Megan Nachod, Playschool Director
Megan (she/her) has worked with children and their families for over 20 years in a variety of settings, including special education settings, inclusive classrooms, Head Start, and full day childcare. She has been a teacher, Case Manager, Special Instructor, and Program Director and is delighted to have returned to her roots as a Jewish educator. Jewish education remains closest to Megan’s heart because it unites her joy of working with young children and her love of Judaism. She values the dynamic opportunities that a Jewish early childhood program has to connect children with meaningful rituals that link them to older generations.
Prior to joining Society Hill Synagogue, Megan directed early childhood education programs in Reform and Conservative synagogues in the Greater Philadelphia region. She received her B.A. in Liberal Arts from Shimer College, outside of Chicago, and studied at Xavier University in Cincinnati for her M.Ed. in Early Childhood Education, specializing in Montessori Education for 3 to 6 year-olds. Megan resides in South Philly with her daughter and son.
COMETS CLASS (18-24 months old)
Jaymie Huffstickler, Lead Teacher
Miss Jaymie (she/her) was born in La Ceiba, Honduras, and grew up in Honduras and New Orleans. Jaymie earned a B.S. in Psychology from The University of New Orleans in 2019. After graduating, she spent a year volunteering for nonprofit organizations across midwestern states as an Americorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) member. Upon completing a year of national service, Jaymie began working with children with Autism Spectrum Disorder as an ABA behavior therapist. She plans to continue her studies and her commitment to children by earning an Ed.S. and an M.S. in School Psychology. Outside of the classroom, Jaymie enjoys the arts in all forms. She finds great joy in drawing, photography, fashion, and interior design.
Mira Nachod, Assistant Teacher
Miss Mira worked for several summers at Camp Ramah, including as a Senior Counselor, working with rising second graders in the Nitzanim Bunk. She attended Jewish day schools from early childhood and graduated from Jack M. Barrack Hebrew Academy. Mira loves working with children and, in her free time, enjoys painting, drawing, and hiking.
SUN CLASS (2-3 years old)
Letitia Spangler, Lead Teacher
Ms. Letitia (she/her) studied Early Childhood Education and Special Education at Bank Street College of Education and holds a B.A. in Art History from Smith College. She was previously a lead teacher for infants and toddlers in Brooklyn and Denver and has led play groups for parents and children to support preschool readiness and whole development. Letitia has a playful but calm demeanor, which lends itself well to the early childhood setting. She is an avid cyclist and runner and also enjoys cooking and baking, as well as sharing those activities with children.
Lea Brearey, Assistant Teacher
Miss Lea (they/she) is a graduate of Arcadia University, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology. Born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia, she has always found joy in working with children and fostering a love of learning. Prior to joining our staff, Lea taught at two preschools, New Life Nursery and Creative Learning Environments. When not teaching, Lea loves to write, read, and play Dungeons and Dragons!
ASTEROIDS CLASS (2-3 years old)
Selena Frandsen, Lead Teacher
Miss Selena (she/her) was born and raised in Chicago. After graduating from Bard College with a B.A. in Film Production, she moved to West Philadelphia. Taking on a variety of roles, Selena discovered that the work that made her most happy was with children, assisting in their growth and engaging with them creatively and compassionately. Prior to joining our staff, Selena worked as a teacher at the Children’s Community School and as a building substitute teacher for the School District of Philadelphia. In her free time, Selena enjoys reading, watching movies, and snuggling with her cat, Gregory.
Jay Thomas, Assistant Teacher
Teacher Jay (they/she) was born in Houston, Texas, and grew up in Surrey, England. Jay graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in Sociology and Fine Arts. They have many years of experience with private childcare and are excited to have recently joined the field of early childhood education in a school setting. In their free time, you can find Jay painting, drawing, or dancing at a local concert.
MOON CLASS (2-3 years old)
Snoza, Lead Teacher
A native of Houston, Texas, Snoza (they/he) graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a B.A. in Psychology and completed a master’s in Developmental and Child Psychology at Drexel University. Snoza has had a variety of early childhood education experiences and research experience with children ages 2-9 years old. They aim to focus on the connection between the body, the mind, and the earth in their teachings, with an emphasis on art and movement exploration. Outside of Playschool, Snoza loves roller skating (and is a veteran roller derby competitor!) and making art of all kinds.
Willow Yousha, Assistant Teacher & Afternoon Arts Co-Lead Teacher
A graduate of Vassar College with a B.A. in Philosophy and a minor in Religion, Willow (they/them) joined our Playschool community shortly after arriving in Philadelphia. They love working with children and previously served as a camp counselor at an overnight Jewish camp for three summers and also as a poetry teaching assistant and a nanny. Willow is passionate about teaching children social and emotional skills that enable deep, meaningful relationships, and enjoys sharing their love of nature, exploring the wide range of trees and plants in the local environment. Willow is also deeply connected to music and enjoys singing, dancing, and playing guitar and piano.
