Summer is the Camp Director at Camp Shalom in Palm Beach Gardens and a true JCC “lifer.” She has been part of the Palm Beach Gardens JCC since 2018, but her camp journey began long before that at the Boynton Beach campus, first as a camper, then a CIT, counselor, and unit head. Having grown up at camp herself, Summer brings a lifelong love of camp magic, meaningful traditions, and unforgettable moments into everything she does. With her strong background in youth development and program design, she’s passionate about building enthusiastic teams and fostering a camp culture where every child feels seen, supported, and excited to belong. Summer believes camp is where friendships are made, confidence grows, and memories last long after the summer ends, and she’s proud to help make that happen every day at Camp Shalom.
Director of the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center, Brooke Pertnoy has dedicated her career to early childhood learning with working over 15 years at the preschool and a bachelor's degree in elementary education.
Brooke 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 that’s part of the JCCA’s Sheva Center Lab communities, which is a school that models excellence in early childhood education for other JCCs.
Brooke 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 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.
Originally from Pensacola, Florida, Sean attended Florida State University, earning a degree in Recreation, Tourism & Events. Sean brings over seven years of experience in the youth development field, with a background that spans both after-school and summer camp programming. Before moving into after school leadership roles, he spent two summers as the Assistant Director of an outdoor day camp in Brooklyn and worked at a 4-H overnight camp during college, where he taught archery and led a theatre program. These experiences cemented his passion for creating joyful, active, and inclusive spaces. He’s most excited to get to know the campers this summer and, of course, to jump into all the Color War games!
Bio coming soon
Assistant Director of the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center, Lauren Strauss brings over a decade of experience in Early Childhood Education, working with children from infancy through six years old. She holds both Infant/Toddler Montessori certification and Primary 3–6 Montessori certification, providing her with a deep and well-rounded understanding of child development. Throughout her career, she has taught in a wide range of educational settings, including Public, Private, Charter, and Montessori schools.
From a young age, Lauren always knew she wanted to work with children, a passion that has guided her throughout her life. Her journey in education began in high school when she first worked as a camp counselor. Before joining the JCC, she spent six years as a Montessori Lead Toddler Teacher and later became the Toddler Department Head. During her time as a lead teacher, she also earned her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership.
Jewish values play a meaningful role in Lauren’s life and deeply influence her work with young children. She is committed to creating nurturing, inclusive, and community-centered learning environments that reflect those principles.
%20(1).jpg)
