Kim Subrin - Chanen Preschool Director

Kim was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania but grew up in Los Angeles’ San Fernando Valley. She spent much of her childhood involved in the Jewish Community, through her synagogue and Jewish summer camps. After completing high school, Kim moved to Illinois where she attended Illinois State University and completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Child Development and Human Relations and her Master’s degree in Human Services Counseling. After some time as a social worker, Kim realized her true passion was to work with the Jewish Community. After many summers of working at a JCC day camp and resident camp, Kim began working at the JCC in Skokie, Illinois before moving to Phoenix in 2000 to work at the Valley of the Sun JCC. Kim spent almost 10 years as the JCC at the Youth and Camping Director, creating all of their youth programs as well as starting Shemesh Day Camp and then the Program Director where she worked with JCC wide programs and all departments.

In 2009, Kim took a little break from work while she and her husband, Brian, started their family with the birth of their son Brayden. Kim started as the Director at Chanen Preschool in August of 2009. She feels so lucky to be part of such a wonderful community and have the opportunity to see the Chanen student’s smiling faces and hear their giggles up and down the hallways every day! It doesn’t hurt that she gets to share her school experience with her son either! Kim and her husband are expecting Baby boy #2 in early December.

Susan Atkins - Office Manager at Chanen Preschool

She is the face of the Front Desk and handles attendance, billing and all parent and staff questions about the preschool and more things too numerous to list. This is Susan’s second year at Congregation Beth Israel, and she loves the interaction with all the students and their families. Susan is married and has three children in college. She has worked in the Phoenix Jewish community for the past 22 years.

Naomi Secore - Lead Teacher/Pre-Kindergarten

I grew up in Davis, California and received an MA in Psychology from the University of St Andrews (Scotland) in 2004. I began my career by working with young adults with developmental disabilities before finding my calling in education. I recently obtained my Arizona State Teaching Certification, completing my student teaching in a Kindergarten classroom at Grayhawk Elementary School. I have the pleasure of entering my third year teaching Pre-K at Chanen, where I am able to combine two of my loves, education and Judaism. I live in Scottsdale with my husband, Jason, and our rambunctious Jack Russell, Corduroy.

Mara Dobrusin - Lead Teacher/ Pre-Kindergarten

I am so happy to be a part of the wonderful Chanen community. In the classroom, I love that each day is different, and the children are a constant source of amazement. Watching them learn and grow is extremely rewarding! This will be my third year teaching Pre-Kindergarten at Chanen. I have been in the education field for about 4 years. I received my undergraduate degree in Communication at Arizona State University. Soon after, I realized my desire to want to teach children and received my Master's degree in elementary education. I also enjoy spending time with my wonderful husband David, my family, and I love being Auntie Mara to Jake, Eli, Skylar, and Maya.

Lindsay Jacobson - Lead Teacher/Pre-K

I completed my elementary education degree at the University of Arizona and participated in the bilingual field methods program in Tucson. I completed my student teaching in a fourth grade classroom back in Chicago, my hometown. After working with many young children for a year after graduation I taught as a lead teacher in the 3-year-old program at North Shore School. I moved back to Arizona in 2006 and have been work as a lead teacher in Pre-K. I am currently in my 6th year as one of the Bumblebee teachers Congregation Beth Israel’s Chanen Preschool and I love what I do!

Seta Douzamanian - Assistant Teacher/3’s

I attended LA Community College and then became and intensive care and ER secretary where I worked in the same hospital for sixteen years. Shortly after moving to Arizona I started working at Chanen Preschool and have happily been teaching here for eleven years!

Carole Berkowitz - Lead Teacher/3’s

I attended Chamberlain/Mt. Ida College and Central Arizona College. I am starting my 8th year being a Lead Teacher in the 5 day, 3-year-old Class, at Chanen Preschool. Prior to that, I taught 3's at The Solel Preschool for 4 years and 3 's at Beth El Center for Early Childhood Education for 20 years. This is the beginning of 32 wonderful years of teaching 3-year-old children. Teaching children is an important part of what makes my life so special. Judaism is part of my soul and sharing what I know with the children and their families completes the cycle. Of course, we all learn from each other. My family consists of a wonderful husband, 2 sons and a daughter-in-law. A first grandchild is expected in the beginning of October.

Tsovik Kabaki - Assistant Teacher/3’s

I have been working with children for a wonderful 23 years. For my first 10 years, I taught high school students, and for the past 13 years, I have been working here at Chanen. In Armenia, after graduating high school, I attended a university for 4 years. I really enjoy working with kids. Their smiles light up my day!

