December 3, 2020
Dear FJECC Community,
We are delighted and honored to announce that the Frances Jacobson Early Childhood Center Board of Directors has unanimously selected Amy Bolotin as the school's next Director, effective July 1, 2021. Amy is currently Director of the Jewish Community Center’s Early Learning Center in Brookline/Brighton, and also serves as Director of Teaching and Learning for the JCC’s Greater Boston Early Learning Department. Before becoming the director at the Brookline/Brighton location, Amy was the Assistant Director at the Newton JCC Early Learning Center. Prior to that she had extensive experience in classrooms, including as an assistant teacher at FJECC!
Amy is committed to continuing FJECC’s core principle of providing the highest quality in Jewish and secular early childhood education, through emphasis on fantastic faculty, developmentally appropriate curriculum, and a warm and welcoming community. As she writes in her application materials for the position, “The heart of my work as an educator, as a director, as a mentor and leader, lies in the relationships I build with those around me.”
At the JCC, Amy has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the child and family experience and in mentoring of faculty. Amy's colleagues and faculty speak of her brilliance in teaching and early childhood knowledge; exemplary thoughtfulness in the approach to children’s learning, to family relationships and mentoring of faculty; and ease at building community. Amy has worked tirelessly at the JCC to nurture and mentor the faculty, engage in community conversations, and strengthen all areas of program and curriculum.
As a highly regarded leader in the local and national Jewish Early Childhood Education community, Amy has participated in or facilitated leadership programs such as the Paradigm Project and Jewish Early Childhood Educational Leadership Institute (JECELI), and the Sheva Mentor groups, among others. Colleagues say, ”Amy is passionate about early childhood education”, and “She is a life-long learner, who leads with integrity, wisdom, expertise and empathy.”
Amy graduated with a B.A. in English Literature from University of California, Berkeley and holds an M.S in Education from Bank Street College of Education, Infant & Parent Development Program. Amy, who is originally from Boston, has lived in California and Connecticut. She has two grown daughters who still remember fondly their time at FJECC.
The FJECC Faculty, Temple Israel Clergy and FJECC Board provided overwhelmingly high praise for Amy. "She is collaborative and creative, realistic and relational. A fantastic candidate,” wrote one respondent. Another commented, "She has the capacity to nurture FJECC where it is right now and the vision to bring it to its next place. When meeting with Amy, I felt really excited about the future of our school."
Amy's appointment is the result of an extensive search process conducted over the last ten months under the guidance of a 10-member Search Committee, consisting of current and former board members, faculty, and parents.
You will soon hear from Amy herself about her enthusiasm and excitement to return to FJECC on July 1, 2021, as its Director who will take FJECC from strength to strength. In the coming months, we will find further opportunities to introduce and welcome Amy to the FJECC community.
On behalf of the Search Committee and Board of Directors, we are delighted to welcome Amy to the FJECC family and look forward to a meaningful future together. As we continue this year under the wise and dedicated leadership of our founding Director, Helen Cohen, we look forward to sharing with you soon plans to honor and celebrate Helen.
In the spirit of Chanukah, may we rededicate ourselves to the continued growth and support of our wonderful school, as we go from dor l’ dor, from generation to generation.
Warm Regards,
Ari Mervis,
FJECC Board President
Current and alumni parent
Rachel Goldman,
FJECC Vice President
Current and alumni parent
Lesley Inker,
FJECC Past President
Chair Search committee
Alumni parent
