OUR
Staff
Staff
Classroom Teachers
Professional, dedicated, and loving; these words speak volumes about the team at The Gan Preschool. Equipped with years of study and professional experience, our staff is committed to nurture and respond to each individual child. Teachers at The Gan Preschool promote the values of respect and responsibility in a positive and encouraging manner.
Director
Mimi Wilhelm
Morah Mimi has been working in Early Childhood classrooms for many years, first in New York and in Portland for the last ten years. Morah Mimi believes that childhood is a beautiful time and that children should be supported for their own their own unique gifts to emerge. Morah Mimi received her Master’s degree in education from Aspen University and did her undergrad through Empire State College in New York. Mimi has taken numerous continued education courses including conferences at Stanford University in California, Bank Street College in New York, and the Opal School in Portland, OR.
Levia Friedman
Preschool Consultant
Levia Friedman joins us after several years teaching at The Opal School in Portland. The Opal School is a leader in Reggio Emilia education in the Portland area. Levia’s expertise in Reggio inspired pedagogy and teaching practice help guide our instruction and our vision of children. Levia leads staff development workshops before and throughout our school year. Currently, Levia teaches at the Environmental School in Portland.
Specialists
Mirit Vered
Hebrew Language Teacher
Mirit Vered was born in Israel and has a background in education. Weekly she comes into each preschool classrooms and engages the children in song and conversation in Hebrew. She especially enjoys using puppetry and dance in her teaching.
Kim Schneiderman
Music Specialist
Kim Palumbis joins us once a month to lead a Kabbalat Shabbat musical concert. Kim is an exceptional musician that has put out CD’s. She has many years leading music classes for children.
Rachel Stern
Yoga Instructor
Rachel Stern began studying yoga at age 2 and received her certification in Interdisciplinary Yoga from the Nosara Yoga Institute in Costa Rica, and completed a year long teaching apprenticeship yoga at Amrita, in Portland, Oregon. Rachel believes that yoga is an inquiry into the body, encouraging students to experiment with movement and breath to unlock the inner wisdom of the body and spirit. Her classes blend clear alignment with joyous fun!