Esty Marcus, founding director of Chai Preschool in San Mateo, designs her classrooms as oases of calm. They intentionally evoke the landscapes of Tzfat and Beersheva in Israel, with abstract artwork in shades of soft blues and sand tones hanging at children’s eye level.
Last week, the school was abuzz with more excitement than usual when Marcus was awarded a prize recognizing exceptional Jewish educators in the Bay Area. EarlyJ, a Bay Area-based nonprofit focused on early childhood education, announced the winner of its first Impact Award with a surprise ceremony at Marcus’ school.
Marcus learned the news during a schoolwide sing-along on Friday morning, surrounded by students, teachers and families. The award comes with a $10,000 personal prize and another $5,000 for a preschool initiative of her choosing.
“This award really elevates the field of early childhood education, which has historically been neglected compared to education for older children,” Marcus told J. after the ceremony.
EarlyJ began as a pilot program for preschool grants in the East Bay in 2019, spread to all of the Bay Area in 2023 and expanded again this spring to Los Angeles — with support and funding from the Rodan Family Foundation, Koum Family Foundation and Weingarten Foundation. (J. is also a recipient of funding from the Koum Family Foundation.)
Sharona Israeli-Roth, EarlyJ’s president and executive director, said the award was created to honor educators who strengthen Jewish identity, innovate early childhood education and build vibrant communities.
Marcus was selected from 17 nominees by a committee of local Jewish educators and leaders. In a statement, the committee described Marcus as “a true educator’s educator” and praised her for cultivating a learning environment that supports children’s social, emotional, intellectual and spiritual development.
“Esty has created high-quality Jewish educational experiences that are intentional and bring beauty, holiness and wonder back into the home,” Adam Eilath, a committee member and head of school at Wornick Jewish Day School in Foster City, said in an email to J. Eilath added that Marcus’ model inspires students to continue their Jewish education in their formative years after preschool.
Janet Harris, a committee member who has been an early childhood education consultant for over five decades, told J. that Marcus “values excellence and has a deep respect for each person, and you can see it in the way she treats teachers, students and parents.”
Preschool parents sing her praises, too.
“She’s an incredible educator and leader,” Rachel Zubaty, a parent of three Chai Preschool alumni, told J. “She instilled a love of Judaism in my kids that they carry to this day.”
Chai Preschool has served more than 600 children since opening with eight students in 2006. Marcus, who is also co-director of Chabad of the North Peninsula with her husband, Rabbi Yossi Marcus, noted that her goal from the beginning was to create a preschool that couples a meaningful Jewish experience with a strong academic education. The students reflect the Bay Area, with most coming from non-Orthodox families.
“We see early childhood as the foundation for helping each child grow into their best self because every child is unique, and we want to honor and embrace what makes them special,” Esty Marcus said. “We set out to create a school of excellence and to build community.”
In the early days of Chai Preschool, Marcus partnered with Beverley Hartman, head teacher at Stanford’s nationally recognized Bing Nursery School. Hartman mentored Marcus and her team for three years, helping to develop an educational approach with roots in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, an Italian model that views children as capable learners and educators as co-learners. That framework continues to shape the school’s focus on child-led exploration, staff development and a curriculum that seeks to tailor itself to each child’s needs. Some years, community members — including pilots, mechanics and doctors — visit classrooms to support project-based learning tied to students’ interests.
Despite her decades of leadership, Marcus was surprised to win the award because she didn’t know she’d been nominated. In fact, she had nominated one of her own teachers.
Israeli-Roth praised Chai Preschool’s investment in education, compensation and benefits for its teachers. Marcus acknowledged the effort she’s put into that.
“It’s important to show my teachers my appreciation, not just in words, but also in material ways and respectful pay,” said Marcus. “They’re the key here. If we have great teachers, we have everything.”
EarlyJ, which supports 48 Jewish preschools across the Bay Area, will hold a formal ceremony to honor Marcus on May 28 at the JCC of San Francisco.