Nursery School Staff + Educators

Shari Pick Taishoff joined the nursery school as Associate Director in Summer 2014 and moved into the Interim Director role in July 2022. Shari has been working in early childhood for nearly 20 years. Her career in education includes many years as a Pre-K classroom teacher in NYC Jewish nursery schools. She later transitioned into school administration, and served concurrently as the day camp director and nursery school assistant director at Jewish Community Project (JCP) in Tribeca before joining the JCC. She has also supervised a Hebrew school as well as My Grown-Up and Me classes. Shari earned her B.A. in psychology from the State University of New York at Albany and her M.A. in early childhood education from Bank Street College of Education.

Shari’s passions as a school administrator include working with teachers to build a strong community in their classroom and develop strong relationships with parents, and ensuring that learners of every type are supported in their growth. She welcomes all school families to stop by and say “hi” or check in about any school matter.

Alex Reynolds is rejoining the JCC Nursery School with over ten years of experience in education. She spent the last year as the Education Director at Kuei Luck Early Childhood Center in Long Island City. Prior to that, she spent seven years at the JCC Nursery school as a teacher and member of the school’s Leadership Team. As part of this team, she headed the school’s professional development committee, as well as launched the school’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice committee.

Alex holds a master’s degree in early childhood education with a certificate in special education from CUNY City College of New York, where she completed a thesis on gender development in the early years. In 2017, she attended the Reggio Emilia International Study Group in Reggio Emilia, Italy, to learn more about the esteemed philosophical approach to early childhood education. She has presented at educational workshops on gender in the early years, the Reggio Emilia approach, and, most recently, emergent curriculum. Before working in early childhood education, Alex taught music to students in Grades K-12 at a nonpublic school for children with special needs.

Erica holds an MBA from NYU’s Stern School of Business and a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood/Childhood Education from Bank Street’s Graduate School of Education.

Erica began her career working in Finance at a NYC hedge fund and then used her business background to found Lil Yogis NYC, a children’s yoga educational provider. Her 8 years of work teaching mindfulness in dozens of NYC schools took her back to graduate school to study education, and Erica has spent the past 4 years teaching Pre-K in various progressive settings. This is Erica’s first year in admissions. Erica is a mother of four children, three of whom are JCC nursery alumni!

Adam Metzger is our Pedagogista, working directly with classroom teachers to help develop learning experiences that compliment classroom curricular learning. He supports teachers with their documentation of student learning to help deepen their reflections on the work and their communication with the parent community. This role also provides an opportunity to get to know each of the students in our school as he supports the classroom work by leading small group activities with every class, both inside the classroom and in small groups in our Common Space.

Adam joined the Nursery School as a Floating teacher in 2009, and since then, he has taught in 4 different classrooms, including teaching 2’s, 3’s and Pre-K. In the summer, Adam serves as Director of Camp Settoga, the Marlene Meyerson JCC’s day camp in Rockland County, where he welcomes former students as both campers and staff.

Adam grew up on the Upper West Side and attended Hunter College Elementary and High Schools from age four to 18. During his senior year, Adam worked as an assistant teacher in the nursery school program at Hunter. Upon graduating, Adam attended the University of Michigan, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Hebrew and Jewish Cultural Studies.

Adam received his Master’s in the Science of Teaching in Early Childhood Special Education from Fordham University. He served a four year term as a member of the Nursery School Leadership Team.

Linda Sierra’s is the first face visitors to the nursery school see when they step off the elevator or through the stairway. As the school’s administrative receptionist since 2005, she supervises the doors at the nursery school and knows nearly every parent, caregiver, and child. In her position, she supports the administrative staff and teachers at the school and has a multitude of responsibilities, including scheduling all nursery room activities and serving as the center of communication for the school. She always knows the right person to speak to for any given question or issue. Her daughter, Jaslynn, attended the nursery school for pre-K in 2008-2009. Linda loves the JCC community and can’t imagine herself anywhere else.

Amy Rosenfeld-Kass is the librarian at the JCC Nursery School. This is her 14th year working at the Nursery School. She derives a lot of joy in helping children and teachers to find books. Amy received her master’s degree from Bank Street College of Education. In her spare time, Amy likes to do art and write. She wrote a book, Daniel and Max Play Together, which came out in December of 2022. Amy lives with her husband in Manhattan. They like to travel, go out for dinner, see family, go to movies and theatre, and read!

