Laura Yarvis, Assistant

Monday/Wednesday

I was born and raised in Amarillo, Texas, but call Austin, Texas, my hometown. I received my BA in Politics from Brandeis University and received the Panhandle Alternative Certification for Educators. I am married to my fantastic husband, Jeff, and we have two amazing children - Jacob and Olivia. We are a proud Army family and have lived all over the world…and have experienced many interesting people and cultures. For the past four years I have taught in the Adat Reyim religious school and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to interact with the two-year-old class! When I am not at Adat Reyim, I am schlepping my kids to and from dance, soccer, guitar lessons, drum lessons, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts (which I co-lead), religious school, and school events.

Laura Jane Cohen, Assistant

Tuesday/Thursday

I was born and raised in Marietta, GA. I have a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Georgia, where I also completed my Master's coursework in Southern Politics. After working for the Lt. Gov. and Secretary of State, I decided to try my hand in national politics.  My husband, Seth, and I moved to Alexandria, VA, in 2001, and I worked as a lobbyist for a number of disease groups and universities for a year. I went on to become the Director of Outreach for the Parkinson's Action Network and loved getting to travel the country, speaking to support groups and at conferences about how people with Parkinson's and their loved ones could affect change in public policy. After the very early birth of our daughter in 2005, I decided to become a stay-at-home mom, and have loved every minute (well, almost every minute!). My daughter is an Adat Reyim Preschool graduate and my son is currently in the 3s class.  Needless to say, we think Adat Reyim is a great place to be. Over the last two years, I have enjoyed substituting at Adat Reyim, primarily in the 4s and Pre-K classes. I am so excited to begin my first year as the 2-Year-Old-Class Assistant Teacher. It is so much fun getting to be a part of the 2s' very first school experience. When I'm not at Adat Reyim, you can usually find me volunteering at my daughter's elementary school, where I am on the PTA board.  In my free time, I love being dragged around the neighborhood by my two crazy dogs, Junie and Cassidy, and hanging out with my nutty family.

3-Year-Old Class

Linda Visbeck, Teacher

I was raised in Vermont and graduated from the University of Vermont. My husband, Mark, was in the army for 20 years, and we lived in Germany for 7½ of those. (Yes, we traveled alot.) We have three boys. While our children were in school, I spent my free time volunteering in their schools and with Cub and Boy Scouts. I have spent many hours at soccer fields, on basketball courts, at cross-country meets, and at marching band competitions, and would not have missed a minute of it. I enjoy baking, sewing, reading, and traveling. This is my tenth school year at Adat Reyim Preschool. I've worked with the 2s, 3s, and 4s (before there was a Pre-K Class), and I have taught the 2s and 3s each for two years. I have learned so much since coming to Adat Reyim.

Heather Arbeen, Assistant

I was born and raised in Annandale, Virginia.  I received a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters of Science in Library Science from The Catholic University of America. I have over 15 years of experience, in both the public and private sectors, in information technology, acquisition management, and library settings.  My husband, Mark, and I have two beautiful children. Jacob, age 7, is a student at Canterbury Woods Elementary School, in the Enhanced Autism Program. Sofie, age 4, is currently in the Pre-K class here at Adat Reyim. Both keep me extremely busy with outside activities, therapy, religious education, and various special needs charities. I look forward to working with your children in the 3-year-old class.

4-Year-Old Class

Julie Quick, Teacher T/TH/F

Laura Jane Cohen, Teacher W

Dorie Epstein, Assistant

I have been working at Adat Reyim for 17 years as a teacher's assistant. Most of the time I have been the assistant in the Pre-K Class, but I also have worked with the 4-Year-Olds and the 2-Year-Olds. I have a B.A. in Elementary Education from Elmira College and an M.A. in Special Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University. Prior to coming to Adat Reyim, I worked for Fairfax County for 11 years. After that, I ran a home-based day-care center with pre-school-age children for three years. I live in Fairfax with my husband, Ken, who just retired from the federal government. My daughter recently graduated from George Mason University with a B.A. in psychology.

Pre-K Class

Beth Weller, Teacher

I have lived in Northern Virginia for 20 years and am finally giving up my identity as a transplanted Californian. Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher, and in 1981 I completed Montessori training. I taught a mixed-age class of 2½- to 6-year-olds for 13 years using the Montessori method. Like many women, after I had my first child I left the workplace to become a full-time stay-at-home mom. Now that my children are older I am able to return to teaching. I started working at Adat Reyim Preschool three years ago because I love the sense of community in our synagogue. It is my pleasure to prepare the children for kindergarten as well as teaching them about Jewish customs and holidays.