Sheree Sharkan
Owner & Manager
Sheree’s son, Etai was her inspiration for opening Baby Steps preschool in 2019. She brings with her 22 years of professional experience in education and a cross-cultural perspective. After working in Chicago as an Educational Psychologist for 8 years, she made Aliyah and completed an additional 5 years of training and supervision at the Psychological Services of Ra’anana before receiving her professional license in Israel. Additionally, she taught English privately to individuals and small groups for 8 years and understands how important learning English is today. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from the University of Kansas, and a Masters of Education and Education Specialist degrees from National Louis University. Sheree is married to an Israeli husband and has a 6 year old son and 14 year old stepson.
Sari Winter
Lead Teacher
Sari made aliyah from Australia in 2015. She studied art and design in both high school and university. She has over ten years experience working with children in different settings including daycare, kindergarten and elementary school. During her time in Israel, she has worked in English speaking ganim in Tel Aviv as well as nannying. She is somewhat dog obsessed and enjoys reading, cooking and being outdoors. Sari started work at Baby Steps in February 2022. She loves watching the personalities of the children develop over time and and positive energy that they bring.
Erica Katzin
Substitute Teacher
Erica grew up in Florida before beginning her Aliya journey in 2019. Her appreciation and devotion to children began at a young age, from babysitting her younger sisters to private babysitting and nannying in the neighborhood during her middle school and high school years. Erica continued babysitting throughout college, where she graduated with Bachelor’s Degree in Biological Health Sciences and a minor in Nutrition from the University of South Florida. After years of private childcare experience in America, Erica moved to Israel and began teaching at Baby Steps in its first year. Along with her work as a teacher, Erica has been leading after school choogim and continues to babysit regularly. Erica’s love of children is what inspires her to do what she does, and she is thrilled to be a part of the team as the gan goes into its fifth year.
Sasha Brenner
Teacher
Sasha made Aliyah in August 2022 with her young daughter from London. Her background includes studying drama, nannying, working in the music industry and managing a hair salon. She loves social jobs and is a real people person. She adores children, making them smile and teaching them something new brings her so much joy. She's a huge fan of the theatre, the beach, long walks and the gym. Photography is something she's really enjoying too even if it is only on her phone and you’ll often find her on long walks taking pictures (especially of the sunset). Being a mother changed her life and is her most important job. She moved here to give her daughter a better quality of life and for both of them to have a fresh start in the sunshine and beauty that is Israel. She joined the Baby Steps team in the spring of 2023.
Substitute Teacher
Lerina Els
Lerina grew up in South Africa and moved to Israel for love at the start of 2023. She studied hospitality in high school and dreams of one day becoming a pastry chef. Lerina loves baking, reading, art, being outdoors and spending time with family. She adores children and loves seeing them have fun playing with friends and learning new things. She joined Baby Steps in the spring of 2024.
Avigail Hunt
Manager & Lead Teacher
Avigail, originally from New York state, moved to Israel in September 2013, completing aliyah a few months later. She has a BA in Sociology from Franklin and Marshall College and a M.Des. in integrated design from the Holon Institute of Technology. Her love of working with children began at a young age, from babysitting, to working as a pre-K camp counselor in high school, to working as an arts camp counselor during college and working as a private nanny after moving to Israel. Prior to joining Baby Steps in 2020 , Avigail spent several years working in high-tech as a researcher and analyst. Avigail loves to cook, bake, and do crafts with children and also brings with her experience with creative and performing arts.