Rita Gray LMSW has a lifetime of experience working with families and children. For the past 15 years, Rita has supported children with developmental delays in home environments and in school settings. She has worked in Early Intervention, Preschool Special Education, as a private SEIT and play therapist, and as a parent and school developmental consultant. She knows that all children develop in unique ways and works to ensure that each child thrives.

Rita holds a BS from Hunter College in Psychology, and a MSW from the Hunter School of Social Work. In addition, she did post graduate training at the Jewish Board of Family and Children’s Services (JBFCS) in which she facilitated peer playgroups for preschoolers at the Jewish Community Project (JCP). She is a California transplant who has happily resided on the upper west side for the past 34 years. Her creative interests include writing children’s books and haiku, and she has a deep passion for children’s books in general. If you come to her with a topic, don’t be surprised if you hear, “There’s a book for that!”

Ben Romano is the new Musician in Residence at the Nursery School and will be tending to the musical experience throughout each of the departments of the Marlene Meyerson JCC. He lives in Brooklyn with his wife, Rabbi Bailey Romano, and his cat, Motzi Lechem. He believes that music has the ability to connect us through our differences and bring more peace and harmony into the world. Before moving back home to New York, he taught in Synagogues and Schools in Cincinnati, OH, and Washington, DC. He has written and produced three albums of Jewish music (under his given name “Ben Pagliaro”) and is currently working on his second Children’s Book entitled “The Rhinos Next Door.” He can’t wait to invite you to sing, strum and sway your way through the year ahead!

Alex Sasso (she/her) is excited to be returning to the Nursery School for her 4th year as a teacher, this time in Classroom 7. During the summer she works as the Site and Programs Director for the Day Camp. Alex received her undergraduate degree in Performing Arts and Arts Management at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and received her Early Childhood Education License in the state of Massachusetts. She is completing her master’s in Integrated Teaching Through the Arts at Lesley University this Fall. Alex’s combined passion for children and the arts led her to the Reggio-inspired philosophies at the JCC, where she has enjoyed working collaboratively with her coworkers and students to learn and explore. She believes strongly in valuing process over product and is inspired by how children see and challenge the world around them with creativity and empathy.

Ali Foley is an Associate Teacher in Classroom 5 and is excited for her first year at the Nursery School! In May 2023, she graduated from Barnard College with a degree in sociology. She found her passion in working with children through her many years of nannying, volunteering in a preschool, and working as a counselor at Camp Wingate Kirkland. She is looking forward to being a part of the JCC community and for the school year ahead.

Clara is so excited to be joining Classroom 6 as an Associate Teacher! Clara grew up in Manhattan but moved to Colombia for high school. This is Clara’s first year at the nursery school but she has been with the JCC for 5 years, spending her summers working at Camp Settoga. Most recently, she was a Unit Head for the 6’s. Clara graduated from New York University, where she majored in Psychology and minored in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Studies. In her free time, she enjoys spending time in the outdoors, doing crafts, and social service! Clara is looking forward to an amazing year in Classroom 6!

Emely was born and raised in Queens, NY. She joined our school last year and spent a big part of the year covering maternity leaves as our Teacher Floater. She is thrilled to return and continue to add to our community. Before coming to the Nursery School, Emely worked with children in a bilingual preschool from ages 1-5. Emely loves crafting, listening to music, and being in nature, all of which she plans to implement into class explorations.

Gabriella grew up in New York City, was part of the first graduating class at the JCC Nursery School, and is thrilled to be an Associate Teacher in Classroom 7! Gabriella graduated magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis in 2020, with degrees in Psychology and Women, Gender, & Sexuality Studies.

Gabriella brings the belief that children are intrinsically resilient, resourceful, and equipped with the internal tools and wisdom needed to thrive. She strongly believes in an empowering, affirming, and joyful approach to teaching that allows each child to bring their full self.

Since graduating, Gabriella has worked as a Case Aid in a Trauma Systems Therapy program, providing therapeutic support to children and families, and most recently as an Assistant Teacher in Early Childhood at the Manny Cantor Center. She spent this past summer at the JCC as the 4s unit head in the Day Camp.

