{"id":2,"date":"2018-09-25T06:01:21","date_gmt":"2018-09-25T06:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-03-12T20:44:32","modified_gmt":"2025-03-13T00:44:32","slug":"about","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/about\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Our Approach<\/h3>\n

At TBA Preschool we strive to teach the whole child. With this in mind, we engage with each of our preschoolers, recognizing their individual learning styles throughout their educational journey. Utilizing a multi-sensory approach, we present the magic of education through stories, songs, dance, art, nature and much more to spark our children’s imaginations. Jewish holidays are celebrated with ruach<\/i>\u00a0(spirit) and the values of kindness and\u00a0tikun olam<\/i>\u00a0(healing the earth) are enthusiastically modeled. TBA Preschool is a warm inviting home where your child will learn and grow.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Meet the Team\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Amy Naphtali – Director\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Amy Naphtali has been the director of Temple Beth Ahm Preschool for the past 20 years. She holds both a BA and MA in Education from the City University of New York, Brooklyn and Staten Island. She began her teaching career at PS 97 in Brooklyn, teaching 2nd, 4th and 5th graders. Once she had children and decided to stay home, she\u00a0 became active at TBA since her children attended\u00a0 preschool there.\u00a0 She was part of the reorganizing committee in 2004 and helped turn around the existing school.\u00a0 She revamped the program, updated the equipment, revitalized the classrooms and created all of the special programs we participate in today.\u00a0 She even won a Solomon Schechter Gold Award for her Tu B\u2019Shevat program.\u00a0 Along the way she learned to play guitar and began practicing yoga, and now teaches\u00a0 both at the preschool. She also runs our Tot Shabbat program which is very popular with families with young children.<\/p>\n

Miss Amy has always known she would be an educator and has been working with children since she was practically a child herself.\u00a0 She loves the excitement, sincerity and honesty that young children radiate.\u00a0 Every morning Miss Amy opens the doors and loves watching the children run into school excited to start their day, see their friends, learn new things, and create with their own little hands.\u00a0 Although there are too many to name, two of her favorite children\u2019s books are Dr Seuss\u2019 The Sleep Book<\/span> and Shel Silverstein’s The Giving Tree<\/span>.\u00a0 Outside of TBA Preschool Miss Amy loves to travel, read, cook, and spend time with her family and friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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Jen Butkovic – Assistant Director\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Jen holds a BA in Psychology from the University of Michigan and a MS in Speech Language Pathology from Teacher\u2019s College.\u00a0 She was a practicing Speech Language Pathologist for 4 years before having children.\u00a0 Miss Jen attended TBA Nursery school as a child while living in Aberdeen.\u00a0 Many, many years later, living in Laurence Harbor with her husband and 18 month old daughter, she met Miss Amy and her 18 month old son at a music class.\u00a0 Miss Amy encouraged Miss Jen to enroll her daughter in TBA preschool.\u00a0 Soon after she attended Mommy & Me classes with her son who then also attended the preschool.\u00a0 She has been working at Beth Ahm since 2008 as a sub, teacher\u2019s assistant and director\u2019s assistant.\u00a0 She loves wearing different hats in the school while still interacting with the children every day.\u00a0 Her favorite children\u2019s books are anything by Kevin Henkes and the Fancy Nancy<\/u> series.<\/p>\n

Outside of Beth Ahm she loves to read, play games and watch movies with her family.<\/p>\n

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Nancy Romeo – Kinderprep Teacher\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Nancy was inspired to become a teacher at an early age by her own kindergarten teacher.\u00a0 She earned a BA in Education\/Communications from Monmouth University in the hopes of making this desire possible.\u00a0 Coming from a family born to do the same, Miss Nancy started her career in 1995 teaching alongside her sister at an elementary school in her hometown of Iselin, NJ.\u00a0 During her 12 year tenure there, Miss Nancy enjoyed many wonderful opportunities as a kindergarten teacher in a school environment that felt more like family.\u00a0 Her main goal as an educator is creating an atmosphere that allows children\u2019s faces to shine with wonder.\u00a0 She aspired to instill this love of learning in a hands-on environment, obtaining grants for hatching chickens, creating a mad scientist curriculum with weekly parent\/student experiment opportunities and painting the school hallways with her students.\u00a0 She enjoyed presenting at workshops focused on developing hands-on learning techniques for children as well as supervised programs geared towards incorporating parents in the classroom learning experience, allowing them to implement such learning experiences at home.<\/p>\n

