The most defining decision I ever made as a parent was choosing Jewish education for my kids. Our toddlers sang joyful songs about Shabbat and introduced me to rich children’s literature that addressed life’s biggest questions. I was privileged to overhear poignant interactions between them guided by Jewish values.
In my experience, education powers conversation, connection, and meaning. It teaches us to make informed choices that reflect our values and shapes the way we move through the world. At ElevatEd, we know that educators are the heart of the school and the center around which the very nature and future of society revolve. We elevate early childhood Jewish educators to nurture the infinite potential of the Jewish community.
ElevatEd is expanding the reach of early childhood Jewish education (ECJE) programs, which play a pivotal role in the lives of children and their families. Strategic recruitment and training of new teachers will begin to address the critical shortage of early childhood Jewish educators. Through thoughtful mentorship, experienced educators will improve their practice and grow as professionals while supporting the development of emerging educators. ElevatEd is working to cultivate satisfying careers and encourage educators to remain in their schools for the long term by creating cohorts that support individuals on their professional journeys.
In addition to excellence in ECJE, ElevatEd actively seeks to develop strong relationships between families and Jewish organizations beyond school walls. Early childhood Jewish education empowers families to find community and can serve as a foundation for life. Through our efforts, families with young children can make informed choices that reflect their values within a Jewish community that supports them every step of the way.
We look forward to collaborating with you and learning from you as we begin this holy work together.
L’shalom,
Orna Siegel
Executive Director, ElevatEd
They work directly with schools, directors, educators, and Jewish communal organizations to support the work of early childhood Jewish educators and build connections to the larger community. These professionals have experience in early childhood teaching and leadership, ensuring that collaboration is woven into the local early childhood network at every level: teachers, mentors, and directors.
Andrea Stein is an early childhood Jewish education advocate and practitioner with a wealth of experience and expertise in the field. Stein holds a master’s degree in Jewish education with a specialization in early childhood education from Hebrew College and has worked as a preschool director and director of young family engagement. Her multifaceted experience has honed her insights into effective educational approaches and strategies. Through ElevatEd, Stein is excited to foster a community of educators who are driven to improve and innovate in their classrooms.
Joe is a Senior Early Childhood Associate at the JUF in Chicago. After getting a degree in Math and Secondary Education from the University of Illinois, Joe worked with Jewish teens throughout the Chicago area. Most recently he was the Program Director for Chicago's Diller Teen Fellows Cohort. Joe loves cooking, listening to music, watching baseball, and spending time with his dog, Lottie.
Lori Kowit brings over two decades of dedicated experience to the field of Early Childhood Education. With a strong foundation in educational leadership, she spent 20 years as the Director of Early Learning and Engagement at The Temple - Tifereth Israel. Lori has also served in various leadership positions, including President of the Early Childhood Educators of Reform Judaism (ECE-RJ), Bachelor's Mentor at American Jewish University (AJU), Professional Development Specialist, CDA Instructor, and Coach for Central Ohio's Resource and Referral Agency, Action for Children. Lori holds a Bachelor's degree in Early Childhood Education from the University of Cincinnati and is currently pursuing a Master’s degree at American Jewish University, underscoring her dedication to continuous learning and professional growth.
Jessica is passionate about Jewish education with close to twenty years of experience working in the field. Jessica earned her Bachelors of Arts in Psychology from the University of Michigan and her Master of Science in Elementary Education from the Bank Street College of Education. She has worked as an administrator in a variety of settings ranging from Early Childhood to High School in both public and independent schools. Jessica has dedicated her career to children, education, Judaism, building communities and developing meaningful relationships with constituents. Prior to working at the Jewish Education Center (JEC), she was the Director of Early Childhood Services at the Mandel JCC. In her current position as Director of Early Childhood Excellence, Jessica supports and strengthens the Jewish early childhood landscape in Cleveland. She works directly with the affiliated early childhood programs and with engagement initiatives for families with young children. In addition, Jessica works as an adjunct professor at American Jewish University, teaching Language and Literacy in the B.A. Early Childhood Education program.
Victoria Bisharat is the network director of pedagogy and leadership at the Efshar Project, which works to improve ECJE in the Denver/Boulder area. A passionate early childhood educator, Bisharat has been a teacher, school leader, graduate teaching assistant, and administrator, and is an advocate in the field of early childhood education. Bisharat earned her undergraduate degree at SUNY Purchase and her master’s degree in educational psychology and early childhood education at the University of Colorado Denver. She is a proud mom to a Boulder JCC alumnus and lives in Erie, Colorado, with her son.
Anna Bencuya has been involved in Jewish ECE for many years, first as a teacher and lastly as the director of Gan Mah Tov Preschool at Beth Jacob Congregation in Oakland, California. Her passion for children led her into ECE even though her college education was in sciences (Masters in chemistry). Anna believes strongly that in ECE we lay the foundation for social-emotional growth through play and through kind, loving and respectful relationships. Anna is excited to be part of ElevatEd and for the impact it will have on the children and their families enrolled in Jewish ECE programs.
