SF proves to be a family affair for trailblazing mom

April 14, 2026

Santa Fe College alumna Teresa Dorman has an enviable position, walking through the doors each day to her dream job, one that helps build better lives for students and families.

Director of the B’nai Israel Community Day School Director in Gainesville, it seems hard to imagine that there was a time her life when her path forward was less than certain.

But as she was raising her five children, Dorman, a graduate of the University of Florida, made a leap of faith and enrolled in Santa Fe College’s Early Childhood Education program, earning a bachelor’s degree in 2021 with magna cum laude honors. She had attended SF’s Dual Enrollment program while in high school.

“My kids were honestly my biggest cheerleaders,” she said. And her family quickly became a Santa Fe College family, with four of children now also alumni.

“I really loved my time at Santa Fe,” Dorman said “My professors were so supportive, and I always felt like they truly wanted me to succeed. The Early Childhood team with Ritsa Mallous, Kimberly Davis, Brooke Downs and others, each brought something different to their classes. They really prepare future educators in a way that feels both meaningful and doable.”

And she is still connected to Santa Fe College today. 

“I still see Teresa when I observe students completing internships at her center,” Davis said. “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.” 

Helping children “thrive”

B’nai Israel Community Day School was founded in 1973 and provides a nurturing environment for students starting at 3 months through 4 years. 

“We are committed to working every day towards our vision to be a play-based center, where each classroom is intentionally designed to spark curiosity and exploration,” Dorman said. “This approach extends to our outdoor spaces, where we work to instill a love for the natural world. One of my favorite things to say is ‘anything they can learn inside, they can learn outside’. 

“We also partner closely with parents, because we believe that when teachers and families work together as a team, children thrive.”

The Day School is committed to creating the next generation of leaders. 

“By partnering with children, building bonds with them, and using co-regulation techniques, we guide them through conflict and help them develop deep, respectful friendships,” she said. 

The community-based organization instills the best in their young students. 

“I always tell new staff that before we say ‘use your words’ we need to give them the words to use.” 

 “They can then use these phrases with friends to navigate tricky peer interactions and conflicts so they can build relationships. All of these things will hopefully lead to a love for learning and they will have a foundation where they feel ownership over their education for years to come.”

Reflecting on Dorman’s time as a student, her former teacher Davis said “Teresa genuinely applied the strategies and concepts we discussed, and she would follow up by sharing what she tried, how it went, and the insights she gained in the process.” 

“She left a lasting, positive impression, and I was delighted when her daughter joined our program a few years later.”

A family of Saints

Dorman’s youngest daughter followed her mom’s path, dual enrollment, UF, and then back to Santa Fe College for a second bachelor’s in Early Childhood Ed before heading to graduate school.

In the same Saints’ spirit, Dorman even attend SF at the same time as her son. 

“My youngest son often did his homework right next to me, and he later graduated from Santa Fe’s Zoo Animal Technology program,” Dorman said. “He now works at a zoo in Atlanta.”

Her family was full of support and enthusiasm for her. 

“My middle son, who has Down syndrome, didn’t attend college, but he was one of my strongest supporters, she said. “They all encouraged me every step of the way.”

For Dorman, Santa Fe College isn’t just a place she graduated from. It is part of her journey and her entire family—a family of five proud Santa Fe College graduates.