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Congregation B'nai
Israel Early Childhood Center Faculty
2's Teachers
Jackie Bakhash, 2's
Jackie has been teaching at B’nai Israel for five years. She started with her friend Debbie, and they’ve always taught the twos together. Jackie says that every age is so great and so different, and that she finds the work really rewarding. She finds the twos to be nice because you give and get love… you get to love the little ones without having them be your own. She also loves the interaction with the parents.
Jackie grew up in Fairfield, and lives in town with her family. Her husband Ed and his family are from Baghdad; he is Jewish (yes, there are Jews in Iraq). He was raised in Japan until he was 18 years old. Her daughter Jenny likes gymnastics and dance. David, her son likes art and piano. The family is trying skiing as a new sport this year.
Lynne Marks, 2's
Lynne has nurtured our two-year-olds for eight years, as well as taught Coffee and Cuddles. Before that she taught Gymboree in Fairfield and Norwalk. Lynne likes teaching the 2s because they are so cute and she just loves being with them. She looks forward to giving and getting her little hugs with the children. Her motivation to teach is her way of “giving back”. She is grateful for what her kids got when they went to nursery school, and she wants others to also experience this.
Lynne grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, and moved to Fairfield in 1992 with her husband and daughter, Maddie. She also has a son, Aaron. Lynne used to do public relations and promotions for Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. A perk of that job was that she got to go in the rings, for fun, as part of the show. (No, she didn’t walk the high-wires.)
Debbie Viens, 2's
This is Debbie’s 5th year teaching at B’nai. Debbie says that she considers teaching the 2s a big responsibility as it is the kids’ first introduction to school. She finds it important to be loving and caring, recognizing the children’s need to be cuddled and hugged. She loves doing it, describing herself as a touchy-feely person. Debbie likes working with Jackie, saying that they complement each other. As a result it is fun for the kids.
Before teaching, Debbie was a Pediatric Occupational Therapist for special education in school systems for 15 years. Residents of Fairfield, her family has belonged to the synagogue for 8 years and Debbie is on the Board of Trustees. She considers B’nai her second home, and this was a motivator for her to teach at the school. Her kids, Matthew and Jaime are also active in synagogue activities. Debbie’s lucky number is 8 and she says that every important event in her life has to do with the number 8.
Jill Ellen, 2's (and 3's)
Jill has been teaching at B’nai Israel since 1998. She has a masters in social work and previously worked at a children’s psychiatric hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
Jill teaches the 2s two days a week, and the 3s three days a week. When asked how she felt about this she said that she thoroughly enjoys going back and forth between the two age groups. Jill explained that the twos are at a different developmental level than the 3s, so she gets to wear a different hat. 2s are cute, little, fun. It is fun to see 2s grow, as they grow more than any other group. They come in as babies and they finish able to dress and undress themselves, many are even toilet trained. It is exciting that we help them get there. Regarding teaching the threes, Jill says she loves the kids’ enthusiasm, and the excitement of every day being something different.
Jill enjoys using her artistic abilities to create stamping and scrap booking projects. You may also notice her wearing an article or two of Mickey Mouse clothing. She’s been a devoted fan since childhood, and has many prints adorning the walls of her home — and an entire bathroom decorated with the round-eared fellow!
Jill lives in Trumbull with her husband and her daughters, Brittney and Carrie. And we can’t forget the family dog, Sierra.
3's Teachers
Jill Ellen, (2's and) 3's
Jill has been teaching at B’nai Israel since 1998. She has a masters in social work and previously worked at a children’s psychiatric hospital in Brooklyn, NY.
Jill teaches the 2s two days a week, and the 3s three days a week. When asked how she felt about this she said that she thoroughly enjoys going back and forth between the two age groups. Jill explained that the twos are at a different developmental level than the 3s, so she gets to wear a different hat. 2s are cute, little, fun. It is fun to see 2s grow, as they grow more than any other group. They come in as babies and they finish able to dress and undress themselves, many are even toilet trained. It is exciting that we help them get there. Regarding teaching the threes, Jill says she loves the kids’ enthusiasm, and the excitement of every day being something different.
