Teachers
Owner and Director
✅ Bachelor of Science in English and Spanish education. Summa Cum Laude
✅ Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction
Christine (Rahorst) Acuna grew up in Cortland, NE. For over 40 years, her father, Ronald Rahorst, worked both for NPPD and on the Rahorst family farm. During that same time, her mother, Rev. Kathy Rahorst, served as a UCC ordained pastor. Christine is a certified educator in the state of Nebraska, with over 10 years of teaching experience in Omaha Public Schools, including 2 years in educational leadership, working as a Department Head.
She attended Northwest Missouri State University in 2012 where she obtained her Bachelor of Science in English and Spanish education. While at NMSU, she studied abroad for 1 year in Valparaiso, Chile where she became fully fluent in the Spanish language and went on to graduate as summa cum laude. She later went on to earn her PK-12 English as a Second Language endorsement and a Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. She is a wife and mother of 3 young boys, leading her to her work in early childhood education. She recently obtained her Childcare Director certificate from the state of Nebraska, and is both CPR and First Aid certified. She has experience teaching in several local Montessori schools and has created Hatzlaja as a curriculum and care approach based on best educational practices and rooted in her own beliefs.
Hatzlaja Academy Director since 2020
day we work to empower your child.
Hatzlaja Early Childhood Academy offers a faith-based, bilingual, and Montessori-inspired learning environment where children thrive. With flexible hours and a simplified parenting approach, we make quality early education accessible and stress-free for families. Our well-rounded academic program nurtures independence, curiosity, and a love for learning, setting the foundation for lifelong success.