Baltimore Jewish Day Schools

Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Kindergarten teacher Jeri Wilkins

Kindergarten teacher Jeri Wilkins joined the BT family this school year, bringing 20 years of elementary education experience into her new classroom. Read Jeri’s reflections on this exciting new chapter in her teaching career.

Looking back, for as long as I can remember, I have wanted to teach. I was the oldest of three girls and can remember setting up a ‘classroom’ at home and playing ‘school’ with my two younger sisters. They were patient as, day after day, I tried to make informative, but fun, lessons and activities. My love for education never wavered, and I graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Elementary Education and Special Education.

I first taught in a Baltimore city public school but after a few years I left to care for my own two sons. While they were young, I was involved at their schools as a volunteer and/or class parent. When I was ready to return to work, I found that I was a better match for the private schools. Before coming to BT I taught at a number of schools including Odyssey, Baltimore Lab, Friendship, and Yeshivat Rambam. The schools and my teaching assignments have been varied but my love of children and teaching has remained constant.

Teaching at BT has truly been a wonderful, one of a kind, experience. I am new this year and came to teach here rather suddenly after Rambam announced its closing. Mrs. Schorr was warm and kind and welcomed me into the “BT family”. She was the first, but that feeling of family is a strong one and permeates through the school. Everyone I have met has been friendly and helpful. In all my years of teaching, at all of the schools I have worked at, BT has made me feel the most welcome.

The Lower School at BT is its own wonderful world and feels very separate and protected from the rest of the school. Mrs. Wand and Mrs. Yurow are leaders and mentors in the truest sense of the word. They are always available and I feel comfortable going to them for support, with questions or comments, or just to have a friendly chat. But what I really love is my day with my Kindergarteners. From the moment I see their smiling faces pouring into the room full of stories to share, I enter a wonderful world. The day flies by with all kinds of projects and activities designed to make learning exciting and fun. When we end each day, the class and I say goodbye with a song, and I tell them that I will “miss them like crazy’” until the next time we are together. BT has already earned a special place in my heart, and I look forward to many years in the ‘family’.

Meet more Beth Tfiloh faculty members at bethtfiloh.com