Ann Cauterucci
How did you get involved with CBJ’s Preschool Program?
I’m the founding director of the preschool at CBJ. As the end of twenty years at the Palo Alto JCC, I noticed an ad in the little throw-away newspaper that said CBJ was looking for a preschool director to start a school. I called the number and found out that, because no one was answering their ad, they were going to try once more before they gave up on the preschool idea. That was when I answered the ad. I met with the committee of two parents and a teacher that I had known the teaching from the JCC, who also taught a toddler class at CBJ. The interview was a lovely conversation.
After the committee did their part, I met with Rabbi Ezray and then the Religious Practices committee met to decide whether to hire a non-Jewish preschool director or not. As I had been in Jewish Early Childhood for more than 20 years, I guess they figured that I could do the job.
We started the school with a solid foundation for learning, exploring, and joyful Jewish traditions. We brought with us practices from the JCC that would fit within the school at CBJ. Each year we, as a staff, looked at where we needed to improve, and what we needed to add or subtract. The school grew to be a vibrant part of CBJ.
You’ve been helpful creating messages for special needs and children with disabilities – how did that come about?
In the second or third year of the preschool we were getting calls from parents saying that they would love to have a tour of our school because they felt that smaller classrooms would benefit their child. Upon meeting the parents and children we knew that some needed extra help. We realized that we were becoming an inclusive preschool and I asked Rabbi if we could call ourselves an inclusive school. He answered with a bit yes!
Our teachers have had the opportunity to learn about special needs in various ways. Speakers have come to us and we have taken part in seminars, workshops, and conferences on a wide variety of special needs. CBJ hosted the first Special Needs Day of Learning with families, educators and interested community members came together to learn, share, and build relationships. Thirty workshops were offered and there wasn’t a spare chair in the building. It was an exciting start and many Day of Learnings have followed.
What have some of your biggest challenges been?
I found that it was an easy start and knew that there would be bumps in the road, but the bumps haven’t been big ones. Losing teachers is always hard, and it’s not always easy to get top-notch teachers. The biggest challenge has been COVID. We closed down and finished out the year on Zoom, which was interesting with little children, but it was an hour for them to watch a different kind of TV. The teachers were still teaching them, and still being silly. When we came back from COVID we quickly created outdoor classrooms and it was wonderful. We are still using the outside classrooms, now that spring is on its way.
This year’s gala theme is “I am CBJ”, and one of the ideas is that every person a part to our community. What does the phrase ‘I am CBJ’ mean to you?
It means that I am a part of this building and all the people who walk through the doors. I guess the best way to say what that means to me, is what it was like when I was hired. I have said many times that when I was hired I not only got a great job, I gained a boss, friend, and big brother all wrapped up in Rabbi Ezray. In my little brother Billy, I gained torah learning, magic chili tofu, and so many great conversations and laughs. At CBJ, I found a second home and many new friendships that I will forever cherish.
When I see children pretending to set the table and sing Shabbat blessings, when they are excited to find a small bead on the playground, or want to have a story read, that’s CBJ. When children are proud of learning a new skill, that’s CBJ. When children discover a butterfly, that’s CBJ to me.
Our wrap-up question: if someone were new to CBJ, what would you recommend they check out first?
I love when a new face walks into the lobby. It’s an opportunity to help them find where they’re going or to answer questions. If they have time, I will introduce them to our clergy and will ask them if they want a tour of the building.
The CBJ membership really cares about each other and is there for each other in good times and in bad. Our clergy is always there to help people out, to be a sounding board, to be all of those things you would want in a welcoming place.
Preschool children love coming up to the offices to say hello or bring treats! If the children in the preschool have baked banana bread for snacks the children will put some of that banana bread on a plate and bring it to everyone in the offices. Rabbi Ezray will always open the door if preschoolers are knocking! Even if there is a meeting going on he will stop and invite them in for a little chat.
This is an all the different directions -what were some of the most joyous moments you’ve had in running a preschool?
There are so many joyous moments in my job. Running a preschool is a joy. Sometimes exhausting, but always a joy. I think of children with special needs who thrived and became comfortable in the classroom and saw them making friends with the other children in the class. That’s pretty awesome!
When children master a skill and are proud of themselves, when they find a shiny bead in the sand, when they learn how to write their name, these are the moments that I will always think about.
Anything from the first time you met Rabbi Ezray in person?
I met Rabbi Ezray 22 years ago, I don’t remember the details of that interview, but I do remember that there was a Telushkin book on the table that he thought would be helpful to me. What he didn’t know was that I was using a page of that book to put into a curriculum packet at the JCC before I left for my interview. I told him and we had a giggle. A day or two later, I saw a parent who had been at the JCC and when she came into the office, we both squealed like teenagers and gave each other a big hug! That’s when Rabbi Ezray said: “You are connected, aren’t you?” Then it was clear that this was going to be a good place to be.
