Melissa
Director
Melissa was a Director/Owner of a Preschool Facility in Garden Grove for 8 years. She earned her Multiple Subject Teaching Credential at California State University Dominguez Hills and Bachelor of Arts in IDS. Ms. Melissa has many years of experience in the classroom with students in Early Childhood Education. She loves to interact with young children and their inquisitive minds and wishes to continue to work with other educators to provide a great and safe learning environment for the young scholars. She is an educator with the passion to provide the best quality enrichment education to students of all ages. She believes every child has the potential to achieve great academic success when provided with the right learning tools and a strong supportive system.
Brittany
Education Department Administration Assistant
Brittany attended college in Scottsdale, Arizona with a focus in Interior Design. She then spent 25 years running and managing restaurants in Scottsdale, Arizona as well as throughout Orange County, California. In 2019, she moved to Aliso Viejo and her children began attending TBE's ECC. In early 2020 she decided to make a huge life change in order to enjoy motherhood more and follow a longtime wish to work with and make a difference in the lives of children. She spent time in the classroom in the ECC while continuing her education in Early Childhood Development. In the Fall of 2022 she took on the role of Education Department Administrative Assistant.
She is still continuing her education in Childhood Development as well as enjoying all aspects of being able to work with both the children and families within Temple Beth El’s Preschool and Religious School programs.
Gabi
Lead Teacher
My name is Gabi Love and I have been at Temple Beth El for 12 years. Originally from San Diego, I now live in Mission Viejo with my husband Ed, my 21 year old son Vincent, and my 2 dogs and 2 cats. I also have a 19 year old daughter attending college in Texas. My time at Temple Beth El began with me working as an aide for a special needs child, something very near and dear to my heart. For the next couple of years I worked with a few other children in all age groups of our school. I enjoyed working with children so much I decided to go back to school for my early childhood units. I worked with our 3/4 year olds for a few years but have now consistently been with our 2/3 year olds for the last 5 years.
While I love working with all of the children I especially love getting to be their first teacher and sharing their very first school experience. Seeing their smiling faces every day and watching them grow through the year truly warms my heart.
Michal
Teacher and Hebrew Through Movement Teacher
I am Miss Michal; I teach the 2-3 years old and the Hebrew Through Movement enrichment class. I also teach Religious School, tutor B’nai Mitzvah, and am the Hebrew school coordinator.I was born and raised in Israel and relocated with my husband to the US in 2000. I have three children 20, 17, and 12.I have a BA in Social work from Haifa University and an MA in counseling from Cal State Fullerton. During my studies and my career, I specialized in working with children and families.Working with kids has always been my passion. I worked as a preschool teacher in Chabad of Irvine and have been working here at the ECC since 2020. I love being around the kids as they learn, grow, and develop. It is very rewarding.
Golden
Lead Teacher
My name is Golden and I have been enjoying my time here in the ECC program at TBESOC so far. I am 20 years old and I currently am attending California State University, Long Beach. I am a double major in Child Development Family Studies and Family Life Education. I should be finishing my education in the spring of 2024 and am hoping to go into teaching full-time afterward. Something that I enjoy most about this profession is being able to see the smile on the children’s faces, it really is the most rewarding feeling ever. I am looking forward to getting to know and working with you all!
Amanda-Lynn
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Amanda-lynn has been in child care for over a decade. Incorporating environmental and emotional education is a core value that Ms. Amanda-lynn brings to the classroom, helping our little humans to start understanding themselves and this beautiful world we live in.
In her free time, Ms. Amanda-lynn likes to spend time outdoors, going on walks with her dogs, she loves to go to concerts, swim in the ocean, dance, sing and create art.
Beth
Lead Teacher
Ms. Beth is a mother of two adult and lovely daughters. She has a Bachelor of Science from San Diego State University. Beth has taught at Temple Beth El for over 20 years in both the Early Childhood Center and the Temple Beth El Religious School. She loves watching her preschool kiddos grow and become Madrichim and graduates each and every year.
Sabrina
Teacher
Ms. Sabrina has been at the ECC since 2019. She obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from the University of California, Irvine in 1996. She then received her Master’s Degree in Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, Los Angeles in 1998 and then her Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology in 2000. After completing her doctorate, she spent 5 years as a Developmental Specialist/Psychologist for an in-home early intervention program where she worked with children (ages of birth to five years) and their families. She has experience facilitating parent education groups and mommy and me groups. While she took time off from work to raise her own children, when they got older she wanted to go back to work with children. This led Ms. Sabrina to TBESOC where she has been since 2019. On her free time Ms. Sabrina loves spending time with her 3 dogs, 2 kids, and husband. She loves playing pickleball on the weekends, baking, as well as doing anything fitness related (yoga, pilates, hiking).
Lana
Lead Teacher
Ms. Lana has a M.S. in Early Childhood Development and Child Psychology. She has over 30 years of experience working in different early childhood education centers. She has been teaching for 13 years at Temple Beth El Early Childhood Center. During her career she worked as a teacher, curriculum specialist and a parent/child program coordinator. Ms. Lana lives in Mission Viejo. She is married and have 4 children. Two of the oldest children already have their own families and two of her youngest daughters are in college.
Samantha
Teacher
Ms. Samantha is a mother to 4: Matthew (working in Boston), Sarah (student at University of Washington) and Luke and Hannah (sophomores at Aliso Niguel High School) and a wife to a Judge. Ms. Samantha has a Bachelors degree from the University of Colorado and a Juris Doctorate from the University of San Diego School of Law. Prior to teaching she was a criminal
defense attorney for 16 years mostly working with addicts in a court drug program. Ms. Samantha loves helping people and is especially glad to have found a 2nd profession as a preschool teacher Ms. Samantha enjoys listening to children and watching them master new skills. Ms. Samantha has been teaching for 6 years.
Lelsley
Art Specialist and Sub
Hi, my name is Ms. Lesley, and I have been with Temple Beth El ECC Preschool for a while now, since 2019. Before that, I worked at the JCC Preschool in Irvine and was a stay-at-home Mom for my wonderful twin daughters. I am a lifelong learner and currently taking an Early Childhood Education class at Saddleback College, and I will have completed 19 ECE Units. My favorite part about teaching is being able to see my students happy! I love to see them learning through what comes naturally to them, play, creativity, and exploration.
I love spending time with my beautiful not so little Twin daughters, who are also Preschool alumni! I like to travel and visit Art Galleries and Museums. I also really enjoy drawing, painting, and embroidery. I believe that my own creative experiences add to the richness of the educational experiences of my students.
Wed, March 29 2023
7 Nisan 5783
TBESOC is dually affiliated