Miss Nancy left her school family to raise a family of her own with her husband, a teacher as well.\u00a0 She was fortunate enough to enjoy being a stay-at-home mom and then work part time at the elementary school her son attended, making her two loves, being a mom and an educator, come together.\u00a0 Once her child moved on from his elementary school, Miss Nancy was fortunate enough to find the opportunity to teach at TBA.\u00a0 She once again feels privileged to be part of a special school that feels like family even more.\u00a0 TBA offers an environment that encourages close connections and personal interactions, allowing each child to experience a fulfilling educational opportunity like no other. Miss Nancy is thrilled to have found a place that allows her hands-on learning style of teaching to thrive.<\/p>\n

Miss\u00a0 Nancy has a children\u2019s book addiction!\u00a0 From The Monster at the End of this Book<\/u> to <\/em>Ish<\/u>, <\/em>to Interrupting Chicken <\/u>and Two Bad Ants<\/u>, there’s too many greats to choose from.\u00a0 Miss Nancy actually has hopes to one day write a children\u2019s book.\u00a0 Her other loves are gardening, being with her dogs, helping with foster pups when possible, watching her son on the baseball and soccer field with her husband and being with family and friends.<\/p>\n

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Donna Dwyer – Assistant Teacher\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Donna has been an assistant teacher at Temple Beth Ahm since 2022.\u00a0 Miss Donna was born and raised in Secaucus NJ.\u00a0 Prior to joining Temple Beth Ahm, she spent five years working at the Monmouth County SPCA where her passion for working with cats helped enrich the lives of many, many feline friends.\u00a0 She loves working with children because they always make her laugh and puts a smile on her face.\u00a0 Her favorite children\u2019s book is Corduroy<\/u>\u00a0by Don Freeman because it teaches the values of true friendship and a forever home.<\/p>\n

Outside of school, Miss Donna likes to spend time as a volunteer at the Monmouth County SPCA.\u00a0 She also enjoys watching hockey, going to live music events and spending time with her husband and her own two cats.<\/p>\n

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Kerry Mullen – Thriving Three’s Teacher<\/h3>\n

Miss Kerry holds a BA in Education from St. Joseph’s college with a two year concentration in Early Childhood Education. \u00a0Before coming to TBA in 2016, she taught a 3 year old program in Brooklyn for 6 years. \u00a0Miss Kerry takes great joy in watching the social, emotional and cognitive development of her students throughout the preschool years, it really is amazing!<\/p>\n

Brown Bear, Brown Bear what Do You See?<\/u> is one of her favorite children\u2019s books because after reading it she eventually gets to see the children \u201creading\u201d it on their own. \u00a0At home Kerry enjoys time with her family and trying out new recipes.<\/p>\n

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Pilar Seltzer – Assistant Teacher\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Pilar has been an assistant teacher for the past 22 years, working at Temple Beth Ahm since 2009.\u00a0 Before that she worked at Temple Rodeph Torah and Temple Beth Shalom. \u00a0She loves to see the children’s curiosity and enthusiasm when they come into school. \u00a0Her favorite children’s book is When You Give a Mouse a Cookie<\/span> by Laura Numeroff.<\/p>\n

Outside of school she loves to cook, ride her bike, read and spend time with her children, husband and dog.\u00a0 Once a week she volunteers at the Freehold Food Pantry.\u00a0 She is looking forward to her new job as a grandma this year!<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Alycia Shapiro – Terrific Two’s Teacher<\/h3>\n

Miss Alycia holds a BA in English with a concentration in Education from Kean University.\u00a0 She began her career teaching in both the pubic and private school systems before taking a break to raise her own two children.\u00a0 She returned to the classroom in 2014 and has been teaching two year olds ever since.\u00a0 She joined TBA in 2022 as a substitute and took over her own class in 2024.\u00a0\u00a0She loves to watch her students grow and become more independent throughout the school year.<\/p>\n

Miss Alycia\u2019s favorite children’s book is\u00a0The Hungry Caterpillar<\/u> by Eric Carle.\u00a0 When not teaching she likes to travel, read, go on walks and spend time with her family.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Jaime Mazur\u00a0 – Assistant Teacher<\/h3>\n