Ellen Lefkowitz holds a joint master’s degree in Jewish education and Jewish nonprofit management from Hebrew Union College. Lefkowitz has worked in congregational education and early childhood Jewish education in the Bay Area for the past two decades. She most recently served as the early childhood director of Temple Sinai in Oakland. Her passion for early childhood Jewish education is based on the belief that the core mission of this work is to support children in their growth through play and to inspire families to embark on Jewish journeys. When not at work, she spends as much time outside as possible, doing yoga, bike riding, running, or hiking. Lefkowitz and her spouse live in Alameda, California, with their daughter and cat.
Sarah Williams is the director of early childhood for the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston. She was previously director of the Becker School, an early childhood center at Congregation Emanu El in Houston, as well as the creator of Literacy Enrichment and Play, a play-based approach to literacy development. She earned a bachelor’s degree in human development and family studies from Texas Tech University and a master’s degree in education from the University of Houston. Williams is a member of Mandel Teacher Educator Institute Cohort 10. She finds great fulfillment in working with and mentoring early childhood professionals and bringing a spotlight to the importance of early childhood education.
Shellie Dickstein is a recognized national leader in early childhood Jewish education and family engagement. She is currently an independent consultant and a mentor in leadership development for American Jewish University’s master’s degree program in early childhood education. For over 25 years, Dickstein was the managing director of early childhood and family engagement for The Jewish Education Project, leading the strategic agenda for over 250 early childhood centers in the New York metropolitan area. Dickstein has written and contributed to various articles, blogs, and publications on Jewish family education. She and her husband are proud parents to their three wonderful children and their spouses, and enjoy spending time with their four grandchildren.
Suri Jacknis is a Jewish educational leader. In her 25-plus years at The Jewish Education Project, she has served in a variety of roles, including director of professional learning, director of the Morasha teacher training program, manager of the Covenant grant for preparing mentor teachers, and co-director of congregational learning. More recently, she was director of educator networks, supporting hundreds of Jewish educators to share wisdom with peers. Jacknis has cofacilitated several networks for early childhood directors and led workshops at early childhood conferences. A veteran change consultant to congregations working to support the development of new models for Jewish learning, Jacknis is also an experienced mentor and workshop leader.
Yehudis Smith is the Director of Early Childhood at CAJE Miami, where she supports a network of 30 Jewish ECE programs throughout Miami-Dade. She is also an independent ECE consultant, teacher mentor, and child development specialist. Yehudis spent over 15 years in the classroom teaching all ages and stages of early childhood, and holds a Masters Degree in Special Ed. Early Childhood Education. She is currently pursuing her doctoral degree in Early Childhood Educational Leadership from AJU. Yehudis is a parenting educator and coach and is the published author of the book Rethinking Discipline. She resides in Coral Springs, FL with her husband, 4 kids, and 2 kittens.
Gina Crough is a seasoned early childhood education professional across a range of roles in the field. With a BA in Studio Art and a Master's degree in Education, Gina has built a strong foundation and understanding of child development and teaching skills. Most recently, as a Developmental Therapist, Gina worked closely with parents and caregivers, offering guidance and support to children ages 0-3 with developmental delays. Before this, Gina spent eight years in the classroom as an early childhood educator, followed by leadership positions including Director of the Carlow University Early Learning Center and Associate Director of Early Childhood at the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of Greater Pittsburgh. In these roles, she created professional development opportunities and fostered collaborative environments to support educators’ growth, development, and understanding of best practices. Outside of her professional endeavors, Gina is a dedicated foster parent and a strong advocate for children and families in foster care. Her work is driven by a deep commitment to improving the lives of young children and ensuring every family has the support they need to thrive.
Sonya works at the Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle. Before joining the Federation she spent twenty years as a teacher in Jewish day schools and congregational settings in Seattle and the San Francisco Bay area. Sonya earned her BA from the University of Washington and a masters in teacher from Hebrew Union College where she was also a Delet Fellow. Sonya has been a summer Israel Educator fellow at Pardes Institute, participant in Seattle Federation’s Courageous Leadership partnership with the Shalom Hartman Institute, and is currently a JIMENA Senior Jewish Educator fellow. Sonya’s educational passion is helping children and their families find joy and forge connections to Judaism and community. Sonya is a mom to three Jewish day school students, Ezra, Maayan, and Shai. In her rare spare time she enjoys walks around Lake Washington and yoga.
1. Born and raised in St. Louis, Laura is a graduate of UC- Santa Barbara and Fontbonne University where she received her Elementary Education Teaching Certification and Masters in Curriculum and Instruction. She taught in elementary education for nearly a decade before starting her own family. Laura has also devoted a great deal of time to Jewish Federation’s Women’s Philanthropy, most recently as a volunteer Chair, but also as a professional staff member in development.
