Leadership Team
Chana Gurkow – Executive director
Chana Gurkow is a seasoned educator with a unique approach of strong academics while focusing on the needs and creativity of each individual child.
Chana has been teaching preschool for nearly 4 decades in various settings and locations. She has been involved with Shaloh House Preschool for 37 years in many capacities. Since September 2023 she has accepted full responsibilities of directorship of the Shaloh House Preschool and has worked to enhance its focus and vision and has instilled a strong philosophy in childcare and teamwork.
Chana is from Brooklyn NY, is married to Rabbi Mendel Gurkow, is a mother of 10 children and grandmother of many more. She has been with her husband at Shaloh House Chabad in Stoughton since 1987, she also serves on the committees of Community Outreach and Adult Education at Shaloh House Chabad, she gives a monthly women’s “Lunch & Learn” class.
Shayna Goldberg – Assistant director/Lead infant teacher
For more than a decade, Shayna has served as the Lead Infant Teacher at Shaloh House. Additionally, she has held the role of Assistant Director for the last two years. With over three decades in childcare, Shayna has found immense joy and fulfillment in her work, especially within the warm embrace of Shaloh House. Shayna recently tied the knot with her husband Ed. They enjoy playing games, listening to live music, using computers, going out to eat, shopping for a good deal, kayaking and science fiction books and movies.
Shaney Wacks – Early Childhood Director / Lead Preschool/Pre – K teacher
Shaney studied English Education at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts and has been teaching pre-school/pre-k for over 10 years. She was excited to join Shaloh House in 2023 as the Early Childhood Director. Her hope is to inspire each child to be a creative and independent thinker, take risks, and be a constructivist of their own learning. Shaney lives in Walpole with her husband and two boys Aaron and Gabriel. She enjoys crafting, musical theatre, and making a mess!
Our Educators
Tinokot - Infants
Julie has been an infant teacher at Shaloh House since 2020. She had previously been a speech-language pathologist and a certified transformational coach, and she utilizes these experiences and knowledge to cater to each child’s unique needs. In her spare time, Julie enjoys book clubs, concerts, and ballroom dancing.
Judy has been with Shaloh House for three years and in the field of education for six years. She has a bachelor’s degree in Foods and Nutrition. After raising four children, she began substitute teaching and received her teaching certificate. It is very fulfilling to play an important part of helping children grow and develop to their full potential. In her spare time she enjoys, reading, crocheting , needlepoint and playing with her chihuahuas.
Ketanim - Young toddlers
Linda has been teaching toddlers her whole career. She took classes at Wheelock College, Aquinis Jr. College, and Pine Manor College. After working 23 years at the JCC in Newton she found Shaloh House in August, 2009! Linda loves her job because she gets to watch and help babies turn into little people that are walking and talking! Linda lives in Mansfield with her husband Bob. When she is not working she spends her time with her family and dreaming of her next Disney vacation.
Rachel graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2021 with a Bachelors in Psychology with a minor in Special Education. She started at Shaloh House in August of 2023 in the Young Toddler Classroom. Rachel has worked as a Madricha in the Hebrew School at Congregation Agudas Achim since she was 13. She enjoys, baking, watching the Celtics, and hanging out with friends and family.
Yeladim - Older toddlers
Margie teaches in the Yeladim class. She has been at Shaloh House since 2006. After getting her degree at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, she worked in biotechnology before her career change to early childhood education, because teaching preschool is so much more fun! She and her husband live in Randolph. She is the mother of two grown daughters and a new grandmother to Baby Johnny.
Rachelle lives in Sharon, and has an associate degree in early childhood education. She has over 15 years of teaching experience and has been teaching here at Shaloh House for 4 years. Rachelle loves teaching young children because she loves to see them change and grow over the course of the school year. She also loves helping children develop their minds, personality, and imagination. During her free time she loves to play with her chihuahua dogs, use her essential oils, and plan parties
Anna is originally from Hungary and has been living in the U.S for 39 years. Anna began her career teaching elementary school in Hungary where she is originally from. She moved to the U.S 39 years ago and began working at the JCC, where she taught for 23 years as an early childhood educator. Anna has been coming to Shaloh House for the last 30 years and both of her children attended Hebrew school here. In her free time Anna loves traveling and reading books.
Gedolim - Preschool/Pre-k
Morah Dawn has taught in a variety of early education settings for the past 25 years, and this is her 6th amazing year teaching at Shaloh House. She is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and has Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education. Dawn loves teaching Preschool because of the joy, excitement, and wonder the children bring each day. She loves to encourage, support and help them learn new skills and make friends. Dawn lives in Mansfield with her wonderful husband Scott, her two amazing daughters, Julia and Brooke, and three adorable Shih Tzus (Toto, Diva, and Zeus). She enjoys gardening, listening to music, and spending quality time with my lovely family.
Floaters
Debbie has had the pleasure of teaching at Shaloh House for twenty-two years! She majored in Elementary Education at Umass Amherst. Debbie loves working with children of all ages and spends time in all the classrooms as a part time teacher. She has four wonderful grandchildren ages 2,3,4 and 5. Debbie love to travel, go to the theatre, and go to museums.