Staff

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A community for families, a foundation for learning.

Dawn has lived in Colorado for almost 16 years and is originally from NYC.  She attended college in  Jerusalem and afterwards at Queens College in Flushing, NY where she obtained a degree in Englsih Literature and Creative Writing with an emphasis on education. She obtained her Preschool Director’s certification from Aurora Community College and has been involved with Jewish Education for over 15 years. She loves being able to reach children at a young age and help instill a passion for learning and Judaism that will hopefully last a life time. She is actively involved in the community teaching Hebrew at Temple Sinai Religious School, tutoring children in remedial Hebrew for their Bnei Mitzvahs, leading a Rosh Chodesh teen girls group, being a para chaplain through JFS, and volunteering  at community events.

In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her wonderful husband and three amazing children, reading, cooking, baking, and having people over for Shabbat.  

Hannah Weil, Administrative Assistant

Hannah grew up in New York State and made aliyah with her parents and sisters in 1963.  She lived in Israel for 24 years, raising a family and working as a bilingual secretary.  Hannah returned to the U.S. in 1987 and met her second husband that same year in Philadelphia.  Hannah, her husband and 14 year old daughter have lived in Centennial for 10 years.  Before joining our staff, Hannah was the Office Manager at another local synagogue for 4 years. Hannah enjoys meeting the families and being able to help them with all their administrative needs. Hannah has been with us since August, 2012.

INFANTS

Sarah Levy, Supervisor

 I am very happy to be teaching here at the Rodef Shalom preschool and leading our Infant Room.  I have been working with children since I was 12 and love working with all ages especially infants to 5yrs. old. I am single and the  proud aunt of two beautiful nieces, Annabel and Emma, they live in Boston with my older brother and his wife.  

I have a Bachelors in Human Development and a Masters in Education. I enjoy learning and spending time with family and my close friends and getting to a beach whenever I can travel.

Svetlana Katz: Lead Teacher

 Sharon Abraham: Assistant Teacher

 Jessica Mercier: Assistant Teacher

ALEPH 

Ally Spanbauer: Lead Teacher

T’leah Williams: Lead Teacher

Sydney Lawrence: Assistant Teacher   

BET 

 Liat Levine

 Liat Levine is excited to be the assistant in our one year old program. She is originally  from Israel and has worked as a nanny and at BMH-BJ Preschool. She will be incorporating her native language of Hebrew into the daily routines of her classroom. 

Monica Galvan

Monica is starting her second year as a Lead Teacher.  She has been working with Rodef Shalom since February 2013 and is enjoying working with the children and getting to know the families.    Monica has lived in Colorado for most of her life and always enjoyed working with children. In her spare time, Monica enjoys being outdoors, reading, playing volleyball, doing arts and crafts, and shopping.  She is looking forward to continuing working with such amazing families.  

Christina Sutton 

Christina is an assistant in our one year old program. She graduated a year ago from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design with my (BFA) Bachelors of Fine Arts. She loves surrounding myself with children and their creative imaginations. As a teacher she challenge herself to always be thinking of a new creative ways to approach lessons especially in art. 

GIMMEL

Jenny Mather: Lead Teacher

Jenny was born and raised in southern California. She has been in Colorado since 2009. Jenny has been with Rodef Shalom ECEC since the summer of 2012 first as a lead teacher in the Aleph classroom and then in the Gimmel class. She has her degree in Elementary Education from the University of Arizona. When not working with children, Jenny spends her time performing at professional theaters all around the Denver area.

Ali Weiss: Lead Teacher

I am so excited to be at Rodef Shalom this year! I graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in psychology. Before teaching, I did grief counseling for kids of all ages. What I love most about teaching is seeing how much the kids learn and grow throughout the year. 

Caity Blum: Assistant Teacher    

DALED

 Fredie Halvorsen, Teacher

Fredie has taught the Pre-k class and the three year old class. With a strong science and math background and a Master’s degree in education, Fredie is in the unique position to bring the magic of science into the school, blending it with her knowledge of the way children learn. As a long time member of Rodef Shalom, Fredie is an active participant in Rabbi’s adult education classes, weekly minyans, and is a regular Torah reader. She is also a long-time teacher in Kehillat Rodef’s Shabbat school program. 

Holly Silkoff: Lead Teacher

Elise Einhorn: Assistant Teacher  

FLOATERS

Kaity Gonzales

Cathryn Schmidt