth year as the assistant teacher in the Kofefim room for three- and four-year-olds. She volunteered and substitute taught in our program during the seven years that her children Talya, Kayla, and Avi attended our preschool & she joined our staff in March ‘04. Sara has a MEd. in elementary education and a B.S. in speech pathology and audiology. In addition to Sara’s credentials, she brings a deep interest and much experience in planning outdoor recreation activities for children of all ages.

Lois Rohtstein assists in the T'layim room for toddlers. Lois is returning to our preschool staff for her eleventh year. This is her fifth year teaching with Lucie in the T’layim classroom. Before joining our staff Lois was a frequent volunteer in our classrooms while her daughter Marcy attended the Billy Dalwin Pre-School. Lois has a B.A. and an M.A. in human service management.

Raina Russo assists in the G'malim room for three- and four-year-olds. She has been an integral part of our Kaytana Summer program staff where she just completed her ninth year. Raina has enjoyed working with children of all ages in the summer program and school year program of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School. Kate and Raina have worked together for several seasons at Kaytana and now are entering their fourth year of partnership in the G’malim room as well as our Extended Day program.

Sarah Scully joined our staff seven years ago 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 a Preschool and Infant/Toddler Teacher. Sarah worked as part of the G’malim teaching team for two years before collaborating with Lucie to help us to open our first toddler class in 2006. This will be the fifth year that Sarah will serve as the Lead Teacher in the Barvazonim room.

Rachel Schine is a lead teacher with our four-year-old classes. She joined the staff of the Billy Dalwin Pre-School of Temple Emunah in September 2005. Prior to serving as the Lead Teacher in both the G’malim and Pilonim classrooms, Rachel had several years of Lead Teaching experience in Jewish early childhood classrooms in Temple-based and Jewish Community Center programs. Rachel 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.