The Director of the Shir Hadash Early Childhood Center. She has over 25 years experience in Early Childhood education and over 15 years as a preschool director. Robin believes that a welcoming, cooperative environment between a child's home and school creates strong roots into the early childhood program and the community.
Robin has worked as a preschool director at Bet Yeladim in Columbia, MD, Temple Emanuel in Baltimore, MD and Congregation Beth Or in Maple Glen, PA. She has a B.S. degree in Education from Mansfield University in PA.
Robin has 2 adult children - a son who lives in Philadelphia, PA and a daughter in Culver City, CA. A life long resident of the East Coast, she is looking forward to her new adventures in California and a chance to see her daughter a little more often.
Veronica Cruz
I am Veronica Cruz, lead teacher of the Grasshoper class. I was born and raised in Quito, Ecuador, where I studied math and physics before moving to the united states. After moving here, I got married and became a full time mother of four children. While participating in my children's preschool lives, I discovered a hidden passion for early childhood education. I simultaneously returned to school to earn my certificate in early childhood education from West Valley college in 2006 and worked in the field to gain practical experience.
Throughout the years, I have enhanced my education via workshops, training and conferences, including membership in groups like the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the North America Reggio Emilia Alliance, the Association for Childhood Education International and the Child Development Policy Institute.I continue to search for new ways to both expand my knowledge base as a teacher and implement those techniques in the children's daily lives/curriculum.
I believe that education is a fundamental factor in an individual's prosperity and happiness and that early childhood education can impact a child his or her life long. I also recognize the vital role teachers play in the betterment of our society and culture and I am proud to be a part of our children's education. My mission as a preschool teacher is to provide a purposeful, warm and caring environment that nurtures the social, physical, emotional, aesthetic and cognitive development of each child. I strive to provide opportunities for meaningful play based on an individual child's needs, interests and abilities that will build important foundations for their future academic pursuits.
Martina Keim
I am a teacher in the Grasshoppers class. I came to the United States with my family in the spring of 2000 from Germany.
I embarked on my career in early childhood education two years later, working at the South Bay Deutscher Schulverien as a Preschool Teacher. I soon realized I was passionate about Early Childhood Education and I started classes at West Valley College, earning my credential in 2005. While studying to become a licensed preschool teacher, I continued to work at the preschool and also gave private German lessons to children. I taught at the German International School in Mountain View for three years, working with students ages two through five. I also served a year-long stint as the Administrative Director there. I most recently worked as a preschool teacher at Grace Preschool in Los Gatos in their Pre-K program, with children ages four through six.
I love to work with children. I am thrilled to be at Shir Hadash and excited by the school's Reggio-inspired philosophy.
Kim Mayo
I am the lead teacher of the Rollie Pollie two year old class.
I
was born in Montreal, Canada, where I lived until the age of twelve and then moved to Los Angeles, California.I
moved to the Bay area in 2000 and now live in San Jose with my husband and two amazing children.
I returned to school in 2009 to work towards a
degree in early childhood education. I have a passion for teaching children and being
a positive part of their education and development. The best part about teaching at Shir Hadash is to watch
the children grow and thrive in a nurturing environment where they experience
learning in a hands on, developmental way.
Christine Papka
Lead teacher of the Monarch Class. She grew up in Los Gatos where she spent her childhood involved in 4-H, Arabian horse showing and learning the flute, which she continued playing through college, and being an avid fan of the outdoors.
Christine received her degree in Early Childhood Education from De Anza College. She taught young children for five years in Los Gatos before devoting herself to raising her daughters with her husband in Walnut Creek.
Moving back to Los Gatos, Christine returned to teaching. She is excited to be a part of the Shir Hadash team and to engage in the innovative Reggio inspired curriculum. Her favorite thing about teaching young children is enjoying watching the daily discoveries that the children make and expressing them.
