About Us

What makes Solel Preschool the best in the Valley?
Our Philosophy

The Solel Preschool provides a structured learning environment based on the goals of Reform Judaism and developmentally appropriate practice in early childhood education.

Our Staff

The Solel Preschool staff is a group of experienced, educated teachers who love children. They are CPR and First Aid Certified, have passed DPS background checks, and engage in regular professional learning experiences.

Our Curriculum

We foster developmentally appropriate independence in children and use positive reinforcement techniques of guidance including redirection, anticipation and elimination of potential problems, and encouragement.

Schedule

The Solel Preschool school year loosely echoes the Scottsdale Unified School District schedule, running from mid-August through mid-May. Winter Break, Spring Break and Summer Break Camps are also available (additional tuition required).

Enrollment

Need to register your child? Click on Enrollment at the top to get to our Forms
Everything you'll need to get your child enrolled

The registration cycle for each school year begins in January and is open to Temple Solel members in good standing first, followed by returning Solel Preschool families, then new enrolling families. * We will accept new enrollment anytime, as long as we have classroom space available.

Please fill out the forms online, then download, print, and sign. Return to us via email, fax, mail, or in person to the preschool office. One form must be filled out per child.

Forms needed:

  • Registration Form (choose preschool or camp)
  • Tuition Express Form (for all NEW Solel Preschool families, or if your payment method is changing)

* Completed registration forms and fees are accepted and processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Our Admin Team

Linda Irish
Linda Irish
Director of Early Childhood Education
Linda was born in Minnesota and though she’s left the state she still loves to root for the Minnesota Vikings! She has two sons and two granddaughters who she loves spending time with. She joined the Solel family in August of 2016, bringing with her 30 years of experience in the field early childhood education, both as a teacher and administrator. After teaching at Solel for a couple of years, she transferred to the role of Administrative Assistant and later became the Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education. Linda has also been a preschool director for more than 20 years at other preschool facilities and her true passion is early childhood education. We are grateful for the outstanding work she has done over the last six years and for her dedication to our children and Solel Preschool. Linda has been instrumental in helping to guide our preschool through the years and has worked extensively on scheduling and operations, coordinating the daily schedule for 45 teachers and 200 students, meeting with parents and prospective families, and helping to ensure our Solel Preschool is a safe and welcoming place.
Jackie Siamon
Jackie Siamon
Assistant Director
Jackie has been a part of the Solel Preschool for over twenty years as a teacher (PreK & 3’s), a parent, a parent group president, and a Judaica Specialist. She grew up at Temple Solel and raised her family here in both the congregation and the Preschool. She is excited to begin her new role, get to know more of the Solel students and their families and contribute to the success of our school.
Sonya Placencia-Bendau
Sonya Placencia-Bendau
Preschool Billing & Admissions
Sonya Placencia joined The Solel Preschool staff in December of 2014, bringing 10 years of childcare and preschool experience. You may often find Sonya near the front door greeting families in the morning as they come to school and waving goodbye as they leave. Whether she is working with families through admissions, handling finances within the preschool, or finding time to step into classrooms to lend a helping hand, Sonya is dedicated to the families and staff at The Solel Preschool. Sonya is a native Arizonan, and enjoys spending time with her family, as well as traveling, both nationally and abroad.
Caryn Frank
Caryn Frank
Afternoon Office Assistant
Caryn has been with The Solel Preschool since August of 2021. She has a degree in Sociology and has had years of experience working in early childhood programs as a classroom educator, administrator and Assistant Director. At The Solel Preschool she enjoys supporting teachers and most importantly making sure children, as well as their parents are all happy. Caryn and her husband, Bruce have two children. They both enjoy Baseball, traveling and spending time with family and friends

