The Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center
Ages six weeks to Pre-K. We provide play based, child-directed learning in our newly updated classrooms. We focus on infusing our values based on curriculum with Jewish lenses and traditions while fostering a lifelong love of learning! Everyone is welcome!
Staff & Facility
Our caring educators are all professionals in their field and are devoted to creating a warm and nurturing environment where staff and families work alongside one another to cultivate creativity and independence. Teachers are regularly provided with professional development to stay abreast of their field and to offer your child new and exciting opportunities to enrich their experience.
- Newly decorated classrooms
- Child and full size gymnasiums
- Large outdoor playgrounds
- Library and Teacher resource area
- Outdoor Child Size Pool
- Art Facilities
- Technology Center
Early Childhood Staff Directory
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Shelli HopkinsEarly Childhood Assistant Directorshellih@jccrockland.org · ext. 118
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Stephanie SchleiderEarly Childhood Operations Coordinatorstephaniesc@jccrockland.org · ext. 633
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Reed SilvermanEarly Childhood Administratorreeds@jccrockland.org · ext. 103
Testimonials
Our Curriculum
Full Day Early Childhood program
6 WEEKS THROUGH PRE-K
• “Whole Child” Approach
• Focuses on Healthy Lifestyles
• Child-Led
• Play-based
• Art, Music, Sports, Yoga
• Weekly “Shabbat Share”
• Centered on Jewish Values
• Strengthens Children Socially, Emotionally and Physically
About Deborah Koenig
Think of laughter
Think of children
Think of love
and you may get a glimpse of who Debbie Koenig was. Debbie’s passion and her desire to live life to its fullest are the flames that will continue to live on through the children and families who make up the Deborah Koenig Early Childhood Center.
Testimonials
Rachel Kurland
Director
Rachel is a long-time resident of Rockland. Born and raised in Pomona, her parents were founding members of Pomona Jewish Center. Rachel’s mother worked for numerous Jewish organizations throughout her career. Both her mother and father instilled in her the pride of being Jewish and the importance of Jewish values and raising a Jewish family.
She received a BA in Psychology for the University of Wisconsin, Madison, an MS in Medical Sciences from Hahnemann University and an MS in Teaching from Fordham University. She recently earned her Early Childhood Leadership Certificate from Bank Street College of Education. Rachel started working at DKECC in its inaugural year as the Preschool Teacher, and was originally going to work on a part time basis for 10 months a year. After 2 months, she realized she found her home and decided to work year round. After serving as Assistant Director of DKECC for several years, she became director in June, 2021. Rachel is also the Director of JLand, the early childhood camp for JCC Rockland Camps.
Rachel has a passion for early childhood education. She traveled to Israel on a two week JCCA Early Childhood Educator Seminar. She has a deep rooted commitment to providing high quality, early childhood care that incorporates developmentally best practices with Jewish Values, which ultimately transcend racial, ethnic and cultural boundaries, to her home here at JCC Rockland.
Rachel has a loving husband, Adam, three boys, Alex, Danny and Cooper, and a fabulous Tibetan Terrier named Waffles.
