麻豆传媒映画

April 14, 2026

麻豆传媒映画 alumna Teresa Dorman has an enviable position, walking through the doors each day to her dream job, one that helps build better lives for students and families.

Director of the B鈥檔ai Israel Community Day School Director in Gainesville, it seems hard to imagine that there was a time her life when her path forward was less than certain.

But as she was raising her five children, Dorman, a graduate of the University of Florida, made a leap of faith and enrolled in 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Early Childhood Education program, earning a bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2021 with magna cum laude honors. She had attended 麻豆传媒映画鈥檚 Dual Enrollment program while in high school.

鈥淢y kids were honestly my biggest cheerleaders,鈥� she said. And her family quickly became a 麻豆传媒映画 family, with four of children now also alumni.

鈥淚 really loved my time at Santa Fe,鈥� Dorman said 鈥淢y professors were so supportive, and I always felt like they truly wanted me to succeed. The Early Childhood team with Ritsa Mallous, Kimberly Davis, Brooke Downs and others, each brought something different to their classes. They really prepare future educators in a way that feels both meaningful and doable.鈥�

And she is still connected to 麻豆传媒映画 today. 

鈥淚 still see Teresa when I observe students completing internships at her center,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淪he is welcoming, approachable, and clearly respected. Her leadership is evident the moment you walk in. Teresa is deeply invested in her teachers and supports them in creating a strong, collaborative team鈥攐ne that makes an impressive impact on the children they serve.鈥� 

Helping children 鈥渢hrive鈥�

B鈥檔ai Israel Community Day School was founded in 1973 and provides a nurturing environment for students starting at 3 months through 4 years. 

鈥淲e are committed to working every day towards our vision to be a play-based center, where each classroom is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and exploration,鈥� Dorman said. 鈥淭his approach extends to our outdoor spaces, where we work to instill a love for the natural world. One of my favorite things to say is 鈥榓nything they can learn inside, they can learn outside鈥�. 

鈥淲e also partner closely with parents, because we believe that when teachers and families work together as a team, children thrive.鈥�

The Day School is committed to creating the next generation of leaders. 

鈥淏y partnering with children, building bonds with them, and using co-regulation techniques, we guide them through conflict and help them develop deep, respectful friendships,鈥� she said. 

The community-based organization instills the best in their young students. 

鈥淚 always tell new staff that before we say 鈥榰se your words鈥� we need to give them the words to use.鈥� 

 鈥淭hey can then use these phrases with friends to navigate tricky peer interactions and conflicts so they can build relationships. All of these things will hopefully lead to a love for learning and they will have a foundation where they feel ownership over their education for years to come.鈥�

Reflecting on Dorman鈥檚 time as a student, her former teacher Davis said 鈥淭eresa genuinely applied the strategies and concepts we discussed, and she would follow up by sharing what she tried, how it went, and the insights she gained in the process.鈥� 

鈥淪he left a lasting, positive impression, and I was delighted when her daughter joined our program a few years later.鈥�

A family of Saints

Dorman鈥檚 youngest daughter followed her mom鈥檚 path, dual enrollment, UF, and then back to 麻豆传媒映画 for a second bachelor鈥檚 in Early Childhood Ed before heading to graduate school.

In the same Saints鈥� spirit, Dorman even attend 麻豆传媒映画 at the same time as her son. 

鈥淢y youngest son often did his homework right next to me, and he later graduated from Santa Fe鈥檚 Zoo Animal Technology program,鈥� Dorman said. 鈥淗e now works at a zoo in Atlanta.鈥�

Her family was full of support and enthusiasm for her. 

鈥淢y middle son, who has Down syndrome, didn鈥檛 attend college, but he was one of my strongest supporters, she said. 鈥淭hey all encouraged me every step of the way.鈥�

For Dorman, 麻豆传媒映画 isn鈥檛 just a place she graduated from. It is part of her journey and her entire family鈥攁 family of five proud 麻豆传媒映画 graduates.