Solel Clergy

Rabbi John Linder
Rabbi John Linder
Rabbi
John Linder grew up in Buffalo, New York and considers himself a lifelong Buffalo-booster. Though, having lived in the Valley of the Sun since 2008, he really doesn’t miss shoveling snow! Before coming to Temple Solel, Rabbi Linder served as a rabbi at Congregation B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim in Glenview, Illinois. Rabbi Linder received a Masters in Hebrew Letters and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 2003. A 1980 Cum Laude graduate of Amherst College, Rabbi Linder became a rabbi at age 46 after earlier careers as a community and labor organizer and as an executive in his family’s scrap-metal recycling business in Buffalo. Rabbi Linder’s bride of 30 years is Nancy Levy Linder, and their son, David Joel, is a recent graduate of ASU with a Master’s in the Science of Healthcare Delivery and is working for a local healthcare consulting company.
Rabbi Debbie Stiel
Rabbi Debbie Stiel
Rabbi
Rabbi Stiel grew up in Dallas, Texas and graduated magna cum laude from Rice University.  She was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati in 1994.  Debbie is married to Steve Stiel who is a mental health therapist. They have two sons, Micah and Jonah, who are both in their 20s. Before joining Temple Solel, Rabbi Stiel served as Rabbi of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka, Kansas for 14 years. Previously she served congregations in Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska, as well as Lawrence, Kansas. Rabbi Stiel loves preschoolers. She even spent a year as the Judaic specialist at the Omaha JCC’s Child Development Center. In 2019 Rabbi Stiel received her honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Hebrew Union College for serving in the rabbinate for 25 years.
Todd Herzog
Todd Herzog
Cantorial Soloist
Todd Herzog came to Temple Solel in January 2008, following an amazing education and earlier music career. He earned a double Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from Tufts University and in Jazz Voice from the New England Conservatory of Music. He played violin in a community orchestra and sang in a rock band while still in high school, and went on to sing with the renowned Tufts a cappella group, the Beelzebubs. Eventually Todd added songwriting to an already impressive resume and, as a result of working with students at a Jewish day school in Los Angeles, he began exploring life and spirituality through a Jewish lens. His music has received both critical and public acclaim, being placed in many film and television settings, and winning Best Jewish Album of 2009 in the Just Plain Folks Music Awards. Todd’s children’s album, Everyday Blessings, was chosen by the PJ Library to be distributed to 7500 families across the country. Todd’s limitless talent encompasses a soaring and versatile singing voice, and fluency on acoustic, electric and bass guitars, piano, violin, and saxophone. He still enjoys working with children and in addition to his regular duties at Solel, which include sharing music with our Preschool and Religious School students, Todd travels the country doing concerts, services, and Artist-in-Residence weekends. Todd and his wife, Karen, live happily in Phoenix with their son, Sander, and a menagerie of pets.

Our Program

Many options to meet your needs!

The Solel Preschool

The Solel Preschool offers programming for infants (6 weeks of age) through Pre-K (5 years of age) following a traditional school year calendar. Students spend their days in classrooms based on their age and developmental stage. They are busy learning, playing, and exploring the world around them with their highly qualified teachers. Our program offers flexibility in scheduling in order to meet your needs.

 

Our Camps

Camp Solel: Katan and Gadol… Now for Infants through 3rd grade!

It’s more fun in the sun! Camp Solel opens its doors in June & July, offering families the consistency of familiar teachers and friends with schedule flexibility throughout the summer. Weekly/daily themes, plenty of water play, and a few special guests make the hot desert days fly by.

Winter Break Camp

A camp program offered for infants through Pre-Kindergarten held during the winter break from preschool.

Spring Break Camp

A camp experience offered for infants through Pre-Kindergarten held during the spring break from preschool.

News & Events

Check back often for updates on what we're up to!

Upcoming Events

Latest Event

Monthly Kabbalat Tot Shabbats

Come celebrate Shabbat with our Solel community!  Each Tot Shabbat is perfect for young children and some even have fun themes! All are welcome to come to Tot Shabbat services, please contact the preschool office for an RSVP form if you would like to stay for dinner. We are looking forward to a wonderful year of Shabbats and with friends!

2023-2024 Kabbalat Tot Shabbat Dates (4:15pm)

 

  • 9/1/2023 – Back to School Kabbalat Tot Shabbat 
  • 10/6/2023 – Kabbalat Tot Shabbat
  • 11/3/2023 – Kabbalat Tot Shabbat
  • 12/1/2023- Kabbalat Tot Shabbat

 

  • 2/2/2024 –  Kabbalat Tot Shabbat
  • 3/1/2024 – Kabbalat Tot Shabbat (Pre-K Performs)
  • 4/5/2024 – Kabbalat Tot Shabbat (Threes Perform)
  • 5/3/2024 – KabbalatTot Shabbat (Twos Perform)

Contact Us

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