The staff of Becker is highly qualified and dedicated. They bring to the school academic degrees, early childhood certification, experience, and an interest in providing the best developmentally appropriate Judaic and secular pre-school program. The pupil-teacher ratios are kept low to ensure that each child’s needs are recognized and met.

Paula Katz, Director (becdir@emanuelhouston.org)
Paula brings over 18 years of preschool experience to Becker Early Childhood Center. For thirteen of those years, she worked at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Houston. She taught in the classroom, headed up a Special Education Department, was the Coordinator of Lower Elementary School, served as the Lower School Principal and as the Director of Admissions. Paula received her Masters in Educational Psychology with an emphasis in Counseling from the University of Houston and her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from the University of Houston graduating Magna Cum Laude.

She currently holds an American Montessori Society Certificate and has completed the Rice Literacy and Cultural Project offered by Rice University. Paula has completed and received many certificates from other continuing educational programs including the Baylor-Rice Science Program for Elementary Teachers, Neuhaus Language Enrichment Program and the Texas Certification for Elementary Education.

Professional associations in which she is involved include Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Kappa Delta Phi Education Honor Society, Union of Reform Jewish Early Childhood Directors, National Association of Education for Young Children, Southern Early Childhood Association.