Kol Rinah ECC Directors
Elizabeth (Liz) Collins, Co-Director
Liz is originally from Illinois and now lives in St. Louis with her husband and four children. She has a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Southeast Missouri State University. Prior to coming to KRECC in 2015, she spent fourteen years working in Early Childhood education at a Jewish day school and recognizes that this time period is the beginning of a child’s great learning adventure. Seeing the excitement in a child’s eyes when they master a new skill or try something new for the first time is an awesome experience to get to be a part of. Liz enjoys spending time with her family, gardening, participating in events that support Autism, and listening to music.
Elyse Picker, Co-Director
Originally from Connecticut, Elyse moved to St. Louis in 2010 with her husband, where they are raising their 3 young children. Elyse has always been passionate about early childhood education and the importance of providing every child with a developmentally appropriate foundation for their future success. This passion led her to leave the corporate world for education. Elyse has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Sciences and Disorders and Master’s Degree in Deaf Education. She loves to read, cook and bake for her family and travel whenever the opportunity allows.
Teaching Staff and Enrichment Specialists
Our teaching staff is comprised of classroom teachers, teacher assistants and specialists. All teachers have CPR and first aid certification, meet all state health requirements for early childhood educators and participate in professional development throughout the year. We have specialists in the areas of art, science/nature, music, creative movement and yoga. The Rabbi and Assistant Rabbi also contribute to our program by helping us welcome Shabbat each week, leading us in song during holiday celebrations and teaching in the classrooms.