OUR TEAM
MEET OUR DIRECTOR!
Lori Hurwitz
Founder and Executive Director
Lori is the Founder and Executive Director of Creative Enrichment, LLC. Additionally, she is the Director of the Junior Day Camp for the Summer at Norwood program in Bethesda, Maryland.
Lori has 25 years of experience working in early childhood education. She began at Kehilat Shalom Preschool in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and later joined the Enrichment Kindergarten Compliment Program, a program providing full-day instruction to kindergarten students in Montgomery County. She was also a lead teacher at a local preschool in Derwood, Maryland.
Lori's educational philosophy is based on Conscious Discipline®, a comprehensive self-regulation program that integrates social-emotional learning and discipline, to send students off to Kindergarten with the necessary tools to be confident and successful.
About working with children, Lori says, “I am fascinated by them and love being around them. I am always interested in what they have to say, I love their wild imaginations, and they make me laugh!”
As a child, Lori’s favorite teacher was Mrs. Smith, because she made reading fun in 3rd grade by allowing her class to change the end of a story of the books they read in class. Her favorite books were Dr. Seuss books: “I loved the rhyming words and his books made me laugh because they were so silly!”
Lori lives in Olney, MD with her husband David, and their two dogs. They have two sons, Adam, also an educator, and Jonathan, a writer. In her spare time, Lori loves to walk her dogs, cook, read, and take trips to Bethany Beach.
MEET OUR TEAM!
Amy Splain
Amy Splain grew up in Rocky River, Ohio, and graduated from Xavier University with an Associate Degree in Montessori Education. Amy was a preschool teacher for 18 years before joining the Creative Enrichment team.
Amy feels very strongly about creating an environment in which children feel safe to explore, discover, and most importantly gain confidence in themselves. Her patient, empathetic approach enables her to connect with each child and their unique needs.
Amy and her husband John live in Brookeville with their dog, Maeby. They have three grown children, Allie (husband Ben), Matt, and Zack. They are also VERY proud grandparents to Theo!
As for hobbies, Amy enjoys swimming, reading, cooking, but most of all traveling to California to spend time with Theo!
Lori Alperin
Lori has been an educator since 1994. She started teaching at a school where teachers taught the same students in 4th through 6th grades. She also taught in the 3rd grade, as well as preschool. She grew up in New Jersey where her love for reading, tennis, and animals began. Her favorite teacher was Ms. Kennedy in the fourth grade. She respected every child and made everyone feel important. Lori moved to Maryland to attend college at the University of Maryland for a BA in Psychology and George Washington University for an MA in Education.
Lori believes every student is unique and has special gifts that are waiting to be discovered and developed. She is excited to facilitate the hands-on adventures Creative Enrichments offers to children.
Currently, Lori resides in Olney, MD with her husband David, and their clowder of cats. Since her two children have flown the coop, Lori fills her time volunteering for a local animal rescue, reading, and fossil and shark tooth hunting.
Roberta Hockstein
Roberta has been working with children for over 25 years, teaching a variety of ages from preschoolers up to teenagers. She has taught classes in cooking, science, religion, and art.
Roberta graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in communications and obtained a teaching license after studying education at Fairleigh Dickinson University in NJ.
Roberta has lived in Maryland for 24 years. She enjoys reading, painting furniture, cooking, and watching movies.
Susan Dimanna
Susan grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and graduated from Churchill High School. She went to the University of Maryland and had the opportunity to study her junior year abroad.
Susan recently retired from Montgomery County Public Schools after a 34-year career. She spent her first 14 years teaching first, fourth, and fifth grades at Maryvale and S Christa McAuliffe. Her remaining years were as a Staff Development Teacher at Cresthaven and Ritchie Park. In retirement, Susan is enjoying working with students again as a substitute teacher and tutor. One of her greatest strengths is forming relationships with the students and families she works with.
Susan and her husband live in Kensington with their dog Scarlett. She enjoys reading and traveling around the world.