Allison Colker
Allison joined the Shaare Torah community in June of 2015. She has worked in the fields of early childhood education and Jewish education since 1992. Allison’s role at Shaare Torah is two-fold: she directs our Early Childhood Center and the ECC Summer Program; and she leads our family engagement, special events, and Shabbat and holiday experiences for families with children 5 and under. Allison’s passion as an early childhood educator is to help young children develop a love of learning and learn how to learn. Understanding the process of learning and constructing knowledge provides a foundation for the children’s future academic careers and their entire lives. Allison herself is a lifelong learner and a co-learner with the children. She believes that the most important part of early childhood education is social-emotional learning, which fosters in the children independence, self regulation, social skills, problem solving, and conflict resolution. Allison partners with parents and teachers to raise good humans who are citizens of the world. She can always tell when she encounters an adult who did not go to a good preschool (ha ha!).
Allison is excited to lay the first foundation of Jewish identity and community by instilling a joy for Shabbat and Jewish holidays, a connection to Israel, and a set of Jewish values that are truly universal human values. In addition to her work directly with the children, Allison spends much of her time mentoring teachers and coaching parents. She is committed to developing a strong early childhood educator workforce within STECC and in the broader community. Allison provides partnership, resources, and support for parents on a variety of topics, such as morning and nighttime routines, potty training, welcoming new babies, and moving to a new home.
Outside of Shaare Torah, Allison is an active participant in the Greater Washington Jewish Early Childhood Education Directors’ Council. Allison and her husband Ryan both grew up in active synagogue families, spending summers at Jewish sleepover camp, were actively involved in Jewish youth group and later in Jewish life on campus, and started teaching religious school as teenagers.
Beth Ann Katz
Beth Ann Katz joined the STECC faculty in June 2021. She has worked in the world of Jewish preschool and religious education for the better part of the past 30 years. Creative Movement, Israeli Dance, Parent & Child, Toddlers, 2s, 3s, 4s… she’s taught them all. Beth Ann was a teacher in our religious school for five years. She was the Education Office Program Coordinator for 6 years at a synagogue in Washington, DC. She has a master’s degree in education and human development. She lives in Gaithersburg with her adorable dog, Buddy, and she has two amazing grown daughters.
Morah Nicole Martin
Morah Nicole Martin joined the STECC faculty in August 2017. She teaches Pre-K at STECC. Morah Nicole has a bachelors in Early Childhood Multicultural Education, that spans birth to 3rd grade, with a focus in prekindergarten through 2nd grade and a specialization in reading instruction. In addition, she worked in a 1st and 2nd grade public school classroom which means that not only does she have experience where many of our kindergarteners have come from (prekindergarten), but she also has intimate knowledge of where they will be going in the next two years. Because of this, she can take what they currently have, and prepare them not only for the standards of 1st grade, but to make sure they have the foundations that will become necessary for second grade and beyond. Morah Nicole and her husband, Josh, have a daughter, Teddy, who is an STECC alumna and a rising 4th grader at The Banner School. Morah Nicole loves being a part of the STECC community and her favorite things are having students for multiple years and having her former students’ younger siblings!
Morah Laura Wagner
Morah Laura Wagner joined the STECC faculty in June of 2021. Morah Laura has worked as a substitute with every age group and helped to facilitate the extended day program. She obtained a BA in English Literature with minors in Gender and Women’s Studies and Judaic Studies from UMBC in 2022. Morah Laura completed 15 credits towards an MAT in Secondary English Education before deciding to pursue what she truly enjoys which is working with children. She is currently working to complete her 90-hours coursework, as well as the 45-hours course for Infant and Toddler Care. She hopes to begin a masters program for early childhood education in the near future. Morah Laura is so excited to spend more time with the children at STECC!
Morah Ally Lazerus
Morah Ally Lazerus joined the STECC faculty in June 2019. She moved down to Maryland from New Jersey after graduating from the University of Maryland with a BS degree in elementary education. She has experience with a wide variety of age groups from her previous roles at other schools, synagogues, and summer camps. While her favorite place to be is in a preschool classroom, Morah Ally also enjoyed her years working in school admissions, as well as in faculty/staff professional development and leadership training. She currently lives in the neighborhood with her husband and two children. Morah Ally is so excited that both of her children attend STECC!
Morah Sharon Goldrich
Morah Sharon Goldrich joined the STECC faculty in June 2021. Morah Sharon teaches 2s and serves as a mentor teacher. Even after working with children for over 20 years, Morah Sharon continues to be amazed by their brilliance – their ideas, questions, and thoughts are eye-opening and inspiring to look at the world in a new perspective. Morah Sharon earned a BA in Jewish Social Studies from Hunter College and an MSED in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Bank Street College of Education in New York. Since the beginning of her career in New York City (a native New Yorker), she has worked with children of all ages, as young as two years old and through high school (during a stint in Indiana), but early childhood is her passion and focus. She has worked as an instructional coach for DC Public Schools and a pedagogical coordinator in the Jewish community over the recent last few years and is now thrilled to be back in the classroom. Discovering and learning outdoors is a key component to Morah Sharon’s work with children and strongly believes in the adage, “there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing.” Morah Sharon is also a trained yoga instructor and always incorporates yoga practice into the classroom. Personally, Morah Sharon loves spending time with her husband and two teenaged children, watching movies and making them take walks as a family. She is a sucker for fantasy and will watch or read anything with dragons or magic. Recently, Morah Sharon has taken an interest in the Danish concept of Hygge which is about creating a culture mindful togetherness, comfort and coziness.
Morah Valerie Merritt
Morah Valerie Merritt joined the STECC faculty in June 2023. Morah Valerie was born in Reading, Pennsylvania. When she was 2 years old, her family moved to Silver Spring, Maryland, outside of Kemp Mill. After high school, she made aliyah. She lived in Israel for 2 years. Morah Valerie has been married for 28 years. She and her husband have a 20-year-old son who just graduated high school. Daniel was their foster son and they had the opportunity to adopt him when he was 3. Morah Valerie worked at Temple Sinai in Washington, DC for 18 years. She still teaches religious school there. She won a teaching award from The Washington Jewish week. Morah Valerie has a CDA degree in early childhood education and has continuing education courses. In her spare time, she loves to read, crochet, and play with her dog, Zeke.
Morah Rachel Shaffer
Morah Rachel Shaffer has been a sub in our school almost daily since January, 2023. She is a favorite of all of our children and teachers. Morah Rachel has worked in the field of early childhood education since 2007. She previously taught the 2s and 3s at Beth Elohim Early Childhood Center in Brooklyn, NY. Morah Rachel is so excited to officially join the STECC faculty in a permanent position.
Morah Chanel Ortiz Medina
Morah Chanel Ortiz Medina joined the STECC faculty in 2020. Morah Chanel teaches Toddlers and 2s. Previously, she was an assistant teacher at Franklin Montessori during the 2019-2020 school year, where she worked both in the toddler room and with older children. She has taken the 90-hour course in early childhood education, as well as all of the other required trainings. Morah Chanel moved to Gaithersburg three years ago from her native Dominican Republic. She received her bachelor’s degree from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo. Morah Chanel is so excited to welcome new children to our school this year!
Morah Mireya Abdol Kader
Morah Mireya Abdol Kader joined the STECC faculty in March 2021. She has a decade of experience in early childhood education. Morah Mireya has taught the 3s and Toddlers. She is so excited for her granddaughter to start school at STECC in the summer of 2023!
