Since 1983, Temple Bat Yahm has offered Early Childhood Education to our families and the greater community. It is the only Jewish preschool in Orange County that has achieved accreditation by the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) AND United Way’s Five Star Quality Center Ranking.

TBY Preschool sponsors the Full Inclusion Preschool Project, enabling families with children who have disabilities to fully participate in quality early childhood education. The program has gained local, state, national and international recognition for its work with young children and serves as a model of inclusive education in Southern California.

Programs for Children 3 months to 5 1/2 years old.

“In the Beginning” Program for children 3-18 months.

Parent-Toddler for children 15-30 months. Half-day programs for children from ages 2-5 ½ years old.

Before, During & After School Program Hours 8:00 am Early Morning care is available on a drop-in basis.

9:00 am-12:45 pm Regular Preschool.
1:00-1:45 pm After school Enrichment Classes.

Enrichment Classes include Fitness Fun; Art; Fairytale Theater; Cooking; Gymboree; Alphabet Soup; Mudpies and Magnets; Play Ball!!; Much, much more

Director of Early Childhood Education,
Karen Albert

Director Karen Albert has a long and distinguished career in the field of early education. A graduate of Purdue University (Magna Cum Laude) and Bowling Green State University, she completed her Early Childhood Credential at Fullerton College and post-graduate credential in human development at Pacifica Oaks College. Karen has been the Director at Temple Bat Yahm since 1993 and was named Woman of the Year by the TBY Sisterhood.

She is a past board member and officer of the Orange County and California Association for the Education of Young Children, and Past President of the National Jewish Early Childhood Network. Karen was honored in 2006 at the Oxford Round Table in Oxford, England for her work in inclusive early childhood education. Karen is the mother of two and has four grandchildren, three of whom are graduates of TBY’s preschool.

The Preschool teaching staff members have been selected because of their commitment to early childhood education, their training and their experience. Each class has two teachers and a maximum of 12-15 students, depending on age. The developmental philosophy allows children to explore and progress in an individual manner.

Children’s learning and development follow well documented sequences, with later abilities, skills, and knowledge building on those already acquired. All the domains of development and learning-physical, social, emotional and cognitive are important, and they are closely interrelated. Each child is viewed as an individual and best practices are applied for all children.

Contact Karen Albert, Director of Early Childhood Education:
(949) 644-6563, kjalbert@tby.org.

Laurie Nada, Early Childhood Education Administrative Assistant:
(949) 644-6563, laurienada@tby.org