Meet the Directors
Director: Jodie Block
The Glantz Early Childhood Learning Center has been fortunate to have Jodie as its Programming Director since the 2017-18 school year.
With over 15 years of experience at the Boynton Beach JCC, Jodie has worked with children from infancy through Pre-K in both preschool and camp settings. Her extensive teaching experience, combined with raising three sons, gives her deep insight into meeting the needs of young learners. She is passionate about fostering a warm, engaging, and developmentally rich environment where children feel safe, supported, and excited to learn.
Jodie holds a B.S. in Social Science from Stony Brook University, specializing in Child Development. She is committed to implementing innovative programming, hands-on learning experiences, and meaningful connections with families to enhance each child’s educational journey. Her enthusiasm and dedication help create a community where young learners can grow academically, socially, and emotionally throughout the school year.
Jodie loves seeing the joy and curiosity in her students every day and is excited to continue creating memorable experiences that inspire a lifelong love of learning!
Assistant Director: Lisa Stock-Assil
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.
Director of Inclusion: John Kabot
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.
Assistant Director of Curriculum: Jessica Friedman
Assistant Director of Curriculum at both the Barbara & Jack Kay Early Childhood Learning Center and the Edward & Thelma Glantz Early Childhood Learning Center, Jessica has dedicated her career to Jewish education. She began her journey at a JCC in Northern New Jersey as a classroom teacher before moving into a leadership role and eventually becoming the Early Childhood Director of a temple nursery school. After relocating from New Jersey with her family, Jessica knew she wanted to root herself back at a JCC—serving a diverse community and collaborating with like-minded educators.
Jessica has an absolute passion for early childhood education. She strongly believes in cultivating collaborative relationships with teachers and families, building trust and partnerships that are essential to maintaining a successful school. Her educational philosophy is centered on the belief that high-quality learning experiences, grounded in best practices and emerging curricula, foster lifelong learners and innovative thinkers. She is committed to hands-on, experiential learning, where children are actively engaged and invested in their growth.
Jessica 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 is dedicated to creating a nurturing, inspiring, and developmentally rich environment where young learners thrive.
For more information, to register or to schedule a tour, call us at 561-732-7620.
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