Early Childhood Center Staff

Hope Blauner, Director

Hope Blauner is the Temple Beth El Early Childhood Center. For the past 25 years, Hope has been an elementary and preschool educator. She began her career in the Hewlett-Woodmere school district as an elementary teacher where she taught first and second grade.  After moving with her family to Westchester in 2000, Hope taught Religious School and preschool at Temple Shaaray Tefila.  Hope joined Temple Beth El four years ago where she taught three and four year olds and ran the summer camp program. Hope received her BA in English and Sociology from the State University at Albany and her MA in Elementary Education from Hofstra University.  Hope represents Temple Beth El as a member of both the National and Westchester Association for the Education of Young Children, a member of The Jewish Education Project, and a member of The Jewish Early Childhood Association of Greater NY (JECA).  Hope, and her husband Michael, live in Chappaqua with their two daughters, Julia and Katie. 

Emily Kreiner, Assistant Director

Emily Kreiner is the Assistant Director at the Temple Beth El Early Childhood Center. After graduating from Connecticut College with a degree in Human Development and certification in Elementary Education, Emily earned a Master's degree in Literacy, focusing on birth through 6th grade students from Bank Street College of Education. For the past 21 years Emily has taught in NYC private schools including the Town School, the Birch Wathen Lenox School, and the Collegiate School. Her experience has included classroom teaching as well as working as a Learning Specialist, where she taught reading and math to small groups of students in Kindergarten through 5th grade. For the last 7 years Emily taught 1st grade at the Town School, where she also served on the Faculty Committee which advised the Head of School, as well as various other committees including Long Range Planning. While living in NYC, Emily's children attended both the 92Y Nursery School and Temple Shaaray Tefila NYC Nursery School. As a parent, Emily served as Class Rep and volunteered in the preschools as often as possible, learning the culture and building community within the schools. Emily has experienced the full trajectory of a preschool education, and holds the Reggio inspired, Jewish preschool experience in the highest regard. Emily lives in Chappaqua with her husband Michael and their three children.