Gabriella is excited to explore this year with Lisa and Adiel in Classroom 7!

Gloria Endicott is new to the Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School and is grateful to be part of the JCC community. Her work as a Pre-K associate teacher in Classroom 5 centers around creating a positive space for students, parents, and her co-teachers. She has worked with children for the past five years, from giving violin lessons to leading poetry workshops, and she is very excited to continue her teaching journey. She believes in fostering a warm and safe learning environment for all students so they can embrace their inherent creative spirit. She has a B.A. in English (where her focus is creative writing) and an M.A. in English (literature). Gloria loves reading and sharing the joy of language as an art.

Gracie is looking forward to her first year here at the JCC in Classroom 8 as an associate teacher. Gracie is originally from South Carolina and recently graduated from Rutgers University with a BFA in acting. She is excited to incorporate the sense of play and creativity she learned there into the classroom. She has spent many years working with young children through camp and volunteer work and had the opportunity to be a counselor at the JCC Day Camp this year. She looks forward to expanding her knowledge of early childhood development and having fun with the children along the way. She would also like to thank everyone at the JCC for such a warm welcome as she starts this new journey here!

Hannah began her time at the JCC in the Turning 2s program and has been teaching in progressive schools for approximately ten years. Her experience has also included working with trauma-affected and low-income preschoolers through a non-profit organization in Vermont, teaching Pre-K at Reggio Emilia-inspired preschools in Maine and Seattle, serving as a Program Lead in school administration, and teaching in the Kindergarten classroom of a Waldorf school. She feels incredibly privileged to bear witness to young children’s growth and discoveries, and endeavors to do all things with joy and warmth. Hannah holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Sarah Lawrence College and an MFA Degree from the University of California, Riverside. Outside of school, Hannah is an illustrator, an amateur singer, and an international grocery store aficionado.

Hannah is delighted to join Classroom 1 for her first year at JCC! As a native New Yorker and alumna of the JCC Nursery School, she is thrilled to return to the very place that played such a significant role in her early years.

Hannah graduated from the University of Texas at Austin in 2022 with a degree in Applied Learning and Development and a specialization in Health and Community Wellness. In her first year after graduation, she worked at the National Basketball Association, serving as a Social Responsibility Program Coordinator. Although her work at the NBA was fulfilling, her passion for working with children drew her back to the world of education. This fall, she will attend Bank Street College in their Early Childhood General/Special Education Dual Program. She is looking forward to graduate school and working alongside Jennifer and Peggy!

Isabelle started working at the nursery school in 2020 and is thrilled to be a head teacher in Classroom 3 this year! Isabelle is currently pursuing her master’s in Early Childhood General and Special Education from Hunter College and graduated cum laude from Barnard College, where she earned her degree in Psychology and French. At Barnard, Isabelle worked as a student teacher in the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, where she discovered her passion for working with young children. Isabelle has worked in many other programs at the JCC, including Camp Settoga, Turning 2s, and Day Camp. Isabelle strongly believes that each child should have the individual and tailored support that they need to learn and grow. She is excited to continue bringing her passion for education and work with children to the nursery school community.

Jacque has worked in education for 20 years, spanning preschool to fifth grade. Her years have been spent advocating and assisting neurodivergent and twice-exceptional students to become engaged and excited about learning. She is passionate about the Reggio Emilia approach, project-based and place-based learning. Jacque is inspired by children’s wonderings and observations, using these insights to involve students in their learning.

Jacque lives in Manhattan with her husband, two teenage sons, and two scruffy rescue terriers. She loves cooking, researching genealogy, and enjoying NYC’s dance, theatre, and restaurants.

Janiris De Jesus was born and raised in Washington Heights. She attended SUNY New Paltz, where she majored in Black studies and minored in Spanish. Janiris has held various roles since she first started working at the JCC in 2014. Janiris has been an after-school counselor, a head counselor at Pearl River and has taught 2s Together and My Little Clubhouse. Janiris currently attends Fordham University where she is getting her Masters in Early Childhood Education and Early Childhood Special Education.

