Director of Ahava Early Learning Center
Beth Arnold Helmey was thrilled to join the Ahava team in its inaugural year in August of 2015. A native of Atlanta, Beth has fond memories of attending Ahavath Achim Synagogue as a child, and was excited to rekindle her affiliation with the congregation. She holds a BFA from the University of Georgia and an MA in Teaching from Mercer University. Before joining Ahava, Beth had 11 years teaching experience as a Kindergarten teacher and as a Special Education paraprofessional in Gwinnett County Public Schools. Her introduction to the Reggio Emilia philosophy began when she and her two children were a part of the Cliff Valley learning community. She considers herself fortunate to have been immersed in a program that emphasized the importance of a play-based education centered on the child’s interests. As a believer in the Reggio Approach, Beth continues to refine her practice, using reflection and documentation as tools for her own learning. Her ongoing professional study has included visiting the preschools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Beth continues to draw inspiration from collaboration with teachers, and enjoys learning from new sources of inspiration through Ahava. Beth guides our curriculum, mentors and supervises our teachers, partners with families and ensures a quality learning environment is provided for the students.