Meet the Staff

Kayla Schmitz is the Early Childhood Director at the Mandel JCC Boynton Beach. 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!

Lisa is excited to be the Assistant Director at the Edward and Thelma Glantz Early Childhood Program, bringing over 16 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 29 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.

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.

Jessica serves as the Assistant Director of Curriculum for both the Barbara & Jack Kay and the Edward & Thelma Glantz Early Childhood Learning Centers. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from Ramapo College and a Director Credential from the National Institute of Child Care Management.

She began her JCC journey as a classroom teacher and later held leadership roles, including Early Childhood Director at a temple nursery school, dedicating her career to Jewish education.

Passionate about early childhood learning, Jessica supports children’s developmental milestones while fostering collaborative relationships with teachers and families. She believes high-quality, engaging experiences rooted in best practices cultivate lifelong learners and innovative thinkers.

Jessica designs curriculum with the whole child in mind: cognitive, social-emotional, motor, and language development. From infant programs to structured VPK, she ensures each milestone is supported with meaningful, age-appropriate learning and aligns curriculum with local public school standards for academic success.

Her hands-on, multi-sensory lesson plans reflect monthly themes, seasons, holidays, and Jewish teachings, helping children develop a strong sense of Jewish pride.

Together with Jessica, we nurture lifelong learners and creative thinkers, preparing children for both their educational journey and future ahead.