Jenn is excited to be joining the JCC as an associate teacher in Classroom 6! She grew up in Roslyn, Long Island before moving to Brooklyn. Through working as a nanny on the Upper East Side she found a passion for teaching children and pursued a career in early childhood education. Prior to this role, Jenn worked as an associate teacher at a nursery school on Long Island for four years. Jenn is eager to contribute to the school’s vibrant community, and can’t wait to begin!

Jennifer was born and raised on the Upper East Side. She is a head teacher in Classroom 1. Prior to joining the nursery school in 2016, Jennifer had teaching experience as an undergraduate, working with preschoolers, kindergarteners, and second graders, as well as students with special needs. While pursuing her passion for teaching, she also worked with Head Start programs throughout the city, supporting the social growth and development of children in these settings. Jennifer graduated from New York University with a B.A. in Early Childhood General and Special Education. She was also part of the Maimonides Leaders Fellowship at NYU, which focused on the relevance of Jewish wisdom and philosophy to contemporary issues. In 2020, Jennifer graduated from Bank Street College of Education with a dual Master’s Degree in Early Childhood General and Special Education.

Lauren is excited to begin her first year at the Nursery School as an Associate Teacher in Classroom 8! Lauren grew up in Manhattan going to Jewish Day school. In college, she studied Anthropology and Business at Brandeis University. Upon graduation, she worked at an organization called Dorot, supporting senior citizens in Manhattan. She obtained a Master’s degree in Business Management.

Lauren found deep meaning and joy from her experience in substitute teaching. Seeing students’ curiosity and growth left an impact on her and led her to her current work in early childhood education. She is looking forward to the year ahead!

Lisa loves being part of the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan community and is excited to be a part of the team at the Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School. After starting her career in the world of communications, Lisa realized her passion was working with children. Growing up, she spent several summers working at a JCC day camp as a counselor, swim teacher, and lifeguard. Since switching careers, Lisa has spent eight years teaching in NYC preschools as an assistant and head teacher in both Pre-K and kindergarten classrooms. She believes there is nothing like seeing the world all over again through the eyes of a child who is just discovering it. She loves immersing her classes in the Reggio Emilia philosophy that the JCC Nursery School practices, and has an appreciation for not only what can be taught, but also from what can be learned from the children and her surrounding peers.

Lizzy joined The Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School as a head teacher in 2017, and has worked in both Extended Day 3’s and Pre-K classrooms. Prior to joining the nursery school, Lizzy taught preschoolers with special needs for 10 years. Lizzy attended New York University and received a B.A. in psychology. After assistant teaching for three years, she completed her master’s degree in early childhood general and special education at Bank Street College of Education. Lizzy was born and raised on the Upper West Side, where she currently resides with her husband and daughter.

Lizzy is a member of the nursery school’s Leadership Team, and helped to found and lead the school’s Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Anti-Racism (IDEA) committee, as well as the Special Rights committee. Lizzy is passionate about teaching, and strives to provide engaging and exploratory learning experiences that elicit creative thinking and a love of learning in every child. She is dedicated to anti-bias and anti-racist work in the classroom, and strives to create a caring community that recognizes and supports each child’s individual learning needs. Lizzy is incredibly excited for the upcoming school year, and looks forward to partnering with all of the families in Classroom 4.

Maayan is excited to join JCC’s Classroom 7 this year! She is currently pursuing a degree in Musical Theater with the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and brings over a decade of experience working with children. Her previous roles include being an associate teacher at a children’s art studio and serving as a paraprofessional at an elementary school in the Boston area. Additionally, Maayan has extensive experience working in child care centers in both Israel and Massachusetts.

Maayan is known for her positive energy and the vibrant enthusiasm she brings to the classroom every day. In the classroom, she combines her bubbly, caring nature and her love for the arts with her appreciation of the Reggio approach to education. Maayan prioritizes building strong connections with each child she meets. She cannot wait to get to know and work with the students of Classroom 7!

Noa is thrilled to join the JCC community this year as an associate teacher in Classroom 2! Noa graduated from Binghamton University, majoring in Psychology and Judaic Studies and minoring in Education. She is coming to New York from being an associate teacher at Congregation Agudath Israel in New Jersey. Noa spends her summers working at Camp Ramah in Canada, where she was most recently the Summer Program Director. She is starting her master’s degree in Early Childhood Education at Bank Street and is excited to share her passions for Jewish education, puzzles, reading, and food with Classroom 2!

