Early childhood educators during SDC training “Understanding Burnout and Cultivating Resilience” at Temple Sinai, Oakland.
By Stephanie Kaufman, principal at Sequential Development Consulting
I am so excited about the partnership between Sequential Development Consulting (SDC) and Jewish LearningWorks. It feels especially meaningful to have the opportunity to bring this kind of support to Jewish early childhood settings in a way that is thoughtful, collaborative, and rooted in care for the whole child. At SDC, we believe that strong relationships, inclusive environments, and developmentally informed support can make a lasting impact not only on individual children, but on entire school communities. Our interdisciplinary team brings together speech-language pathologists, occupational therapists, and mental health clinicians to help ensure that classrooms are supporting children across all domains of development. Our speech-language pathologists help make sure children’s speech, language, and communication needs are being supported throughout the classroom environment. Our occupational therapists focus on sensory and motor development, helping classrooms meet the regulation, movement, and physical access needs of young children. Our mental health clinicians support the social-emotional side of development, helping create classroom environments that promote connection, build resilience, and strengthen emotional well-being.
What makes this partnership so special is the shared value system behind it. Jewish LearningWorks understands that inclusion is not just about responding when challenges arise, but about proactively creating environments where all children, families, and educators feel supported and understood. This is especially important in the early years, when the brain is developing rapidly and children’s experiences have a profound impact on their growth. Preschool-aged children spend long stretches of their day and week in classroom environments, which means these settings play an essential role in shaping development. When children’s speech-language, sensory-motor, and social-emotional needs are recognized and supported during this critical window, it lays the foundation for learning, regulation, relationships, and long-term well-being. I am deeply grateful for Jewish LearningWorks’ vision in making this possible, and I am excited to work with the five Bay Area schools that received this new inclusion grant, and see how this partnership strengthens their teaching teams, deepens connection within the community, and helps schools build classrooms that reflect our shared values.
The schools that will work with SDC in 2026-2027 are:
- Osher Marin JCC Preschool, San Rafael.
- The Grove Preschool, Tiburon.
- Beth El Nursery School, Berkeley.
- Shir Hadash Early Childhood Center, Los Gatos.
- Temple Emanu-El Preschool, San Jose.
Stephanie Kaufman is a Marriage and Family Therapist with a specialization in early childhood mental health. Her experience working with young children has given her a deep understanding of their unique developmental needs and the challenges they face as they navigate their early years. She formed Sequential Development Consulting with the vision to build a team of child development specialists and partner with early childhood education centers. Learn more about Stephanie and SDC.
