Samantha Erin Rosen Nursery School Congregation Beth Ahm 5075 West Maple Road West Bloomfield, MI 48322 I; THE SAMANTHA ERIN ROSEN NURSERY SCHOOL •Offering individualized programs in a warm and welcoming setting perseverance to stick with it? "Ninety-five percent of the students who attend this school will never be able to read. But for the overwhelming majority, we'll see the number of chil- dren diagnosed as learning disabled drop." Elyakin said that his ideas are not new Educational philosophers have been haranguing the establishment on many of these issues for at least one generation, if not two. "Of course, these things have been dis- cussed for 30 years, for 40 years," he said, "but that doesn't mean you give up. " Building Ties Born in Brooklyn, Elyakin was trained as an architect. It took four years of hanging out with his sister, a special educator in Israel, to change his career plans. "When I went there in 1976, she taught me about the joy of teaching," he said. "When I got back to the United States in 1980, I didn't want to be an archi- tect any more." While In Israel, he met his wife, a nurse from Birmingham, Mich. Margaret Elyakin is always known as "Bunky," her husband said. "Nobody calls her by her real name." The couple spent another year in Israel in 1984, where Elyakin began his teaching career in Kiryat Yam, near Haifa. Back in Michigan, he earned a master's degree in special education from Eastern Michigan University and special education director's certificate from Grand Valley State University. Hired as a teacher by the Washtenaw ISD, he was promoted to supervisor five years ago. "If nothing else, a supervisor or a prin- cipal leaves as a legacy the people they hire," he said. "An administrator must hire and maintain the best-qualified teachers, give them high-quality support services and demand that these high-quality people use the best practices to teach all chil- dren." Elyakin and his wife have two chil- dren, Shira, 10, and Natan, 3. Both parents are highly involved in their education, both secular and Jewish. "When we moved here in 1985, we were involved in Hillel at the University of Michigan," Elyakin said. "We joined the Conservative syna- gogue, Beth Israel." From there, Elyakin's involvement snowballed. He began with the commu- nity relations committee of the Jewish Federation of Washtenaw County and soon became chair of the annual cam- paign. Last April, he chaired the organi- zation's mission to Israel. He is on the board of the Friends of the Israel Defense c_o Forces, American Jewish • Committee and Seeds of Peace and occasionally serves as a consultant for the Hebrew Day School of Ann Arbor. Most recently, he was elected vice president of the Michigan Jewish Conference, the statewide organization that serves the.political and community rela- tions needs of Michigan's Jewish community. "Part of my teaching my kids Torah is by example," Elyakin said, referring to his daughter and son. "When my daughter was a baby, she used to go to meetings with me. After a while, she'd cud up and go to sleep. "It is important to show our children that being Jewish is not just for Friday night." Elyakin said his co-workers at the Washtenaw ISD look on him as a resource for Judaism. "I live a Jewish life. Though not a `religious' man, I'm a friend of Rabbi Aharon Goldstein [of Ann Arbor Chabad]. I go to lunch at his house — he's not there to 'convert' me — but because he's my friend. "It's all part of showing my kids that diversity is who we are. We participate in many diverse communities. It enhances and enriches our lives as Jews.'' E' 10 Openings bailable in Private Violin Studio for Violin Lessons Farmington Hills/West Bloomfield Area at Orchard Lake & 14 Mile Rd. LOCATED IN HUNTERS RIDGE • Children Ages 4 and Up •All Students Welcome •Beginning & Advanced Level Training Offered •Individual Private Lessons •"Beginners" Class Forming • Suzuki/Traditional Methods Utilized •Complete Beginners Welcomed •Weekday & Weekend Lesson Times Call Sharon at (248) 865-3060 For Information •Child-centered curriculum structured to promote emotional, physical and cognitive growth. •The development of the creative process, offered in an atmosphere that reflects our Jewish tradition and heritage. 111511111MITVID A very special morning for you and your toddler (15 - 30 months) to meet new friends in a welcoming and fun atmosphere! Movement, music, story-telling, art and dramatic play in a developmentally appropriate setting. Thursdays from 9:45 - 11:15 a.m. And that's not all!!!! ; : Join us on Wednesday mornings with Lynn Breuer for a Baby Music Class, a program of songs, finger plays and rhythm. (Use of bubbles and parachutes included) Babies 3 months - 9 months 9:45 to 10:15 Babies 10 months - 18 months 10:30 to 11:00 FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL (248) 851-8820 LEARN READ HEBREW ON-LINE - Learn in your spare time and at your own pace - One on One Teacher student interaction T o Attend anytime 2 4/ 7 - For teens and Adults tEARN MORE ABOUT OUR PROGRAM GO Fun, bandsmen, meaningful Sunday School! Dedicated to Jewish community, Yiddish culture, and social Justice. •A meaningful alternative to Jewish affiliation • Relevant, timely holiday observances • Intriguing education for all ages •A warm, vibrant, creative, democratically-run community •Yiddish & Hebrew 26341 Coolidge (n. Oak Park) •A group to embrace your culturally mixed family 248-545-0985 • Individualized Bar & Bat Mitzvahs micirclel@aol.com 8/15 2003 69