Our Programs

Talia Aviksis

Hebrew and Israeli Dance Specialist

Talia has created a catchy and colorful interactive musical program to help children learn the Hebrew alphabet (Aleph-Bet). Include visuals of each letter, paired with an object or animal that starts with that letter. For example, “Aleph” could be shown with an image of an apple (in Hebrew, “תפוח” – “tapuach”), and “Bet” with a ball (“כדור” – “kadur”). By blending the Hebrew language with activities related to Jewish culture and holidays, children will have a fun and enriching learning experience using manipulatives to help the kids engage with the Hebrew language.

Talia also teaches the children Israeli dances related to Jewish holidays and Israeli culture. Her students learn dances to celebrate Jewish holidays such as Simchat Torah, Purim and Yom Haatzmaut (Israel Independence Day.) Through music and dance, the children are immersed in music and movement and explore another dimension of Judaism.

Denise Drago

Music

Denise Drago holds an MFA from The Actors Studio Drama School at the New School University. She has twenty years of experience working professionally as an actor and children’s theater teacher/director. She began her love for music and theater at around the age of four. Musicals such as “Annie” and “Mary Poppins” inspired her to develop her love of performing.

“I believe that music and theater build confidence, social awareness, and empathy. Watching and guiding children find their voice and come alive through play is everything to me as an educator.”

Denise’s goal is to guide the children to be tuneful, beatful, and artful in my classes. Her students sing a variety of songs, develop their voices with call and response activities, and finger play songs to develop speech and fine motor skills. To inspire their playful impulses, her students do creative movement exercises as well as use puppets. They also practice rhythm and keeping the beat with rhythm sticks, egg shakers, and drums to develop their coordination and motor skills.

Stacey Peasley

Music

Stacey Peasley loves visiting the students at TEP twice per month! Stacey’s visits incorporate early child educational themes, as well as directed movement, creative movement, use of musical props, and lots of singing! Stacey is a strong believer in using music and movement to build confidence and celebrates the individuality of each child. She wants music class to be a place of freedom of expression and exposure to new and exciting music for children.

Beth Glick

Social Worker

Beth is the Social worker at TEP and is at the school every Tuesday and Thursday. Her why as a social worker is to meet each child where they are at, acknowledge their feelings and support them by teaching them strategies for navigating different social situations. She am committed to knowing each child and supporting their social/emotional growth in partnership with their parents and teachers.

Beth visits each classroom weekly and teaches the children about a variety of topics. Some of these topics include: mindfulness, friendship, feelings, the power of kindness, sharing and problem solving. She uses music as a vehicle for reinforcing the different strategies that I teach. Her students sing about feelings, friendship, sharing and many more topics!

In addition to classroom lessons, Beth also works with small groups of children to provide more tailored experiences where they can practice turn taking, problem solving and good sportsmanship. She also co-leads a parenting group once a month with Preschool Director Stacey Shulman that focuses on a different theme for each group.

Additionally, I provide consultation to parents around any questions they have in regard to their children as well as consulting with teachers in regard to the children in their classrooms.  In both situations, I offer some strategies as we partner together to best support all of our children’s social/emotional growth and development.

Coach Evan

Sports

Coach Evan is our Sports Coach from Be Ahead of the Game.

More about Be Ahead of the Game

At Be Ahead of the Game, our mission is to provide high-quality, professional coaching that goes beyond just sports. We believe in fostering not only physical development but also life skills, confidence, and teamwork in young children. Through engaging, age-appropriate activities, we help kids build strong foundations in athleticism while having fun and learning the importance of perseverance and a positive mindset.

Our Why:
We believe that sports are more than just physical activity—they are a tool for teaching important life lessons. By helping children develop skills on the field, we aim to nurture qualities like resilience, leadership, and self-confidence that will benefit them in all aspects of life.

Goals:
Our goal is to create a supportive and inspiring environment where every child feels encouraged to try their best, embrace challenges, and grow both as athletes and individuals. Whether it’s learning a new skill or simply enjoying being active, we aim to make every session a meaningful experience for the children we serve.

Rena Needle

Yoga & Nutrition

Rena is a passionate yoga instructor and registered dietitian based in Boston, with a specialty in teaching kids, pregnant women, and new moms.

In her nutrition lessons, she teaches kids about the benefits of fruits and vegetables through games and hands on cooking. Together with her students, they learn about the amazing benefits of healthy foods for their bodies, and make a simple and tasty recipes that the children are always eager to try. Some favorites have been kale chips, heirloom tomato salsa, and broccoli pasta! She also creates fun and playful yoga classes that help children build strength and mindfulness through physical activity.

Through yoga and healthy cooking, Rena’s goal is to help kids discover the joy in movement and wholesome foods.

She lives in Newton with her husband, 3 kids, and mini goldendoodle. 🙂