Lesley Doan  Lesley Doan is the new Executive Director of Tiqvah Hands of Hope. Although new to this Executive Director position, she has always had a passion for at-risk children. Lesley graduated from the University of Toledo in 2005 with a Bachelor's degree in early childhood education, and shortly after graduation moved to Columbus to begin her teaching career at a charter school for at risk children. Early in her career, while continuing to teach, Lesley continued her education on a part-time basis to pursue a Master’s degree at The University of Scranton in school administration with the goal of becoming a school principal. Lesley worked in various teaching and administrative positions within the school, but after six years felt God calling her to start a preschool at her local church. Lesley approached her church leadership who confirmed this calling, and in the fall of 2012 Eastpointe Christian Preschool started with Lesley as director. Two years into this new adventure Lesley’s husband took a job 2 hours away from Columbus and their family moved to Massillon, Ohio. Lesley decided to take a break from her career and stay home for a season with her young children. After a couple of years at home with her children Lesley began to feel God stir her heart once again for something new, and prayed asking God for direction. Around this time, fall of 2016, Lesley heard about the Executive Director position at Tiqvah opening up, and after much prayer and consideration she applied for the position and was hired in at Tiqvah February 1, 2017. Lesley’s long-term goal for Tiqvah is that it continues to make a meaningful impact on the body, mind, and soul of all the students and families served by Tiqvah. She also hopes to instill a sense of God’s love in them that will remain with them well beyond their years at Tiqvah. 
 
In her personal life when she is not spending time with her Tiqvah family, you will find Lesley performing all the duties that come with having four children, as well as spending time with friends, family, and enjoying the beautiful world God has given us.    
 
 
 Karla Dennis  Karla Dennis first came to Tiqvah Hands Of Hope 3 years ago, having spent the past 20 years in Tokyo, Japan where she ran her own Kindermusik business, taught preschool and worked in Children’s and Youth Ministries, each for more than 10 years. A certified Youth Fitness Trainer, she first came to Tiqvah as a running coach and a volunteer in the Yellow classroom. She soon became the Yellow Team Leader. There she began to truly understand the wide range of unique challenges that children, especially children of poverty, face daily.  This led her to pursue various Trauma and Family Relationships' training, which she continues today to better serve these children and their families. She became the Site Director of Tiqvah in January of this year, where her duties now include overseeing the day to day operations. Her top priority is seeing that each child’s individual needs are met.