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Foundation Team
Alexis Vallejo, a Miami native with Puerto Rican and Honduran roots, is currently pursuing a degree in Social Work. Passionate about supporting children and nurturing their love of learning, Alexis believes in truly listening when a child speaks, looking when they point, and sharing in their laughter. Outside the classroom, Alexis enjoys creating art and exploring new ways to bring creativity into the learning process. Alexis is excited to watch learners grow and discover all the amazing things they’re capable of.
Ambar Alonso was born in Miami Beach, Florida to a Cuban mother and Dominican father. She has always had a very close relationship with her family and considers herself to be a family-oriented person. She has traveled to Asia, Europe and parts of the Caribbean. She loves children and had one of her own on February 7th 2021, a little girl by the name of Callie. She enjoys working in early childhood and has dedicated 14 years of her life doing so. Ambar has a Child Development Associate (CDA)
Diana M. Gonzalez, is a native from Bucaramanga, Colombia. She graduated from the University of Bucaramanga with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has 20 years’ experience in school settings and loves working with children! She moved with her husband to Miami, Florida in 2016, enjoys traveling, listening to music and the beach.
She is very happy to have joined The Innovative School.
Diana was born in Peru and moved to Miami when she was 14. She joined our teaching staff in 2006 when her nephew and niece were Foundation School students. Diana enjoys being part of children’s experiences and has dedicated much support and creativity to the Foundation School and summer camp programs. She has earned the Child Development Associate Credential.
Feliza D’Abreu is originally from the Philippines. She holds a degree in elementary education and an associate degree in early childhood education. In addition, Feliza has earned the Child Development Associate Credential. She’s been a pre-school teacher since 2001. Feliza is married and has a son.
Fernanda was born in Cusco, Peru. She arrived in the United States two years ago. After graduating HighSchool she studied Psychology at the University of Andina del Cusco. She is now enrolled in Miami Dade College taking preliminary courses for a degree in Nutrition. She is also very interested in expanding her knowledge of therapy with children.
I’m Kaia and I’m so excited to be teaching Pre-K this year! Before joining the Pre-K team, I taught elementary, and I’m excited to bring my experience and love of learning to the classroom. I graduated from Wake Forest University and have always loved working with children and helping them grow and discover the world around them.
Outside of school, I love to read and write, travel, and stay active. Running is a big passion of mine, and I ran my first marathon last year. I also love exploring new places and spending time with family and friends. I’m looking forward to a wonderful year filled with learning, laughter, and lots of fun.
Kim is a Miami native, growing up in South Miami. She received her undergraduate degree in religion with a minor in women’s studies from the University of Georgia. She moved back to Miami to study law and received a juris doctorate degree from St. Thomas University. Kim has three daughters, who all attended the Foundation School. It was at this time, with her time spent in her daughters’ classrooms, that Kim found her passion for connecting with and teaching children.
Manuela was born and raised in Paris, France, with a rich Spanish heritage. After earning her master's degree in business and law from La Sorbonne, she moved to Miami in 2016 to pursue her American dream.
Her lifelong passion for the arts began as a dancer and performer, where she had the privilege of working with children and teenagers across Paris, Cuba, and Brazil, teaching dance, movement, music, and theatre.
Twenty years after becoming a mother for the first time, she welcomed her daughter and felt a renewed commitment to embracing the challenges and opportunities of this new generation.
As an artist-educator, Manuela began her journey in early childhood education within a Reggio Emilia environment, where she learned to nurture creativity, wonder, and self-expression. She is deeply passionate about the many languages through which children share their ideas and dreams and believes that art is a powerful path to connection, inclusion, and growth.
"I am grateful to be part of the Innovative School family, where I can contribute to a community that offers children and their families’ endless opportunities to learn, create, and thrive".
Mayra Isla Abanto, M.Ed., has been a dedicated member of the Innovative School of Temple Beth Sholom since 2015. With more than a decade of experience in early childhood education, she is passionate about creating nurturing, inquiry-based learning environments where children feel valued, inspired, and empowered to explore the world around them.
Mayra earned her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction with a concentration in Early Childhood Leadership and holds a bachelor's degree in Psychology from Florida International University, graduating with honors. Her teaching is deeply influenced by the Reggio Emilia philosophy, and she believes that children learn best through meaningful relationships, play, curiosity, and hands-on experiences.