Payton is so excited to be starting her very first year at the JCC Nursery School in Classroom 3! Payton recently graduated cum laude from the University of Oregon with a BA in Planning, Public Policy, and Management and a minor in Spanish. While at UO, she began as an Education Intern at the Jordans Schnitzer Museum of Art where she hosted workshops, did post-tour activities with classes, and designed sensory kits for students on the autism spectrum to enjoy the museum in a safe and comfortable way. Furthering her experience in education, she tutored Spanish and English reading, writing, and math at a local after-school program. She is very passionate about accessible education and ensuring that every student is comfortable learning and being curious.

Peggy Limongi-Ventigan, an associate teacher, has been at the JCC nursery school since 2003. Peggy has also taught Mommy and Me classes and mini-camp at the JCC. Peggy’s expertise in supporting children to explore and explain opens up their growth and development in her classroom. Peggy was born and raised in NYC, and majored in psychology and sociology at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. She has served as a foundational member of our teaching staff and embodies the values that we seek to create as a community.

Samantha is so excited to spend her 5th year at the JCC in Classroom 4 with Lizzy and Lisa! Before coming to the JCC, she worked as a 2’s teacher at Eisman Day Nursery, was a founding teacher at Tribeca KinderCare and spent 5 years working at the West Side Y’s nursery school. Since joining the Nursery School in 2018 as a Floater, Samantha has since worked in both 3s and Pre-K classrooms as an Associate Teacher.

She is a current member of the school’s leadership team and is passionate about anti-bias and anti-racist work in early childhood education, championing for ways to continue to implement these teachings into our daily practice with purpose. Outside of school, Samantha is an active contributor of AMA’s Arc which is an educational resource collaboration with schools in rural Ghana. Through service projects, we have created a philanthropic partnership with these institutions and are excited for what’s to come. Samantha was born, raised, and currently resides on the Upper East Side with her husband and 3 children. She loves city life and all it has to offer for families of young children!

Sarah Newfield is an associate teacher in the nursery school. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a bachelor of arts degree in communications and a minor in public leadership. She developed a love for working with children in her roles as a staff member at Camp Iroquois Springs. Sarah truly loves being a part of the JCC community, and is looking forward to the upcoming school year!

Scharisse Sierra has been working with young children and their families for 15 years. She earned a Child Development Associate Certification in Infant and Toddler Care from Bank Street and is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education through CUNY. Her ultimate goal is to earn a Master’s Degree in Speech and Language Pathology with a Bilingual Extension. Scharisse is also a traditional/holistic birth and postpartum doula, completing a year-long doula mentorship with Manhattan Birth. She finds supporting families as they navigate becoming new parents all the way through a child’s preschool years as the most rewarding work that she can do. Scharisse has been in NYC for 22 years, but grew up in southern California, with English and Spanish spoken in her home. She and her partner have a three-year-old son and live in upper Manhattan. Scharisse’s hobbies include collecting LPs, cooking, reading, and going to art shows.

Shani joined the JCC nursery school community in September 2019 as an associate teacher in Classroom 1. Born and raised in Israel, she graduated from Shenkar–College of Engineering and Design, in Ramat- Gan, with a degree in industrial engineering and management. After earning her degree, she moved to New York City and worked at the Consulate General of Israel. Shani lives on the Upper West Side with her 16 year-old daughter and 13 year-old son. She earned her master’s degree in social work at Fordham University in Summer 2018 and has experience in early intervention programs.

Shani has a deep love for and involvement in the Jewish community and is excited to be a part of The Saul and Carole Zabar Nursery School at the Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan.

This is Talia’s second year at the JCC and she is thrilled to be an associate teacher in Classroom 7! Talia is from Long Island, New York, and recently graduated from Barnard College, where she earned her degree in Psychology and Educational Studies. Talia fell further in love with developmental psychology and the exploration of early childhood education during her time at Barnard’s Center for Toddler Development. Over the last few years, she has enjoyed working for educational non-profit organizations such as Sesame Workshop and found her passion for music, Jewish education, and teaching children during her tenure as the music director of Pizmon, Columbia University’s Jewish acapella group. She thanks everyone for her warm welcome into the JCC community!