Emmaline Rosenthal, Director
Emmaline Rosenthal serves as the Founding Director of the Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center, bringing more than twelve years of experience in Jewish early childhood education, program leadership, and community engagement.
Emmaline holds a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood Development from the University of Texas, where her early training grounded her in developmentally appropriate practice and the study of how young children grow, learn, and form relationships. She continued to deepen this foundation through hands-on classroom experience with infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children, including work in university laboratory schools and Reggio-inspired environments.
Over the course of her career, Emmaline has held a range of leadership roles at the Jewish Community Center of Dallas, including Director of JNurture, Early Childhood Pedagogista, and Camp Simchah Director. Across these roles, she designed and led programs for infants through early elementary-aged children, coached and supported educators, partnered closely with families, and managed complex operational systems. Her work consistently reflects a belief that strong early childhood programs must be both values-driven and well-structured, allowing educators to be fully present with children.
Emmaline’s approach is deeply influenced by play-based, nature-rich learning and by Reggio-inspired pedagogy—not as a rigid model, but as a thoughtful lens that honors children’s curiosity, relationships, and capacity to construct meaning. She is especially passionate about environments that invite exploration, integrate the outdoors into daily learning, and weave Jewish values naturally into the rhythm of each day.
A Welcome from Our Founding Director
I am so honored to welcome you to the Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center.
Early childhood education has always felt deeply personal to me. Young children are curious, capable, and full of wonder—and when we create the right conditions, they show us just how much they can do. Throughout my career, I’ve been drawn to learning environments that are rooted in play, connected to nature, and grounded in strong relationships with families and educators. I believe that children learn best when they feel safe, known, and inspired—when their days are filled with meaningful routines, rich materials, time outdoors, and adults who are truly present with them.
What excites me so deeply about this opportunity is the chance to bring together everything I’ve learned over the years and apply it thoughtfully within a congregational setting. Temple Shalom’s intentionality, values, and care for community are evident in every conversation and every plan. This is not about simply opening another school—it is about building something with purpose, rooted in Jewish values, and designed to grow alongside the children and families it serves.
Nature-based learning will be an important part of our daily life together. Children will have regular opportunities to explore, observe, and connect with the natural world—bringing the outdoors into the classroom and the classroom into the outdoors. These experiences support not only cognitive growth, but also emotional regulation, empathy, resilience, and joy. They help children develop a sense of responsibility for one another and for the world around them.
I am especially grateful for the incredible professional and lay leaders I have met through this process. Their commitment, thoughtfulness, and shared vision for what this school can become have been both inspiring and affirming. I truly look forward to working side by side with clergy, staff, board members, and families as we bring this school to life together.
Launching a new early childhood center is both a responsibility and a privilege. My hope is that this will be a place where children feel confident and curious, where families feel supported and connected, and where educators feel valued and empowered in their work.
I cannot wait to begin this journey with you.
Warmly,
Emmaline Rosenthal
Founding Director
Temple Shalom Early Childhood Center
Emmaline Rosenthal, Founding Director, is passionate about creating learning environments where young children thrive through play, connection to nature, and strong relationships with families and educators.