As a bilingual educator fluent in English and Spanish, Mayra values building strong partnerships with families and fostering an inclusive classroom community where every child can thrive. She is committed to lifelong learning, mentoring fellow educators, and inspiring children to become confident, compassionate, and joyful learners.
Nancy Pasternak is an educator from Argentina with an associate degree in early childhood education and the Child Development Associate Credential. She relocated to Miami in 2000. Nancy became a teacher because of her love of working with children. She joined the Foundation Level staff in 2007. Nancy is married and has a daughter, who spent three years in the Foundation Level before graduating from pre-K.
Patricia Tobon was born in Colombia and moved to the United States more than 25 years ago. She has a bachelor's degree in Communications and Journalism, a certification in Special Ed Tech, and is a certified yoga instructor for adults and children. Patricia is a mother of two young women, ages 23 and 20 who started their school years at TBS. She has more than 15 years of experience working with children as a school teacher at the Innovative School and Portland (ME), and as a yoga teacher. She is passionate about learning, reading, and outdoor sports like kayaking, scuba diving, and biking.
Rachel Adams grew up in the northeast and has been a resident of Miami Beach since 1999. She and her husband have two boys who spent their early years at TBS. Rachel joined the TBSIS family in 2009 as a teacher at The Foundation Level, working with ages 2 through Pre-K, and currently is with the Older-Two year olds. She studied Computer Science and Information Technology on a University level and went back to school for her degree in Education, specializing in Early Childhood Education. She has earned the Child Development Associate Credential, and loves working with children. She enjoys contributing to the next generations of learners and hopes to make a positive difference for our community through collaboration and commitment to being a life-long learner.
Rachel Ebener grew up in Miami and graduated from Florida International University with a degree in marketing. She has been teaching gymnastics since 2002 and working in schools since 2007.
Sakia was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and moved to Venezuela when she was seven years old and to Miami in 1996. She is married to a Miami native and has two children attending college. Her husband and two children are both Innovative School graduates. Even though her background is in Business and Tourism she found a love for Early Childhood Education and has been at the Innovative School on and off since her children graduated. Her mother has a non-for-profit organization for spiritual teaching and meditation established in six different countries. This background facilitates her connection with the children and her approach to handling most situations with an underlying feeling of harmony.
Tennille Maisner was raised on Miami Beach and attended North Beach Elementary, Nautilus Middle School, and Miami Beach Senior High. After graduating high school, she studied for her Bachelor of Arts in music education at Miami Dade College and FIU South. Tennille has completed her Child Development Associate Credential here at Temple Beth Sholom and has been a part of all the youth programs and musical theater productions under the direction of Cantor Haas.
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Annelisse Curra, was born in Cuba, and upon her arrival to the United States she lived in Miami Beach. She enjoys working with children and studied Contemporary Dance in the National School of Art in Cuba. A few years back she left Miami to reside in Spain, Europe. As a result of the Covid pandemic she had to return to Miami Beach and happily reconnected with the Innovative School community. She has a 16 year old son and is very happy to share her experiences in this wonderful school.
Bibiana C. Canuyan was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina. She has a degree in Electromechanical Engineering and studied Early Childhood Education at Miami Dade College. She moved to Miami Beach in 2000. She is the proud mother of three children. She is happy to become part of the Temple Beth Sholom’s community.
Francia Jerez was born in Venezuela and has been living in the United States of America since 2016. She is married and mother of two girls, Francia V Martinez and Valeria Martinez. She is currently an assistant teacher at TBSIS and during the afternoons works with children with special needs. She enjoys family time, bike riding and listening to music.
Gulver Altinisik was born in Turkey. She is married and has two sons and one grandson. She has been working at Temple Beth Sholom since 1996. She loves interacting with children and is happy to be part of the Temple Beth Sholom family. Gulver has earned the National Development Credential.
Karina was born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba. She holds a degree in Science of Education and worked as an Elementary school teacher for 6 years in Cuba. She moved to the United States 6 years ago and has worked in the Early Childhood setting for three years. She lives with her husband and two children. She loves to spend time at the beach and visiting animals at the farms in Homestead, FL.
Loudes was born in Valencia, Venezuela. She comes from a family of educators and that motivated her to start working and prepare herself academically. She graduated from The Pedagogical Monsignor Arias Blanco in Venezuela obtaining a degree in Education. Later on, she obtained a Master’s degree in Advanced Management Education and second a Master's degree in Educational Research, from the University of Carabobo. She worked for 27 years in a High School setting and at the same time worked at the Universidad Nacional Abierta for 25 years.
