Santa Fe College alumna Teresa Dorman spoke on Apr. 14 about her journey from student to director of the B’nai Israel Community Day School in Gainesville, emphasizing the importance of family support and early childhood education.
Dorman’s story highlights how educational opportunities at Santa Fe College can impact not only individuals but also their families. Her experience demonstrates the role that supportive academic environments play in shaping future educators and leaders.
Dorman, who earned her bachelor’s degree with magna cum laude honors from Santa Fe College in 2021 after previously attending its Dual Enrollment program, said her children were a key source of encouragement as she pursued further education while raising five children. “My kids were honestly my biggest cheerleaders,” she said. Four of her children are now also alumni of Santa Fe College.
Reflecting on her time at the college, Dorman said, “I really loved my time at Santa Fe. My professors were so supportive, and I always felt like they truly wanted me to succeed.” She credited faculty members Ritsa Mallous, Kimberly Davis, Brooke Downs and others for preparing future educators in meaningful ways.
Kimberly Davis described Dorman as welcoming and invested in building collaborative teams: “She 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—one that makes an impressive impact on the children they serve.” Davis added that Dorman applied classroom strategies thoughtfully during her studies: “Teresa genuinely applied the strategies and concepts we discussed… She left a lasting, positive impression.”
As director of B’nai Israel Community Day School—which serves students from three months through four years—Dorman said she aims to foster curiosity both inside classrooms and outdoors: “We are committed to working every day towards our vision to be a play-based center… One of my favorite things to say is ‘anything they can learn inside, they can learn outside’.” She emphasized partnering with parents for student success: “We believe that when teachers and families work together as a team, children thrive.”
Dorman’s commitment extends beyond academics; she focuses on helping young students build relationships through guided communication: “I always tell new staff that before we say ‘use your words’ we need to give them the words to use.”
Her family continues this legacy at Santa Fe College—with one daughter following a similar path into early childhood education—and remains closely connected by shared experiences within higher education.