Courtney Haworth - Lead Teacher/3’s

During the 2010-2011 school year I was an assistant teacher in the older two’s class. This year, I am the newest Lead Teacher in the 3-year-old Alligator class. I have my Bachelors Degree in Education, specializing in Elementary Education. I am an Arizona State Certified teacher for age’s kindergarten through eighth grade. I am so excited to be returning to Chanen Preschool with a new position. I am eager to bring my education background and new ideas into the school. I love working with the staff and families of Congregation Beth Israel and Chanen Preschool.

Dawn Wasserman - Assistant Teacher/3’s

I was born and raised in Philadelphia where I attended Temple University. My husband, Gregg, and I moved to Phoenix in 1996. We have two children, Sarah and Alex, both of whom attended Chanen preschool. From 2002 to 2006, I worked as an assistant teacher with the 1, 2, and 3 year old classes. After three years of pursuing special education for my son, I happily returned to Chanen in 2009. It has been wonderful to be back and to see my students' smiling faces every morning. I feel so fortunate to be a part of our preschoolers' formative years. Watching them learn and grow throughout the year is truly rewarding.

Marcy Lewis - Lead Teacher/2’s

I am the Lead Teacher for the Older 2's classroom. This is my 6th year teaching the 2's at Chanen. I have taught the 2's for 18 years and LOVE this age group!! It's so much fun watching them develop. I grew up and had my Bat Mitzvah at the CBI on Osborn. I love sitting in the Chapel with the old pews looking at the stained glass windows that I loved seeing as a child. I have been married for 13 years and have two sons, Justin age 10 and Noah age 7.

Lindsey Ladd - Assistant Teacher/2’s

I have over 4 years of experience working with children. I have taught P.E. for a number of years as well. I love teaching children and helping them reach their potential, even at the young age of 2! My passion is Physical Education and I enjoy teaching the children at Chanen Preschool the importance of being active and having fun while increasing their large motor skills and self-esteem through movement. Previous to relocating to Arizona, I was teaching in a Montessori preschool and living on an equestrian farm where I worked, taught riding lessons and trained in three-day eventing.

Amy Steinman-Gavartin - Assistant Teacher/2's

This is my second year as the Assistant Teacher in the Bunny Room, enjoying each day with the young 2's. I was born and raised in Birmingham, MI. After graduating from Butler University in 2007, I moved to Arizona to pursue a graduate degree in Nonprofit Studies. Since relocating from the Mid West, working with children has become my passion. I have been teaching Sunday school at a conservative synagogue in Scottsdale for five years. Besides spending time in the classroom, I love to row (I was on the Crew team in college), spend time with my two dogs: Stella and Marlo, and most recently, prepare for my upcoming nuptials. I am very excited to have a classroom full of new Bunnies this year and I very much look forward to getting to know everyone

Hannah Kessler - Assistant Teacher/2’s

This is my second year as a Bunny teacher and I am so happy to be back! I have my Bachelors of Fine Arts in Printmaking from The University of The Arts in Philadelphia, PA. I have been teaching preschool through 8th grade students in both a Jewish and artistic setting for the past 5 years. I am thrilled to be able to explore and grow with each student individually. It is an honor to work with such an amazing staff at Chanen Preschool and even more amazing kids!

Dvora Rodich - Lead Teacher/1's

I came from Israel almost 15 years ago. I have a bachelor degree in Special Education from David Yalin Teachers Collage in Jerusalem. I have 15 years teaching experience in Israel with Pre-k children to Jr. Hi, from teaching children with Physical and Emotional Disabilities, to children with autism, cerebral palsy as well as deaf children with Learning Disabilities. I have been teaching at Chanen Pre-School for the past 13 years. In all my years of teaching, the thing that bring me the most joy, is seeing the growth and learning of each individual child .To see their smile when they succeed in achieving something new, can warm my heart. Most of all, the ability to give and get so much love to each child, is so wonderful.

