
		My name is Tami, and I’m originally from Kiriat Motzkin, Israel. In 1993 I graduated from Seminar Hakibutzim, where I gained my degree in early childhood education and I have been teaching since then. I worked in Kibbutz Usha for 3 years. I had lots and lots of fun caring for and teaching the 1-4 years olds.
	...And then came the relocation – we moved to Dallas, TX, where I worked at the JCC for 3 years. I was the leading teacher for the 2 years old (and if that didn’t keep me busy enough, I was also responsible for developing the Hebrew program for the 4 and 5 years old).
And again – we started to pack. This time it was Champaign, Illinois, where we stayed for 2 years. With no Jewish education available, I started to work in a privet most open minded preschool and had a wonderful experience of being among multicultural team-mates and children (I still remember some words in Korean...) And as usual – packing time came! This time my husband, David, and I decided that this is the very last move… We came to Rockville in August of 2003 with our 3 children: Yoav, Doron and Etai. At that time they were 9, 5 and 1 years old. Being not very excited with preschool options for Etai, I decided I can do what I have been doing for some years now, but only this time I would be my own director in my own place. I got more and more excited (and also busier and busier) until the wonderful group we have now had formed. With 8 kids (not all attend every day) it is a real preschool where we get messy (finger-paint, dough, sand, water and more). I strongly believe in letting children explore and investigate, and encourage different sensory and gross/fine motor activities. I give children all the credit I can to solve their own social conflicts with the adult present as a guide, and not as a judge. I believe that respecting and listening to children teach them to respect and listen to others. And most of all – I believe that there will be time, in the future, when the kids will attend college or a university and will have enough “desk time”. Now it’s the time for them to purchase tools for future learning. Now it is the time for them to collect positive learning-experiences to guide them through the education system in the future. This is the time for them do to what kids do best – play and learn through play. I really enjoy the little one’s company and learn a lot every day.

My name is Ilanit and I am originally from Afula, Israel. I arrived to Rockville in the summer of 2006 following my husband, who is employed at the Israeli embassy.
I love reading, I love sports (I am a physical educator and a runner) and most of all I love working with children. I worked as a physical education trainer to age-school children in Israel and I am planning to go back to the Wingate institute to pursue my degree. In the meanwhile I enjoy Gan-Gurim’s children and I love watching them grow and develop.

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