Meet the Staff

Eli is a J Camp lifer, spending nearly every summer of his life at Jewish summer camp. He has a deep passion and love for JCC camp and is beyond excited to fulfill his dream of creating community as a Camp Director at Camp Shalom this summer. Eli’s life has been transformed by experiences as a program participant and staff member at the JCCs in Richmond, Virginia, Houston, Texas, and most recently, Scotch Plains, New Jersey, where he spent the last decade serving in every capacity from Counselor to Camp Program Director and everything in between. With a degree in nonprofit leadership & management and a variety of leadership in the Jewish community, Eli is a passionate, innovative camp professional who is eager to create an environment for campers and staff where they can find a second home at camp like he has.

Angela is excited to return for her Third summer as the Assistant Camp Director at Camp Shalom! Her experience as a counselor sparked a passion for creating meaningful experiences and lifelong memories for kids. She graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor’s in health science and a minor in disabilities in society. Before joining the JCC full-time, Angela worked as a youth advocate at a shelter in Cleveland, Ohio. She brings her passion, creativity, and dedication to making every camper’s summer unforgettable.

Debi started Showtime Theatre Camp in the summer of 2017 and has been part of the Camp Shalom family ever since. After earning a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University, she performed in theaters across the country and spent years in New York as a teaching artist, director and choreographer. Career highlights include starring roles in Gypsy, Annie, Footloose and Disney Dreams, direction of over 50 youth productions, and developing our very own theatre and music programs at the Mandel JCC. Debi proudly teaches children of every age to build confidence, community, and an appreciation for the arts through music, dance, and drama.

David Tulchinsky is the Sports and Aquatics Director at the Mandel JCC in Boynton Beach, bringing over 20 years of experience as a Physical Education and Health teacher and sports performance, strength, and conditioning coach. His background includes roles as a basketball and soccer coach and assistant athletic director, all driven by a passion for youth development through sports and wellness. After moving to Florida in 2019 and making a lasting impact at Naples High School, David continued his journey at the JCC in Miami before stepping into his current role. Today, he is focused on building inclusive, engaging sports and aquatics programs that empower children, build confidence, and foster a strong sense of community at the Mandel JCC.

Heather is beyond excited to be returning for her 12th summer at Camp Shalom! A true camp enthusiast, she believes there is nothing quite like the magic of camp, with Color War proudly holding the title of her favorite tradition. Heather works closely with the CIT program and loves seeing former campers grow into confident leaders and role models. She is deeply passionate about mentoring, training, and empowering the next generation of Camp Shalom staff. Heather graduated with her bachelor’s degree in education and her master’s degree in leadership, and she brings that knowledge, energy, and heart into everything she does. Camp has played a powerful role in her life, and she is proud to help create an environment where campers and staff can learn, grow, and build memories that last a lifetime.

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 as the Director of Education for The Victory Center, which provides services to children from 3 to 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.

The Glantz Early Childhood Learning Center has been fortunate to have Jodie as its Programming Director since the 2017/18 school year. Jodie was appointed to the position of Director of Camp Shalom in 2018. She has been an early childhood educator at the Boynton Beach JCC for the past 15 years working with infants up to pre-k age children in both preschool and camp. Her teaching experience, in addition to raising three sons, has given her the knowledge and insight into meeting the needs of young children. She has a BS Degree in Social Science from Stony Brook University where she specialized in Child Development. Jodie is looking forward to making it a summer filled with lots of fun and adventure!

Lisa is excited to be the Assistant Director at the Edward and Thelma Glantz Early Childhood Program, bringing over 14 years of experience in early childhood education and administration. Before joining this wonderful community, she spent 14 years at a Jewish preschool in Boca Raton, where she began as an Early Childhood Educator and later moved into administration. Lisa is passionate about creating meaningful programs and fostering a nurturing environment for children and families. She also launched a successful catered lunch program and worked as the staff liaison for Parenthood, organizing events to bring families together. A Florida resident for 28 years, Lisa is married to Joseph Assil, and they have three children—Simone, Mitchell, and Marley. Their family is completed by their dog, Cooper, and cat, Romeo. Lisa looks forward to building a warm, welcoming community at the Glantz Early Childhood Program.

Kayla Schmitz is the Assistant Director of Inclusion at the Mandel JCC. She joined the team in 2019 and has a passion for creating opportunities of inclusivity for all children. She started her 14-year career at Arc Broward pre-school in Sunrise, FL. and prior to the JCC she was the Program Manager of Behavior for Broward County Schools. Kayla is thrilled for another year of Camp Shalom and the exciting opportunity to bring children together to create memories, build friendships, and have some summer fun!