Abby Mars

Abby Andiman Mars has been immersed in the field of early childhood education for nearly two decades. She holds a master's degree in early childhood development from Pacific Oaks College and currently serves as the Head of School at Valley Beth Shalom Synagogue’s Early Childhood Center in Los Angeles. She served as the President of the Bureau of Jewish Education's (BJE-LA) Early Childhood Directors Network where she remains on the executive committee, and she is currently a mentor in the MAEd ECE program at American Jewish University, where she is also pursuing her doctoral degree. Her research seeks to understand the impact of Ethics of Care Leadership (ECL) and the identified ECL competencies that early childhood center (ECC) leaders rely on to navigate their interactions with the adults—be it, staff or families - within the early childhood setting. Guided by the work of feminist philosopher Nel Noddings and informed by  Supportive Care models within the medical field, her research aims to shed light on innate, intuited, and learned caring competencies of ECC leaders. A native of Los Angeles, Abby is a proud alumna of Jewish day school and Camp Ramah CA where she met her husband of 28 years, Jonny Mars. Abby embraces the transition to becoming an empty nester this summer as her three young adult children, Eli, Nate, and Eva, embark on their own journeys.