Whole School, Specialist & Sub Teachers
Jo D'Angelo
Whole School Teacher My experience as a nanny for many local families has given me insight into the experiences and growth of young children and their families. I have a BA in Theater Arts from University of Minnesota and have worked as an actor and artistic director of many local productions. At Temple Beth Shalom I have taught many ages as a substitute teacher and continue to bring my arts background into the classroom for our young learners. |
Revital Pagliuso
Whole School Teacher Before arriving at TBS, I taught at the JCCs of Greater Boston for 13 years. I strive to provide a nurturing environment for toddler and preschool-age children and their families across all of the classes I encounter. I love exposing children to the warmth and joy of Jewish celebrations, leading Shabbat celebrations and teaching Hebrew songs and words. I am bilingual in English and Hebrew and enjoy sharing my love of language with young children. |
Allison Shapiro
Whole School TeacherAs a teacher, I strive to provide a warm classroom environment where my students feel safe and respected. My goal is to foster the growth and development of our children that will result in a lifelong love of learning. My own children attended the TBS Children’s Center and made strong connections to Jewish values and traditions. I graduated with a bachelor’s degree from the University of Denver. I led Newman Elementary School PTC Curriculum Enhancement Committee, worked at Rivers summer camp, and was actively involved in Needham Girl Scouts, all experiences that enable me to provide fun opportunities for creativity and discovery. |
Patrick Cahn
Whole School Teacher Before arriving at TBS I spent six years at Harvard Yard Child Care Center where I taught older infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. At TBS I have taught a wide range of ages in the Children's Center and Mayim, from two year olds through fifth grade. You will often find me on the floor building alongside the children, or facilitating an art project. My degree in Anthropology has also proved useful in my teaching practice. I am a storyteller, and use adaptations of folktales in the classroom. I also encourage students to tell their own stories, and to reconstruct stories from books that we have read. |
Bri Phelan
Children’s Literacy Initiative (CLI) Coach Before CLI, I worked as a third grade ELA teacher for Teach for America in the Mississippi Delta. and then as as a special education teacher and Language Based Learning Disability Program Lead at Match Community Day Charter School in Hyde Park, MA. In that role I provided reading intervention to struggling readers, consulting with general education teachers on best literacy practices in the classroom, and coaching fellow special education teachers in the subject of reading intervention. I have a Master’s Degree in Special Education, Moderate Disabilities with a focus in Literacy and I come to Temple Beth Shalom with a long standing fire in my heart for early literacy education, |
Renee Rull
Whole School Teacher I began teaching in early education when my own children were preschool age. Twenty years later it still brings me so much joy to learn and grow with young children, presently at TBS. I have a degree in Art Education from Boston University which enables me to nurture the creative spirit of each child. I am entering my tenth year of teaching at TBS. Previously I taught in my hometown of Medfield in a private preschool and also worked as a special Ed assistant in the public schools. I love celebrating all the Jewish traditions and sharing my knowledge as part of our curriculum at TBS. |
Cantor DJ Fortine
Music Teacher I received a BA in Music and Judaic Studies from the University of Hartford's Hartt School of Music where my primary focus was on music theory, performance, and music education. I am a guitar player and pianist and was formerly the Head Song Leader at the Union for Reform Judaism's Eisner Camp in Great Barrington, MA. |
Emily Perlman
Shabbat Music Leader I bring a passion for Jewish music, over 20 years of summer camp and song leading experience, a degree in early childhood education from Tufts University, and certification in music education. My other roles at TBS include B. Mitzvah tutor, Cantorial soloist, and Israeli Dance instructor. Best of all, I am married to Rabbi Jay Perlman! You can watch me in action and sing along with our TBSCC Shabbat Celebration playlist on YouTube. |
Marcy Shneyder
Whole School Teacher After teaching in several local preschools I have taught at TBS for many years and with all ages. As an educator my goal is to provide open ended materials to encourage investigation and discovery and I can often be found doing science experiments with my TBS students. |
Rachel Weinstock
Substitute Teacher I was a Certified Public Accountant for many years before following my heart into the preschool classroom! Here I find great joy in nurturing and guiding children on their path to discovering new things about themselves and their world. I especially enjoy sharing Jewish rituals, traditions and values. These values feed into the social and emotional learning that happens in preschool, which is an important part of children's foundation for learning. Prior to working at Beth Shalom, I was a Preschool Teacher at Temple Emanuel in Newton. I have a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Temple University in Philadelphia. |
Dara Dephore
Substitute Teacher After my three children attended the TBS Children's Center I wanted to stay involved in the community. I am a frequent substitute in the classrooms, where I love spending time with children individually and in small groups. |
Mizgin Hamza
Whole School Teacher I first came to TBS through my son, enrolling him in preschool and kindergarten after we moved to Needham. Watching his development and learning inspired me to learn more about child development and early education and I joined the team as assistant teacher in the ones classroom. I grew up in Syria, where I was an assistant elementary school teacher teaching third and fourth graders and owned and operated a hair salon. I also earned an Associates degree in Banking at the Institute for Commercial Banking in Aleppo. I am fluent in Arabic, Kurdish, and Turkish. |
Sarah Tan
Whole School Teacher I have a BA from Williams College in English literature and love to use language and art to help students express themselves. Previous to TBS I worked at Brookline After School Enrichment where I taught kindergarten through 5th grade. Before working in Brookline, I worked in Japan where I taught in schools from preschool to high school, as well as adult classes. I am grateful for the opportunity to teach at TBS. As someone who grew up in a mixed race and multifaith family, my father is Chinese and my mother is Jewish, connection to my Jewish faith has always been important. I am excited to work in a Jewish school for the first time. |