Jill enjoys using her artistic abilities to create stamping and scrap booking projects. You may also notice her wearing an article or two of Mickey Mouse clothing. She’s been a devoted fan since childhood, and has many prints adorning the walls of her home — and an entire bathroom decorated with the round-eared fellow!
Jill lives in Trumbull with her husband and her daughters, Brittney and Carrie. And we can’t forget the family dog, Sierra.
Alexa Cohen, 3's
Alexa is also starting her third year at B’nai Israel Nursery School. Her background is in early childhood education and she has always worked in the field, most recently as the Preschool Director at the JCC. Two and three year olds are her favorite age groups to teach. She enjoys seeing how they think things through and learn to solve problems, and loves watching them develop into little people.
Alexa’s husband is in the same field and is a childcare director in Westport. She says being a mom to their son and daughter definitely helps her be a better teacher. Spending time with her family is important to Alexa, and one of her favorite activities when doing so is baking, especially with her children.
Jill Elbaum, 3's
This is Jill’s second year teaching at B’nai. After years of substitute teaching here, she has joined the staff as a Threes teacher. Before that, Jill taught an education program for elementary school children called Wonder Workshops at the Discovery Museum in Bridgeport and also conducted school group tours at the Barnum Museum.
Jill teaches because she loves kids and loves learning new things from them every day. She says she particularly enjoys this age group because the children are so social and talkative, and are still discovering things every minute.
Jill and her husband have three children. Jill enjoys a variety of pastimes that include playing tennis, hiking, and downhill skiing. She also loves to read and knit, but during college football season, you’ll find this avid University of Michigan fan making time to watch the games!
Bobbie Gross, 3's
This is Bobbie’s third year teaching at B’nai. Before joining the staff here, she was a kindergarten teacher at Laurel School for Young Children in Trumbull.
Bobbie says she feels she’s made a difference to a child when she sees that “love of learning” develop. She believes it’s important to set age appropriate challenges for children, to adjust the level of information presented and to nurture their sense of accomplishment.
Bobbie’s has two daughters and two grandchildren. Her hobbies include reading (she has worked at the Fairfield Woods library for almost 20 years) and traveling. She enjoys being with her family and friends.
Elicia Kusnitz, 3's
Elicia comes to B’nai after being the preschool director of the Jewish Home. Her background also includes an assistant directorship, teaching second grade and special education, and early childhood and elementary education. She’s also a licensed consultant in Connecticut. Elicia has always wanted to work with kids. She started with early childhood education because she gets to see such a change and such growth take place in those first few years. She especially values that the children are always changing and that each child is different.
Elicia and her husband have three daughters. Their pet cat and dog round out the family group. Elicia loves cooking, hiking and enjoying the outdoors.
4's Teachers
Suzanne Block, 4's
This is Suzanne’s third year teaching at B’nai. Prior to joining us here, she taught at Christ and Holy Trinity Nursery School in Westport, also in the fours program. Suzanne loves the excitement of being with young children. She appreciates that they are always a challenge, a surprise, and a joy; she loves seeing them grow. She says that every age is wonderful, but the fours are her favorite. They are “little people”. Suzanne has a son and a daughter, and four grandchildren. She enjoys the creative arts, such as theatre, dance and music. She is also a fan of cooking; it must run in the family because her son is a professional chef.
Mara Fudin, 4's
Mara joins the Fours teachers this year, but she’s not new to B’nai Israel or teaching. Before joining the staff at the Nursery School, Mara taught kindergarten at B’nai Israel Religious School for two years. With a background in nutrition, she was the dietary supervisor at the Princeton Medical Center, did benefits training, and worked at the Monroe Early Childhood Intervention Center. Thus, it comes as no surprise when Mara says she “always, always wanted to be a teacher.”