Luz was born in the beautiful and vibrant town of Cajamarca, in her beloved Peru. She immigrated to Lima at a young age and has always had a deep love for working with children. This passion led her to work as an assistant teacher in both elementary and high school settings. Dedicated and enthusiastic about her work, Luz long aspired to become a lead teacher. However, her responsibilities as a full-time mother left little time to pursue that goal. Now, she is deeply grateful to God and to this institution for providing her with the unique opportunity to continue doing what she loves—supporting and nurturing children in their developmental journey. She hopes that this new chapter will allow her to grow professionally and finally achieve her dream of earning a degree in education.
Luz Guerrero is from Colombia and has lived in Miami for 10 years. She graduated college in Colombia and studied Early Childhood Education at Miami Dade College. She has been working with children for 8 years . Luz is the proud mother of a son and enjoys traveling and spending time with family.
Mailin Galvan was born in Cuba and moved to the United States in 2012. She graduated as a Physics and Electronics teacher for high school students in her native country. In Miami, she has always worked with children of ages ranging from 2 months to 4 years of age. She has a 21- year-old daughter who recently earned her Bachelor of Sciences majoring in Biology and Chemistry. Mailin's hobbies include reading, watching documentaries, working out, and spending quality time with her friends and family.
Martha Leyva was born in Santiago de Cuba, where she lived until she was 14. She also lived in Madrid, Spain. Martha has a degree in marketing and merchandising. She enjoys traveling and has been to the Philippines, China, Taiwan, Thailand, Japan, and the Dominican Republic. Martha has a son, Johnhenry.
Montiel was born in a small town called Nogoyá, in the province of Entre Rios, Argentina. Her parents are of Arab and Spanish descent. She completed primary and secondary education in Nogoyá and after her father’s passing, she moved to a larger city, Rosario (Argentina) in 1982. She is married and has 4 children. In 2001, as a family, they had the opportunity to move to Miami, Florida. In the United States, her family has continued to grow, and she now has grandchildren! She has worked in restaurants, local businesses and babysitting. Babysitting is what she enjoys most; learning from children is wonderful and she feels happy to be able to give them the best of herself.
Oriana is originally from Venezuela where she was a registered Law student prior to coming to the United States. She has been living in Florida for 6 years and recently obtained her Child Development Associate (CDA) and her Directors Credentials. Since joining the TBSIS professional team she has been very happy and looks forward to advancing her education and relationship with families and children.
I was born on the coast of Santa Marta, Colombia, and was raised between Colombia and Miami. I have been living in Miami for the past 26 years and am a proud mother of two daughters, Sofia, 17, and Camila, 9.
For the past six years, I have had the privilege of being part of the Innovative School at Temple Beth Sholom. I began my journey as a substitute teacher, where I quickly developed a passion for supporting children throughout their learning and developmental processes. My dedication and enthusiasm led me to become an Associate Assistant Teacher, a role that has provided me with valuable hands-on experience working with children and strengthening my skills in the classroom.
My professional goal is to continue growing as an educator and eventually become a Lead Teacher. I studied Early Childhood Education for two years in Colombia, which provided me with a strong foundation in child development and education. Throughout my experience, I have also become knowledgeable and proficient in DCF procedures, laws, and regulations.
I am grateful for the opportunity to continue learning and growing as an educator, and I am very happy to be part of such an amazing team. I look forward to continuing to make a positive impact on the lives of the children and contributing to their growth, development, and success.
Ruth Stein was born in Granada, Nicaragua, and has been living in Miami Beach since 1985. She started to work at Temple Beth Sholom as a Parent/Child Center teacher from 2002 to 2004. Ruth joined The Foundation School team in 2011. She has earned the Child Development Associate Credential, and she loves working with children.
Yolibet Garcia, was born in Tegucigalpa, Honduras and came to the United States thirty years ago. She has three children and a grandson, two girls, a boy and little baby Isaac. Her oldest daughter, Hazel, is a broker, while her two younger children Jenssen and Ashely are nursing students. After obtaining her high school diploma she became certified to work with children. She has fifteen years experience working in Early Childhood Education and enjoys working as a guide for children and their families, contributing as a grain of sand for the future of the children. She likes to read and meditate on the teachings and promises of the bible, listen to classical music and sing along with the children. She also enjoys traveling, seeing other places and making new friends.