COSMOS CLASS (3-4 years old)
Myra Puma, Lead Teacher
Miss Myra (she/her) was born in New York City and resided there until age 10, when she moved to Philadelphia. Myra earned a B.A. in Psychology at Hope College in Michigan and has worked with young children and families for almost a decade, including at two preschools in Center City. Myra is very excited to join our Playschool community! She and her husband have two young children, and Myra has a keen interest in children’s literature. As both a parent and an educator, she is continually inspired by the joy and developmental growth that reading to and with children brings. Myra loves art and enjoys painting, and she is getting more adventurous with her experiments in the kitchen.
Moriah Tobin, Assistant Teacher
Miss Moriah (she/her) grew up on a small farm outside Philadelphia and attended Perelman Jewish Day School and later Center School, for neurodivergent learners, after being diagnosed with dyslexia. Moriah’s educational experiences have given her greater understanding and empathy for students. She attended Jewish overnight camps and was a camp counselor. Moriah was also a child actor and later studied education and art at The College of New Jersey. Prior to joining our school, she was a resident teaching artist at a traveling Shakespeare company, introducing the Bard to elementary schools and curating theater and art-related classes for children ages 3 to 13. Moriah enjoys drawing, watching cartoons, and attending theater, concerts, and opera. She adores her two cats and is excited to bring her love of the arts to Playschool!
METEORS CLASS (3-4 years old)
Lily Vander Schaaf, Lead Teacher
Miss Lily (she/her) was raised on Long Island and earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of South Carolina Beaufort. As the eldest of three, she always knew she wanted to work with children. Prior to joining our school, Lily worked in daycares as well as at M.C. Riley Elementary School in Bluffton, South Carolina, in third and fifth grade classes. Outside of the classroom, Lily enjoys reading and going to the park with her dog, Luna.
Ben Haklay, Assistant Teacher & Afternoon Arts Co-Lead Teacher
A native of Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs, Mr. Ben (he/him) brings a wide range of early childhood education and Jewish education experiences and joined our Playschool staff after graduating from the Community College of Philadelphia with an associate degree in Accounting. Ben attended Jewish day school and Jewish summer camps and previously worked as an assistant supervisor at elementary school before-and-after care programs, an assistant daycare teacher, and a summer camp counselor. He loves to interact with children in ways that spur their creative expression and enjoys running activities in sports, drawing, and writing.
ANDROMEDA GALAXY CLASS (4-5 years old)
Maren Campbell-Novotney, Lead Teacher
An educator who has taught students in pre-kindergarten, 2nd grade, and 4th grade, Miss Maren (she/her) knows our school well, as her daughter is a Playschool alumna! Five years after her daughter graduated from Playschool, Maren returned to the community during the 2022-2023 school year as a substitute teacher, and she is excited to have joined our staff as a Lead Teacher. A native of Alexandria, Virginia, Maren earned her bachelor’s degree at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana, and moved to Philadelphia 11 years ago. Maren enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter, loves dogs, and never turns down an opportunity to go to a Disney park.
Sydney Reddish, Assistant Teacher
Miss Sydney (she/her) moved to Philadelphia in early summer 2023 with seven years of experience teaching theatre to children ages 3-18. Sydney earned a B.A. in Theatre with a concentration in Performance from the University of South Florida and is devoted to creating student-centered lessons that allow for freedom of expression, creative development for all ages, and prioritize inclusivity. Prior to joining our staff, Sydney taught for a year and a half at the Jewish Community Center in Tampa and locally at Upper Darby Summer Stage.
MILKY WAY GALAXY CLASS (4-5 years old)
Ali Kaplan, Lead Teacher
Miss Ali (she/her) is a graduate of Towson University with a concentration in services to children. She attended Rider University for graduate school, where she obtained her teaching certification in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. A native of Cherry Hill, Ali is in her 16th year at Playschool and helped to create our pre-kindergarten program. She loves to laugh and smile, and that, combined with her love of children and teaching, shines through every day in the classroom. Ali resides in Cherry Hill with her husband, Justin, and two young sons, Jack and Charlie.
Carolyn Davis, Assistant Teacher
Miss Carolyn (she/her) joined our staff with over 18 years of teaching experience in the U.S. and the U.K. She and her husband and two young sons moved to Philadelphia from London a few years ago. Carolyn holds an M.A. in Film Making from Kingston University (Surrey, U.K.), an M.S. in Public Service from DePaul University and University of Chicago, and a B.A. in Sociology from Clemson University. Carolyn’s commitment to helping children reach their full potential, her seasoned skills in early childhood education at schools including Jewish preschools, and her enthusiasm have enriched our community.