Mara enjoys teaching children, being with them, and helping them to discover the world around them. She also likes to figure out what appeals to each child — what puts the smile on their face — and says she really loves the joy of watching them discover new things.Mara and her husband have two children, a son and a daughter. Button the bunny is the newest family member.
When she’s not busy with her children, Mara loves being outside, playing with her kids, and enjoys music. She’s a die-hard American Idol fan, a show the whole family enjoys when it’s on. And, having grown up in central New Jersey, Bruce Springsteen and Bon Jovi are still favorites!
Liz Nigrosh, 4's
Liz has taught at B’nai Israel for eight years. Before that she was an occupational therapist, working with adults who had neurological disorders resulting from head injuries and strokes. Liz loves the developmental aspects of working with young children and their parents, and seeing how they learn and change.Liz lives with her husband, their twins, and the latest additions to the family – Harpo and Chico, their kittens.
In her free time, Liz enjoys singing and reading, especially “really good mysteries.”
Phyllis Shangold, 4's
Phyllis started teaching at B’nai 20 years ago, when the school first opened. (She and Gail Weinstein taught together.) Phyllis was trained as a teacher, and she says that she loves being with the kids. She particularly enjoys seeing the growth throughout the year, and helping get the kids ready for kindergarten.
Phyllis has raised three boys and has 3 grandchildren. Her husband breeds Tibetan Terriers, and consequently they have 12 dogs! When she is not walking all those dogs, she enjoys reading, traveling and cooking. Many may not know it, but the Shangold family has hosted foreign exchange students originating from Argentina, France and Italy.
Coffee & Cuddles
Nina Silberman, Coffee and Cuddles
Nina is one of the two Coffee and Cuddles facilitators. A practicing clinical psychologist since 1990, Nina has run other parenting groups, and in 2006, she opened her private practice. She says she’s always wanted to be a psychologist and has been interested in the human psyche and how that translates into who we are. This year she’s also leading the Infant Coffee and Cuddles group on Monday mornings.
Nina loves the fact that Coffee and Cuddles provides a place for moms to connect, where they can ask questions and get information and answers. She says being a new mom and having a young infant, even if it’s not your first, can be very isolating, and that a group such as Coffee and Cuddles provides the support through which moms can feel more confident and secure as new mothers.
Nina and her husband have four-year-old sons. Nina loves to travel, cook, and read; exercising, theatre, and music are other favorite pursuits.
Gail Weinstein, Director
Gail Weinstein’s affiliation with B'nai Israel Nursery School began with its inception in 1986. She taught the school’s first class, which had 14 three-year olds. Gail continued to teach and was also the interim director until 1995 when she became the full-time director of the Nursery School. Through Gail's efforts, the school has grown from a one-class school of 14 students to over 100 children, meeting the needs of families with babies, toddlers and nursery school age children.
Before coming to B'nai Israel, Gail taught 2nd grade and kindergarten in Fairfield, Connecticut. She also taught nursery school for many years at the Jewish Center for Community Services in Bridgeport.
Gail was born and raised in Albany, NY. She has an undergraduate and master's degree in education. Before becoming a full time director, Gail attained a 6th year (MAT) degree in early childhood/administration.
Gail and her family -- husband Peter, daughter Andrea, son-in-law Joe, and son Brad -- have been members of the Congregation for over 30 years. Her children were Bar/Bat Mitzvah and confirmed at the Temple. Her husband's family's involvement dates back to the original synagogue.
Currently, Gail is a member of NAEYC (National Association for Education of Young Children) and he local chapter Mid-Fairfield, where she has served on the board. She has taught an introductory course on early childhood education at Housatonic Community College. She is also active in the Bureau of Jewish Education Preschool Directors Network, and the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism and the National Association of Temple Educators (NATE).
