City Gan Preschool
Our Staff
Rivka Wineberg
PROGRAM Director
Rivka has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Sciences. Opened City Gan in 2014. Rivka, together with her husband, Rabbi Zev have established the JCC-Chabad of LIC in 2007. Together with their 6 children, they have been offering all sorts of programs, such as holiday and Shabbat services, children’s programs, adult education, counseling etc. to service the local Jewish community. Rivka’s first love is preschool. She enjoys watching and being involved in the children’s growth on a day-to-day basis, interacting with the parents, and providing a wholesome education infused with Jewish values. “There’s no better way to start my day than seeing the smiles on the children’s faces each morning!"
Kelly Ferry
OPERATIONS DIRECTOR
Kelly has a Bachelor's Degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been working in operations and schools for the past 25 years. She has 4 children and lives in Merrick Long Island. The best part of her days at City Gan is the time she gets to spend in the classrooms, talking and learning alongside the kids! She loves to engage with the teachers as they aspire to grow and become even better early childhood educators. "It is wonderful to be in a school where all the teachers enjoy being with the children and share fun stories with and about the kids and their days with them." The second best part of her job is being able to build the Chabad and Preschool alongside Rabbi Zev & Rivka.
Rochel Roth
Educational Director
Pre-K Teacher
Born in Denver, Colorado Rochel had a love for children from a young age. She spent many years being a junior counselor and then day camp counselor. She ran youth groups on Saturday morning and ran a variety of children's programming for all ages. Rochel first began teaching in Denver where she taught in an early childhood center before moving to New York. She has a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education and a New York City teaching Certification. She has been on our team since 2015, and has gained a great amount of experience with young children, interactive curriculum and early childhood knowledge.
MEET OUR LOVING TEACHERS
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Tenzin Dhadon
toddler teacher
My name is Tenzin Dhadon. I am Tibetan, and was raised in India. I am very excited to meet and form relationships with my students and the staff. I love teaching because I truly enjoy being around children and interacting with them. It's incredible how not only do the children learn in the classroom setting, but how much I learn from them! A thought of just making a difference in someone’s life, espeically a child, goes far beyond knowledge. Together, we inspire, support, mentor and get the chance to do all that is fascinating.
Esperanza Garzon
toddler teacher
Hello! My name is Esperanza Sierra, better known as “Espe”. I was born and raised in Colombia where I studied to be a dental technician and oral hygienist. During my time working in pediatric dentistry, I was able to really enjoy seeing children smile and living with them! 5 years ago my husband and I moved to NY where I met Rivka and Zev along with their beautiful family. That's how I started working at City Gan. I have been a teacher at City Gan since 2022. "It has been a fun and enriching journey to work with children and I love witnessing their growth and learning that occurs with them every day!"
Bridget Rau
Pre-K teacher
I am passionate about fostering a love of learning in young children through a Reggio Emilia-inspired approach. With a background in special education and a degree in psychology, I focus on creating an inclusive, supportive environment where every child can thrive. I find joy in watching children grow, succeed, and explore their creativity while having fun every step of the way. My goal is to nurture their curiosity, encourage their independence, and support their emotional and social development as they discover the world around them.
Areli Linares
Afterschool teacher
Hi! My name is Areli Linares. I was born in Queens, New York and I am currently attending college. I started working with children by doing internships at my old school during the summers, which is how I came to be at City Gan! It has been a wonderful experience thus far, and I really enjoy helping out both the teachers and the students to the best of my ability. I am happy that I get to be a part of the children’s learning experience and I hope to bring them absolute joy!