Jamie Klein to Lead Conservative Synagogue Preschool

For Jamie Klein, taking on a new position as a preschool director at a local synagogue is akin to "coming home."

"Sometimes you have to leave something to know how much it really means to you and that is exactly what happened to me," she said.

Klein comes to the Conservative Synagogue of Westport, Weston and Wilton as its new preschool director after having worked as Director of the Child and Family Development Resource Center at Eastern Connecticut State University.

"I grew up with Conservative Synagogue as my background," Klein said. "I was director of early childhood for 18 years. It's what I know and what I love. ... and I know that's what I ultimately want to do for the next million years."

Klein holds two masters degrees in early education, including one from the Bank Street College of Education in New York. After 20 years as a lead teacher at the Solomon Schechter Day School in West Hartford, Klein became the school's Director of Early Childhood Education.  During her tenure as director, she oversaw the growth of the program from 25 to more than 100 preschoolers.  Subsequent to her work at Solomon Schechter, Klein jointed the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center.  In this role, she supervised and directed all aspects of the Early Childhood Program for more than 300 children in three separate locations.

In her position at the university, Klein said she was teaching other teachers how to instruct children. What she missed most was a Jewish component in her daily work environment.

"And I miss being involved in the community that I work in because I have an hour commute every day (to the university)," she said. "Prior to this job, I worked and lived in the community and it was all connected. It was my social life, my work life, it was everything."

Out of three job offers, Klein chose to come to Westport not only because of the warm and welcoming staff but because her fiancé is a Westporter and she was looking for a job closer to his town.

Klein will be marrying Steven Zoref, current owner of an imaging company called New Digital in West Haven.

"Everything is falling into place all at the same time," Klein said. "So, I'm thrilled."

So is the staff at the synagogue school.

"She has a very strong record," said Ilene Frost, executive vice president of the synagogue, who was a member of the search committee that considered about 20 candidates during the yearlong search. "She has over 20 years experience in early childhood, many of which are in a Judaic environment and she's also very personable and very outgoing and has a very compassionate side to her."

Klein is replacing interim preschool director Lois Baron. She begins her new post July 5 and the next preschool session begins in September.

"She will spend the summer getting to know the parents, children and working on programming and meeting with her teachers," Frost said.

The Conservative Synagogue Preschool will be scheduling several "meets and greets" with the new director and parents over the next few weeks.  For more information about The Conservative Synagogue Preschool, call the synagogue office at 203-454-4673.  Preschool registration is ongoing; some space still available in all classes.

"I'm really excited to become a part of this community and so far everyone has been incredibly warm and welcoming," Klein said. "I hope I live up to their expectations."