TBI Religious School

Our Mission

Temple B'nai Israel Religious School seeks to educate the youth of Temple members beginning with pre-school aged children through the completion of high school. The curriculum is focused on instilling a positive Jewish identity with a commitment to Judaism. The school uses innovative methods in all of its programs and takes into consideration the individual needs of each student.

About the Director, Amy McFarland

Amy Smyler McFarland joins our Temple as the Director of Religious Education and Programming in time for the 2008-2009 school year to begin. Originally from Miami, Florida, Amy holds a Master's of Science Degree in Conflict Analysis and Resolution which she received from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. While working on her Master's Degree, Amy began working for the URJ (Union for Reform Judaism) as the NFTY-STR Regional Advisor. Soon after beginning her work in 2001 with the URJ, Amy took on the role of Director of Youth and Informal Education for the Southeast Council. In that role, she consulted with URJ Congregations in order to help them develop their Youth Programs and to integrate both formal and informal education.

During the summer of 2002, Amy began her 7 summer journey as the Senior Assistant Director for URJ Camp Coleman. After five summers, in addition to her responsibilities with Camp Coleman, she began to work as a private consultant for other Jewish camps and youth organizations in North America. Amy has conducted many workshops and seminars at URJ Biennials, URJ Southeast Council Regional Biennials, the URJ Youth Workers Conferences, NFTY Conventions and Regional American Camp Association conferences in the areas of Women's Strength in Leadership, Conflict Management and Resolution, Communication skills, Transformative Mediation, Motivation through Communication, Organizational System Design, Judaism and Conflict and Tochachah (Ethics in Conflict).

Amy and her husband, Michael welcomed their first child, Mikayla Rose, this past February and are grateful for the warm reception they have all received from the TBI community.