Theresa Levy served the JCA’s Early Childhood Education department for nearly 30 years, the last 24 of those as director. Now semi-retired, Theresa is the Alumni Coordinator of the Michele Block Gan Yeladim Preschool & Kindergarten. Theresa updates our alumni database in preparation for our school’s 50^th Anniversary in 2024-25, and works daily to connect with families who were part of Gan Yeladim before the school moved to the JCA. Theresa also shares news and history about former students in her Alumni Corner, published in the JCA’s Alliance News.

Theresa has her bachelor’s degree from Boston University and a certificate of special studies in Administration and Management from Harvard University. Originally from Rochester, New York, Theresa moved to Jacksonville with her husband, Philip in 1989 to be closer to her parents and start their own family.

Theresa has two grown children, Bernie and Marie-Claire, who are both Gan Yeladim graduates. Theresa converted to Judaism in 2016 and when she was to participate in the mikvah, a Jewish ritual bath, it was broken. So instead, Theresa jumped into the St. Johns River for the ceremonial cleansing, on a 50-degree, overcast day.