Joanie Smeltz, Director of the Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center
Joanie has been the Director of the Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center since 1991. She received a B.S degree from West Chester University in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Joanie lives with her husband Bruce in Columbia, Maryland. She has three married children and is the very proud and joyful grandmother (“GJ” Grandma Joanie) of seven grandchildren. The Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center (OKECC) in 2008, under Joanie’s leadership, was chosen as one of 12 pilot schools in the country to be awarded a three-year-grant to elevate the quality of Jewish Early Childhood Education.
Direct Line: (240) 450-3488 Email: jsmeltz@ohrkodesh.org
Ruthie Cohen, Assistant Director of the Early Childhood Center
Ruthie joined the Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center in the role of assistant director in the summer of 2018. She received a B.S in Business Administration with a concentration in Finance from Towson University and has a B.A in Jewish Education from Binah Institute. Ruthie worked in corporate finance for 10 years before switching careers after finding her passion for early childhood while working in her daughter's preschool. Ruthie recently earned her graduate degree (M.Ed) in Early Childhood Education from Towson University. She lives with her family in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Direct Line: (240) 450-0673 Email: rcohen@ohrkodesh.org
Raviv Brooks, Pedagogista of the Early Childhood Center
Raviv Brooks has been educating at OKC-ECC since 2015. He graduated from Goucher College with a BA in Sociology with a focus in music. Raviv completed the Maryland Early Childhood Leadership Program (MECLP) at UMBC, earning a certificate in Leading for Change in Early Childhood Education. He has worked in the early childhood field through a variety of different positions including: lead classroom educator, music educator, Hebrew educator, religious school educator, song leader, non-profit coordinator, administrative coordinator, and most recently summer camp director. Raviv is committed to bringing meaningful learning experiences to the children at our ECC, and helping the educators to unlock the potential of their craft. Raviv grew up in the OKC community and now lives in Georgetown with his wife, Chaviva.
Direct Line: (240) 450-0674 Email: rbrooks@ohrkodesh.org
Gail Goodman, Administrative Director of the Early Childhood Center
Gail has been with the Ohr Kodesh Early Childhood Center since 1994. She received a B.S. in Education from Boston University. After teaching high school in Boston, then moving onto a career in Human Resources she made the switch to working in early childhood after volunteering at her own children's school. Gail grew up in New York but has lived in Silver Spring, for more than 35 years with her husband Michael. She has two married sons and three grandchildren.
Direct Line: (240) 450-0674 Email: ghesselg@aol.com
