Diane believes “children are capable, competent and are the leaders in their learning. Learning needs to be fun and allow children to explore while using all their senses while the adult is there to ask questions for deeper learning.”

Aside from her work in the JLC, Diane is also a preschool teacher at Sinai Temple. She has been in early childhood education for over 30 years with previous experience as an Assistant Director for synagogue early childhood centers. Diane has decided that her true calling is with the children, observing, creating and assisting in their learning and is happy to be back in the classroom.

Diane is a native of Los Angeles and currently lives with her daughter Megan, who is a senior in high school and her son Evan, a junior in college in Nebraska. When she isn’t with young children, she enjoys baking and taking classes. She believes she is a lifelong learner and is often taking classes at SMC to further her knowledge. She also enjoys listening in on seminars and lectures on various topics of early childhood education.

Esther is a familiar face at Pressman Academy and has worked in different capacities for each of the school’s. Esther was raised on a small kibbutz in Northern Israel. After serving in the Israeli Air Force she moved to LA, completed a BA in Economics and later continued her education by participating in the DeLeT (Day School Teachers for a New Generation) a program of HUC-JIR Rhea Hirsch School of Education. Esther is passionate about Jewish education and her work with TBA’s children. When she is not teaching, Esther is busy with having fun and with taking care of her two beautiful daughters, Maya and Sophia.

Heather Zeiden holds an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts, from Lesley University and a BA in Studio Art, from the University of California, Irvine. Heather has held administrative positions at American Jewish University's Whizin Center for Continuing Education, USC Shoah Foundation, USC Fisher Museum of Art, and Otis College of Art & Design. She has taught book arts workshops as a literacy tool to students K-5th grade at various local libraries, New Roads School After School, Santa Monica, The New Children’s Museum, San Diego, CA, the Boston Children’s Museum, and various after school programs in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Heather was a recipient of the Bruce Geller Memorial Prize "Word Grant" 2016, and created Transforming Jewish Text Through Artists' Books in which students explored the text of the Ten Commandments and visualized them through the medium of book arts. Heather is a passionate educator, book artist and photographer in her own right and is currently refining her letterpress skills.

Molly grew up in Oak Park, California, a suburb outside of Los Angeles. She was however, born in the city of Los Angeles, and named at Temple Beth Am! Her family moved to the suburbs while she was in preschool where she spent much of her childhood. Molly grew up as an active member at Temple Etz Chaim, a conservative synagogue in Thousand Oaks. She was very involved in United Synagogue Youth (USY) while in high school and went to Ramah California. Later in life Molly worked at Ramah in Nyack as a counselor. After graduating from high school, she went on The Nativ College Leadership Program in Israel, a post-high school gap-year program in Israel through the Conservative Movement. For college, Molly attended Binghampton University in upstate New York where she majored in Human Development and minored in Education and Judaic Studies, she completed her degree and graduated in May 2015.
Molly has always loved working with children and being a camp counselor, and is especially excited to teach this year in the JCL at Temple Beth Am. Molly is starting her Masters in Social Work at UCLA this fall and hopes to eventually become a medical social worker in the hospital setting.

Aviv is a native of Israel and moved to Los Angeles from New York ten years ago. In the last 6 years he has enjoyed teaching in two religious schools in the Los Angeles area. There he was responsible for leading Hebrew programming for kids in grades 1st to 6th.

Currently, Aviv also runs his own small business, providing IT support and sales of technology. In addition to serving as a Hebrew instructor for Beverly Hills Lingual Institute.

Marcy Stieglitz aka “Morah Marcy” understands that “Inquiry” is the key to true learning and seeks to create rich environments where students can learn together. Marcy holds a Masters of Education from the American Jewish University. As a program director in the field of Early Education and Jewish Education, she participates in both local and prestigious national networks. She has experience as an educator for preschool and elementary age students. When she is not pouring all of her effort into her passion of Jewish Education, Marcy is spending quality time with her husband Paul and their three children. She enjoys biking, hiking and reading all kinds of books.

David Schnabel recently moved to Los Angeles from Tampa, Florida where he enjoyed teaching religious school and leading youth groups at Florida’s Congregation Kol Ami. Originally from New York, David currently works as a video coordinator for a sports franchise and is also pursuing a career in film music. David graduated from Vanderbilt University where he studied music and Jewish studies. He is an avid sports fan and enjoys bowling, playing trombone and walking his dog Freckles. David’s passion for teaching Jewish education is evident in his close relationship with Judaism. He has been known to create fun and welcoming environments in Jewish education by sharing his talents in music, sports, and film with his students.

Rachel Cohen grew up in a small village in Israel and started her teaching career when she was 19, teaching troops, while serving in the Israeli army. Her formal teaching education started in Tel Aviv, where she worked with children with special needs. Rachel immigrated to the United States in 2000 and continued to pursue her education in Childhood Development at West Los Angeles College. In 2007 she joined Pressman Academy ECC as a lead teacher. Pressman Academy has become a second home to Rachel and she enjoys her work very much. Rachel’s passion is teaching Ivrit (Hebrew) with dances, songs, play, and utilizing the all five senses. She loves teaching and enjoys the opportunity to learn from her students. Rachel is committed to making learning fun and meaningful for all of her students.

Lee Lahmy grew up in Israel in a multi-lingual home in the ancient Arab town of Ramla. She received her teaching credentials and certificate from Seminar Hakibutzim, the college for teaching in Tel Aviv. In 1980, Lee immigrated to Los Angeles where she received her teaching credentials in Child Development from West Los Angeles College. Her love of exploring her Jewish roots led her to American Jewish University (AJU) in Los Angeles to study the History of Eretz Israel and Am Israel (the land and people of Israel). While at AJU, she also studied Jewish Philosophy from the renowned Rabbi M. Finley. In 2008, Lee met Rabbi Leider and made a commitment to become a member of the great Beth Am Family, teaching and serving its young students in the Religious School. Lee always finds the time to hike the hills and enjoy nature. Two of her most beloved hobbies are Hebrew literature and dancing, especially Israeli Folk dancing. The biggest lesson Lee has learned and would love to pass on to her beloved students is the art of learning.

Alisa has taught for many years. Of those many years she taught at Pressman Academy Day School and JLC (or formerly known as the religious school) for nine years. Alisa is passionate about teaching and is always finding innovative ways to engage the students, raise their energy levels and increase their participation. She uses a variety of creative approaches in her teaching to plant the seeds for a love of Israel and the rich traditions of Judaism. Alisa works tirelessly and effortlessly to create a community in her classroom. She is encouraging and helps students to see all positive aspects of their learning and it is truly a loving environment.

Alisa attended university at the Seminar Liventzky, a teaching Academy in Tel Aviv, Israel. Subsequently she received a Masters of Education and Bible from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In January 2008, she received the Lainer Distinguished Educator Award, from the Bureau Of Jewish Education. Alisa is excited about working with the Kitah Bet children, this year, and every year!