Staff

Courtney Holton - Preschool Director, Head Teacher & Inclusion Specialist

Teacher Courtney has 14 years of experience as an early childhood educator. She received her MA in Early Childhood Education from San Francisco State University, with a certificate in Inclusion and Autism. She holds a BA in Early Childhood Education and Special Education from Western Michigan University. She has a passion for people with neuro-diverse brains. She finds supporting them through their early years and their transition to kindergarten very fulfilling. Courtney has worked in a wide range of preschool settings, finding that nature-based programs are essential to human emotional development and self-regulation. She enjoys teaching children the way that Mother Earth takes care of us and our animals, guiding young learners as they develop social-emotional tools that form the foundation to the child's success both inside and outside the classroom.

Courtney grew up visiting her dads in San Francisco as an early teen. She fell in love with the city and its balance of urban living and nature. Originally from Michigan she has been here for eight years. Some of her favorite hobbies are *anything* Harry Potter, anything in nature - camping, cycling, hiking, and exploring the city. She also loves weaving, reading, and snuggling with her cat, Ziggy.

Sabrina Thillard - Floater in all classes

Teacher Sabrina has an Associates degree in Child Development from San Francisco City College and knowledge of brain development from her time at SFSU. Her experience as a parent and a former daycare provider gives her plenty of confidence working with young children and in fact, she actually owned her own family daycare for 15 years! Sabrina put childcare on hold while raising her three children: Olivia (15), Leo (13), and ViVi (8).  Sabrina is a long time member of Congregation Beth Shlom where her son will have his bar mitz vah this year.  She's a fluent French speaker.  She owns a wine bar in Russian Hill while also working at SIP part-time. A San Francisco native, she calls this city that she loves "home."  Sabrina loves doing mindfulness activities with children and a little yoga. She also enjoys sharing books from home that she read to her children when they were small. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her children, dancing with friends, shoes, art, and being at the beach.

Ana Dillman - Our Friday Shabbat Tecaher - Studio Educator (3rd & 4th Grade)

Teacher Ana wears many hats at Sherith Israel. She has been both a congregant and a Jewish educator here for 15 years. Both she and her son Apollo view Sherith Israel as their second home and family. She serves as a liaison between the preschool and religious school. The children love their special Shabbat teacher who leads and coordinates all of our preschool & Tot shabbats at the preschool. Ana received her Bachelor’s in education from Eastern Illinois University. She also works as a substitute teacher for K-12 at SFUSD. She has many years of  teaching, parenting, and caring for young children, with prior experience as a preschool teacher, summer camp director, and nanny, amongst other roles.

Ana loves to sing and dance, and currently sings with a small vocal improv group in San Francisco.

We are hiring! Contact Courtney to learn more at: courtney@sherithisrael.org