Our Lions Teachers
Building confidence, creativity, and friendship
Elizabeth Canino
Co-Lead Teacher
Elizabeth Canino is an early childhood educator who is passionate about creating joyful, engaging learning environments where young children can grow socially, emotionally, and academically. She studied at the School of Education at Florida SouthWestern State College.
Elizabeth has experience teaching in a variety of educational settings, including Collier County Public Schools and Montessori classrooms, where she supported individualized learning through hands-on exploration and creative lesson planning. She believes that curiosity, kindness, and creativity are the foundations of early learning and strives to make every child feel confident, capable, and excited to come to school each day.
In addition to her work in education, Elizabeth is a professional musician and lead vocalist of a jazz and blues trio. She loves incorporating music, rhythm, and movement into the classroom to support language development, self-expression, and community building.
Elizabeth feels honored to be part of the Temple Shalom Preschool community and looks forward to partnering with families to nurture a love of learning during these important early years.
Samira Mujollari
Co-Lead Teacher
Ms. Samira is excited to be part of the Temple Shalom Preschool family! She brings over a decade of experience with two years of experience working in early education at Temple Shalom Preschool and is passionate about helping young learners grow and thrive. In addition to her early childhood experience, she has taught high school geography, history, psychology, and philosophy in Albania.
Ms. Samira attended a four-year university in Albania, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education with an emphasis in Geography. She has her required 45 DCF hours and is also certified in CPR and First Aid.
When she is not in the classroom, Ms. Samira enjoys spending time outdoors with her family. Her favorite activities include fishing, playing tennis, and hiking.
Ms. Samira loves working with children and strives to make her classroom feel like a second home. Her goal is to ensure that every child feels safe, happy, and excited to explore, discover, and learn each day. She is honored to be part of your child’s educational journey and looks forward to a wonderful school year filled with growth, learning, and memorable experiences.
Claudia Avila
Lead Teacher
Ms. Claudia is excited to be part of the Temple Shalom Preschool family! She brings 18 years of experience in education, including serving as a VPK teacher. Throughout her career, she has taught a variety of age groups, from preschool students to middle and high school learners.
Ms. Claudia attended Kean University, where she earned her bachelor's degree in Spanish. She also earned her CDA from Union County College and is certified in CPR and First Aid.
When she's not in the classroom, Ms. Claudia enjoys traveling, learning about new cultures, visiting New York City, grabbing a good cup of coffee, and shopping. She is passionate about working with children and believes in teaching important values such as kindness, respect, and caring for one another as part of their school family.
Ms. Claudia is dedicated to creating a warm, nurturing environment where children feel supported, valued, and excited to learn each day.
Magaly Arias
Lead Teacher
Ms. Magaly is thrilled to be part of the Temple Shalom Preschool family! With 27 years of experience in early childhood education, she brings a wealth of knowledge, enthusiasm, and dedication to the classroom. Throughout her career, she has taught multiple age groups and enjoys helping children reach important developmental milestones while fostering a love of learning.
Ms. Magaly earned her degree in Human Resources from University of Carabobo and holds a Child Development Associate (CDA) credential. Her years of experience, combined with her caring nature, help create a classroom environment where children feel supported, encouraged, and excited to learn.
Outside of school, Ms. Magaly enjoys spending time with friends, gardening, and getting out to have fun and make new memories.
Families and coworkers alike appreciate Ms. Magaly's positive spirit and joyful personality. She brings energy, laughter, and encouragement wherever she goes and strives to make every day a great day for both her students and colleagues. Ms. Magaly looks forward to helping each child learn, grow, and create wonderful memories throughout the school year. 🌟💙
Lana Gjonji
Assistant Teacher
Ms. Lana is delighted to be part of the Temple Shalom Preschool family! She brings an impressive 30 years of teaching experience, including 12 years in early childhood education and 18 years in elementary education. Throughout her career, she has worked with children ranging from infants through elementary school, giving her a deep understanding of each stage of a child's development.
Ms. Lana earned her bachelor's degree in Elementary Education from Çabej University. She is certified in CPR and First Aid and has completed specialized training in early childhood care, school-age childcare, and VPK instructor training in emergent literacy through the U.S. Career Institute.
Outside of the classroom, Ms. Lana enjoys spending time with her family, relaxing at the beach, taking walks, and traveling to new places.
Ms. Lana is passionate about helping children learn and grow. Her goal is to create a warm, safe, and nurturing environment where every child feels valued, supported, and excited to learn. She believes that strong relationships, encouragement, and a love of learning help children build the confidence they need to succeed both in and out of the classroom. She looks forward to partnering with families and being part of each child's educational journey.