When Gigi and Dan Schwartz researched preschools for their one-year-old Rosalie, they read books and articles and toured local schools. The Schwartz family was repeatedly drawn to the Reggio Emilia Approach to Learning, believing the practices at our Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool & Kindergarten were the best match for their family philosophy.
With more than a decade of experience, study, and implementation, with this practice in early education, our school couples the Reggio Approach with the lenses of Jewish values.
“Michele Block Gan Yeladim is not just a school, there is fitness and cultural arts for every generation at the JCA. When my friends see Rosalie in the facility, they report back to me,” said Gigi. “There are lots of choices but our family is connected with the Reggio ethos. We appreciate that it is play-based and there is no pressure. It’s all about learning your body, sense of self, and how to interact with others in this world.”
When Gigi, her sister Izzy, and brother Max attended our school, their parents Alex and Scot Ackerman set the tone for the family with active support. As a first-generation Gan graduate and the mother of a second-generation student, Gigi fondly reflects on her earliest experiences in education and wants the same for her daughter.
“We love being part of something bigger, the sense of community here and paying it forward,” explained Gigi who throughout the last school year worked closely with Lior Spring to co-chair the Family Community Council at our school. Collaborating further and looking to the future, Gigi will co-chair the council for the 2025-26 school year with Roaslie’s best friend Josh Benrubi’s mom, Dr. Ali Walker.
Gigi chairs the Art in Public Places Committee of the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville. A technology guru in her own right, to save time and make connections in our council, Gigi also created a shared digital calendar with chat rooms to use with parents.
“I want every family to be an active member in the Family Community Council,” said Gigi. “Like most households, we are a busy working parent family and are planning to have our next meetings at times that accommodate all parents.”
As the Vice President of Operations at Ackerman Cancer Center, Gigi is a strong advocate of mentorship and volunteer work. This spring, Gigi achieved the prestigious Jacksonville Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 list, joining the likes of Gan grads who received this local honor, Daniel Miller (2018) and our JCA’s Development Director Kendall Sisisky Valliere (2024).
Are you interested in learning more about our early childhood education practices at Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool & Kindergarten? Schedule a tour and a play date for your children to get started; email [email protected] or call (904) 730-2100 ext. 235.
