Our Story

What began in the 1980s as a synagogue preschool has grown into a vibrant early childhood center serving families across Anchorage. We remain rooted in Congregation Beth Sholom’s commitment to Jewish life while welcoming families of all backgrounds into a community shaped by kindness, respect, and shared celebration. Our roots run deep. Our branches continue to grow.

Mission & Philosophy

“By the breath of children, the world is sustained.”
הָעוֹלָם קַיָּם בְּהֶבֶל פִּי הַיְלָדִים

Jewish tradition teaches that the world endures because of the breath of children. This reminds us that children matter not someday — but today. Their questions matter. Their laughter matters. Their careful stacking of stones matters.

At JEC, our mission is to nurture children in a Jewish early childhood center that is positive, diverse, and deeply rooted in belonging. We blend Judaic wisdom and secular learning in ways that feel natural and joyful. We do not shape children to fit a program. We shape our program to honor the child.

What This Looks Like

Classrooms grounded in warmth and predictability
Inclusive, anti-bias practices that reflect our Anchorage community
Educators who continue learning and growing
A commitment to excellence in care and licensing standards
Deep respect for the developmental path of every child

At Havdalah, as a new week begins and on Shabbat, as it comes to a close, our community gathers to sing familiar songs, light candles, share sweet smells and enjoy the tastes that are part of these rituals. These moments anchor our week and help children feel rooted, steady, and connected. In these small, repeated moments, children learn the comfort of rhythm and the strength of community.

Our Curriculum

Jewish pedagogy was shaped by a people who learned to live in changing landscapes. There is an old teaching that asks: why teach a desert people to swim? Because you prepare children not only for the world they know, but for the one they will encounter.

Jewish education has long emphasized questioning, dialogue, ethical responsibility, and learning in community. From Talmudic debate to shared ritual, learning is relational and lived. In early childhood, this means we encourage thoughtful questions, repeated storytelling, meaningful routines, and daily acts of kindness.

At the same time, our program is informed by respected early childhood thinkers and secular research. Jean Piaget reminds us that children construct knowledge actively. Friedrich Froebel centered play as foundational to learning. Rudolf Steiner emphasized rhythm and imagination. A.S. Neill and John Holt highlighted the importance of trust and child-centered freedom. Maria Montessori demonstrated the power of careful observation and prepared environments. The Reggio Emilia approach invites collaboration, inquiry, and documentation.

Jewish pedagogy provides our moral framework and communal lens. Secular early childhood theory provides developmental understanding and instructional tools. Together, they shape classrooms that are grounded, intellectually rich, and responsive to the whole child.

A Jewish Education for Every Child
A Jewish education at JEC is both cultural and lived.

Hebrew words slip gently into daily life. Shabbat arrives each Friday with song and light. Holidays are explained in ways that invite every child to understand.

You do not need to be Jewish to belong here. Our community is strengthened by many cultures, family structures, and traditions. Jewish life at JEC is joyful, accessible, and grounded in shared human values.

JEC Staff

We believe that high-quality early childhood education begins with high-quality teachers.

Our staff holds degrees in Early Childhood Education or related fields, and our team includes educators with CDA credentials, SEED levels, and ongoing professional training. Many of our teachers have chosen to build long careers here, growing alongside the children and families they walk with each day. They take pride in their work and in the responsibility of shaping early foundations.

JEC teachers bring their individual gifts into the classroom. You will find educators who sing and play instruments, tell stories with expression and humor, lead movement and yoga, explore the forest trails with curiosity, bake challah with children, tend garden beds, design art experiences, and guide science experiments sparked by simple questions. Their talents strengthen the whole community.

All of our teachers share JEC’s mission and philosophy. They observe closely, listen carefully, and respond thoughtfully. As children play, teachers model language, introduce new vocabulary, ask open-ended questions, and guide social problem-solving. They know when to step in and when to step back.

Teacher-led experiences are intentionally designed to build specific skills. Math games strengthen number sense, counting, comparing, and pattern recognition. Creating class books invites children to tell their own stories and see their words written down and read back to them. Art experiences develop fine motor strength, spatial awareness, and early literacy as children describe their work and represent ideas visually. Cooking builds math, sequencing, and collaboration. Outdoor exploration strengthens both bodies and minds.