Miss Jaime holds an AA Degree in Social Science and Humanities.\u00a0 Before having children she worked as an Account Service Representative at a credit union.\u00a0 She moved to Manalapan in 2001 and chose to be a stay at home mom to raise her three children.\u00a0 This is her fourth year as an Assistant Teacher.\u00a0 She taught one year at another preschool\u00a0 and began teaching at TBA in 2022.\u00a0 She loves working with the two year olds and watching their personalities and interests develop.\u00a0 Her favorite children\u2019s book is\u00a0Good Night Moon<\/u> by Margaret Wise Brown.<\/p>\n

In her spare time she enjoys cooking, the gym, and spending time with her husband, children, dogs and especially her one year old Grandson.<\/p>\n

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Marian Szteinbaum – Terrific Two’s Teacher\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Marian holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and a MS in the Teaching of Reading, both from The City University of New York\/Brooklyn College.\u00a0 She began her career as an Assistant Teacher at The Berkeley Carroll Street School in Brooklyn and then became a Head Teacher for Head Start, also in Brooklyn.\u00a0 After working at Head Start for six years, she took\u00a0 some time off to raise her kids.\u00a0 When she went back to work, she started as the Mommy and Me teacher at her synagogue in Metuchen, Neve Shalom.\u00a0 For many years while her children were young, she was also the Tot Shabbat teacher at the synagogue.\u00a0 Eventually she became the teacher for the three year old class, where she remained for many years until the school closed amidst the Covid pandemic.\u00a0 Still wanting to work, she discovered TBA, where she has been happily teaching the two year old class for the last four years.\u00a0 Miss Marian loves the kids and the families at TBA!<\/p>\n

She has three children and two grandchildren.\u00a0 With her husband, she loves to travel, especially to Israel to visit their daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren.\u00a0 Miss Marian also loves to bake.\u00a0 During the pandemic, she learned how to bake challah, which she is still working to perfect!<\/p>\n

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Stacey\u00a0 Brill – Assistant Teacher\"\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

Miss Stacey was born and raised in Brooklyn where her passion working with preschoolers began. At age 25 she moved to Staten Island and became an assistant preschool teacher for 2 and 3 year olds, where she met her husband – fate bringing them together when she was his nephew\u2019s preschool teacher. She went on to work in Early Intervention as a service coordinator setting up and maintaining children\u2019s therapy programs. She was then blessed enough to become a stay at home mom. Miss Stacey moved to Aberdeen 15 years ago, discovered TBA Preschool for her 2 year old daughter and instantly fell in love with the school, program and staff. Their daughter thrived, as did their son when they joined the Mommy & Me class. She missed it so much after her kids graduated that she wanted to come back. She feels fortunate to be part of the TBA preschool. She thoroughly loves walking into the classroom and learning new things from the kids every day. Their laughter is contagious. Her favorite children\u2019s book is The Napping House<\/span> by Audrey Wood. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her family, DIYing and cooking.<\/p>\n

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\"\"<\/a>Kim Kaufman – Mommy & Me Teacher<\/h3>\n

Miss Kim holds a BA in Applied Psychology and Human Relations from Pace University and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resources from NYU.\u00a0 She was a Manager of Human Resources at Madison Square Garden for 7 years before having children.\u00a0 She has worked at TBA Preschool as an assistant sub since 2019.\u00a0 Miss Kim became the Mommy & Me teacher in October 2021.\u00a0 She loves playing, singing, and running around like a toddler.\u00a0 Miss Kim\u2019s favorite books are anything by Mo Willems and encourages reading out loud in different voices.<\/p>\n

Outside of TBA Preschool Miss Kim loves to read, spend time with her children, husband, and family.\u00a0 She is very active in the Temple Beth Ahm community as well at the Colts Neck PTO.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Our Approach At TBA Preschool we strive to teach the whole child. With this in mind, we engage with each of our preschoolers, recognizing their individual learning styles throughout their educational journey. Utilizing a multi-sensory approach, we present the magic of education through stories, songs, dance, art, nature and much more to spark our children’s […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2"}],"version-history":[{"count":77,"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":476,"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2\/revisions\/476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/tbapreschool.org\/WP\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}