Erez Kessler - Assistant Teacher/1’s

This is my 3rd year here at Chanen and I love every minute of it. I am Assistant Teacher in room 8. I am also the Music Specialist. I was born in Israel and I have 2 brothers. One of them opened a preschool 3 years ago and it's very successful. When I was 16 I started working with kids in Israel. I was a Counselor at camp, a clown at birthday parties, and performed on the stage as an entertainer or as a Master Of Ceremonies. In the summer of 2003, I started my journey in the U.S. as a Music Specialist at various Jewish summer camps. In May 2008, I met my wife and fell in Love and moved to Az. We got married on Sep. 09 and we are very happy together. Chanen is a second home to me. I love coming to work and seeing the kids smiling and hearing their laughter and their voices while they are singing with me. Thank You Kim and Thank You parents for letting me work with kids that I really love it

Julie Wagner - Lead Teacher/1’s

This is my 5th Year Teaching at Chanen Preschool. I have taught in the One's, Two's and "Floated" everywhere else! My husband and I were fortunate enough to have had our daughter go through the Chanen experience, and fell in love with it so much that it brought me back to teach here! I chose to teach in a Jewish school because there is no greater joy for me than to see children learning about Judaism in such a positive environment. I have a Bachelor of Science Degree from Arizona State University.

Susan Goodman - Lead Teacher/1’s

The Arizona heat is obviously not too hot for me, as I was born, raised and still live in this great state! I left Phoenix for a year to attend school in Israel and then continued in Tucson to receive my Bachelors of Science degree from the University of Arizona - GO WILDCATS!

Growing up I always loved the Chanen Preschool Program - so much that my two children attended the program and I am proud to say graduated with honors. My daughter and son learned from each age group and still practice the Jewish traditions gained through the Chanen Preschool curriculum. I'm thrilled to be part of the outstanding staff of Chanen Preschool. I am so happy to be a lead teacher in the Toddler Room and be able to teach all these wonderful boys and girls. The smiles of children are the best! I look forward to another great school year!

Lisa Cantor - Lead Teacher/Infants

This is my third year at Chanen. I am the lead teacher in the infant room and enjoy coming to work every day. I have lived in Paradise Valley since 1976, originally from Chicago. I graduated from ASU with a B.A. in Sociology. I was a fundraiser for the Jewish United Fund and then became a realtor. I have two children Nikki, a freshman at U of A, and Jodie, a junior at Chaparral.

Margalith Moralis - Assistant Teacher/Infants

At present I work as an assistant teacher in the infant room. I am a graduate of the Henrietta Szold Hadassah School of Nursing in Jerusalem. I specialized as a surgical Nurse in the O.R for almost 30 years both in Israel and the U.S.A. For the last 10 years I was a lead teacher for 3 year olds at Temple Solel and Temple Kol-Ami. My primary responsibility was to work with children to develop and build their motor and social skills and at the same time introduce them to Jewish traditions such as holidays, prayers and songs. My goal is to participate in making school a place full of life and joy!

Amy Howard - Art Specialist Chanen Preschool/Social Media Coordinator

Born and raised in Great Neck, New York I came to Arizona in 1985 to attend ASU and never left. I graduated from ASU in 89’ with a BS in Psychology where I incorporated an emphasis in early childhood education. My very first experience with young children in a classroom was at the ASU Child Study Lab. My passion for teaching never quite went away after many years in professional event planning and when my own children (Max 17 & Emily 14) were in preschool I applied for a job as a substitute at the Valley of the Sun JCC. This fall I celebrate my 14th consecutive year as a preschool teacher. I have worked at some of the Valley’s best developmental pre-schools, which include Tesseract and Pinnacle Presbyterian, both of which are NAYEC accredited. In 2005 my career path lead me to a position teaching the one-year-olds at Chanen Preschool & I spent three years before being asked to head up the new art program as Art Specialist. This amazing position became available after CBI congregants made a very generous donation funded the installation of Austin’s Art Studio. Our art studio is an incredible, state of the art space unlike another in the valley

Gail Kehr - Floater

I grew up in the valley, my immediate family all live here, including my grown son. I have worked in the beauty industry for years. About 11 years ago I started doing volunteer work with infant-preschool age children and found a passion for it. This will be my seventh year at Chanen. I am a "floater”, helping wherever needed. I love working with all the different staff as a team, and getting to know all the children in each class. It's very rewarding to help build a positive educational foundation for the children here.

Viviana Mankita - Hebrew & Spanish Language

The eldest of four, my father immigrated from a 'shtetl' in Europe to Mexico City, where my siblings and I were born and raised. Growing up I attended a Jewish school in Mexico, where I learned Yiddish, Hebrew and English. After high school, I earned my teaching certificate and began to teach kindergarten in a Jewish day school. In 1981 my husband and I decided to move with our four children to Los Angeles, Ca., and fifteen years later we moved to the Valley of the Sun. I have been involved in Jewish education for a very long time. I am trilingual and tricultural and I love to share my knowledge and experiences with the children. I love to cook matzo ball soup and kugel for the holidays, and tacos and tostadas for 5 de Mayo. In my spare time I like to play cards, and spend time with my grandchildren.