Meet the Camp Staff
The staff at Camp Shalom is the best around! There's no question that there is a direct correlation between the quality of our staff and the quality of the experience for the campers. Each staff member is highly screened by the Camp Director and must pass a background check prior to being hired. All staff members go through a week long intensive staff orientation, weekly staff meetings and staff evaluations throughout the summer. All senior counselors, unit heads, and specialists are professionals who have the experience and maturity to make camp fun while keeping Camp Shalom both emotionally and physically safe.
Summer has been with the Mandel JCC, Palm Beach Gardens since October of 2018; working with camp, afterschool, and the family programs. Before heading to Palm Beach Gardens, she was a camper, CIT, counselor, and unit head for the Mandel JCC, Boynton Beach. She is now proud to call herself the Camp Director in Palm Beach Gardens. Summer attended Florida Atlantic University and earned degrees in Criminal Justice and Sociology. Everything about camp excites Summer, but her favorite part of camp is the amazing friends that come back year after year!
Director of the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center, Brooke Pertnoy, has dedicated her career to early childhood learning.
Pertnoy is a graduate of the prestigious Jewish Community Center Association of North America’s Sheva Center Leadership Institute for Early Childhood Professionals. This national leadership development institute is a three-year program that enhances the skills of exceptional early childhood staff interested in increased responsibilities and leadership roles in early care and education. The Mandel JCC is one of five programs in the country part of the JCCA’s Sheva Center Lab communities- which is a school that models excellence in early childhood education for other JCCs. She is also a graduate of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County’s Emergent Leadership Program.
John Kabot is the Director of Special Needs for the Mandel JCC. Before joining the JCC family, he oversaw the Broward County Public Schools Preschool department. John also served is the Director of Education for The Victory Center which provided services to children from 3-22 years old. He started his career at the Baudhuin Preschool of Nova Southeastern University where he served as a teacher, Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and administrator. John has a forty year-old brother on the autism spectrum which is his driving passion in the field.
Isaiah is the Sports Director at the Mandel JCC and this will be his second year at Camp Shalom. While Isaiah has been at the JCC he has grown the Sports Program by adding soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, baseball and softball clinics as well as the only Speed and Agility class in Northern Palm Beach County. Before joining the team Isaiah played Division 1 football at Eastern Illinois University and earned a degree in Sports Management. After finishing his career at EIU Isaiah had short professional football stints with the Arena Football League as well as the Spring League. Isaiah is extremely excited to be working with Camp Shalom and looks forward to the opportunity to use sports as way to impact the kids lives in a positive way!
Becca is thrilled to kick off her second summer at Camp Shalom as the Assistant Camp Director in Palm Beach Gardens. With more than 9 years of experience in both sleep-away and day camps, she's excited to keep making fantastic camp memories! As a graduate of Florida Atlantic University, she majored in sociology with a minor in psychology. This duo of studies equips her with the perfect blend of understanding group dynamics and individual quirks, ensuring that every camper's journey is filled with growth, friendship, and heaps of fun. Her dedication to making camp a magical place shines through, making her an integral part of our camp community!
Assistant Director of the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center. Jessica has spent her career in Jewish education. Jessica has an absolute passion for early childhood education. She believes strongly in cultivating collaborative relationships with teachers and families, building trust and partnerships, both imperative to maintaining a successful school. Her philosophy of early childhood education is built on the belief that by nurturing high quality educational experiences for young children, validated on best practices in emerging curricula, we foster lifelong learners and innovative thinkers. She believes that children learn best through hands on experiences and when they are invested in their work. Jessica studied Early Childhood Education as an undergraduate and holds a bachelor’s degree from Ramapo College. She holds a National Director Credential from the McCormick Center for Early Childhood Education.
Madeline has been working and volunteering with children with developmental disabilities for over 7 years. Before joining the JCC family, Madeline worked as a behavior therapist, for over 4 years, supporting children with different developmental disabilities in their home and school settings. Madeline graduated from Florida Atlantic University with her bachelor's in psychology with a minor in Spanish and is currently working on her master's degree in applied Behavior Analysis with a concentration in Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Meryl is an adventurous mother of 3 from Boston, MA. She enjoys her family, exercise & movement, everything outdoors, music, and photography. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies with a minor in Interior Design. She's been both the front face and the behind-the-scenes Administrator in a diverse array of businesses and brings her positivity, customer service experience, organizational skills, flexibility, and her ability to wear many hats to think outside the box to Camp Shalom. Meryl has a passion and honest appreciation for the vibrant, free nature of our youth and is honored to be part of the Youth & Family Team.
Camp Shalom and JNightZ are not affiliated with the Yeladim Camp program. Yeladim operates as its own entity.
