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.
Upper Camp
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!
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.
Antonio brings a wealth of experience in sports management, coaching, and youth development, having served as a program director, head football coach, and physical education teacher. He holds a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, which has equipped him with the skills to lead diverse teams and create impactful sports programs. passion lies in creating inclusive and active communities that prioritize wellness, teamwork, and personal growth, fostering a sense of belonging for all involved. He is eager to bring this dedication and expertise to Camp Shalom!
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!
Yeladim (Preschool) Camp
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 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.
Lauren has over 10 years of Early Childhood experience, working with students ranging from infant to six years old. In her 10 years of working in Education, she has worked in Public, Private, Charter, and Montessori schools. Lauren first began her work with children when she was in High School as a camp counselor. Prior to her career at the JCC, Lauren was a Montessori Lead Toddler teacher for 6 years, where she then became the Toddler department head. While working as a lead teacher, Lauren obtained her Master's Degree in Educational Leadership.
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.
Camp Shalom and JNightZ are not affiliated with the Yeladim Camp program. Yeladim operates as its own entity.
