Assistant/Associate Director of Religious School (K-7th Grade)
Temple Isaiah, a thriving Reform Jewish congregation in Lexington, Massachusetts, is seeking a full-time Assistant/Associate Director for Religious School (K-7th Grade). With approximately 750 households from Lexington and nearby communities, Temple Isaiah is an innovative, relationship-centered congregation that offers a broad range of spiritual, educational, social, and social justice experiences to engage people of every age, stage, and background. We are a community of intellectually curious, justice-driven, and open-hearted seekers, coming together to grow, to learn, to connect, and to make our world a better place. This role plays a key part in supporting families, strengthening teacher practice, and ensuring a joyful, organized, and welcoming learning environment.
Our K-7 Religious School serves approximately 200 students in a vibrant program where formal, informal, and family education blend to create community and a strong sense of Jewish identity. We are looking for a knowledgeable, organized, and collaborative professional who is excited about supporting teachers, coordinating operations, and helping students and families thrive in Jewish learning. This position is central to our congregational renewal initiative, strengthening family engagement and ensuring smooth, supportive transitions across the full lifecycle of Jewish learning. The Assistant/Associate Director will work closely with our Director of Youth and Family Education and our team of specialized educators to create the operational foundation that allows our community to flourish. The ideal candidate brings warmth, strong communication skills, and a passion for building relationships with teachers, students, and families.
Primary Responsibilities
Teacher Supervision and Development
- Supervise part-time teachers for K-7 Religious School classes and support the hiring process
- Conduct regular classroom observations and provide actionable feedback to K-7 faculty
- Support teachers with curriculum implementation and classroom management
- Collaborate with Director of Youth and Family Education on faculty meetings and professional development
- Serve as first point of contact for teacher questions and classroom support
- Manage substitute teacher process
- Collaborate with Director of Inclusion to support students and teachers
Family Communication and Follow-Up
- Build trusting relationships with families and serve as a welcoming, accessible resource
- Produce weekly K-7 newsletter
- Coordinate parent communications about curriculum, calendar, and logistics
- Conduct proactive outreach to families with patterns of absence or disconnection
Operational Coordination
- Support registration, class placement, and enrollment with Religious School Administrative Assistant
- Coordinate facilities setup and classroom preparation before each session
- Manage curriculum materials, supplies, and resources for K-7 classrooms
- Ensure smooth communication between administrative, educational, and facilities teams
- Oversee grade 3-5 electives program: scheduling, teacher support, student placement
- Handle logistics for off-site programs, field trips, and special events
- Plan and coordinate K-5 High Holy Day programming in collaboration with educators and staff
Program Presence and Leadership
- Be present during all religious school sessions for real-time problem-solving
- Foster a positive, joyful, and safe environment for students and teachers
- Facilitate special programs and family events, including staffing family overnight programs as needed
- Step into classrooms for behavioral support or emergency coverage as needed
- Coordinate with Directors of Inclusion, Jewish Family Journeys, and Families with Young Children on cross-grade initiatives
Safety and Security
- Support Director of Youth and Family Education in implementing school safety and security protocols, and assist with safety training for teachers and madrichim
- Serve as on-site point person for safety concerns during religious school hours as needed
- Help ensure consistent communication of safety expectations to faculty, families, and students
Supervision and Collaboration
- Be supervised by the Director of Youth and Family Education and co-create collaborative vision for K-7 Religious School experiences
- Work collaboratively with full-time Education Team: Director of Jewish Family Journeys (B'Mitzvah program and family engagement), Director of Inclusion (student support and teacher development), Director of Families with Young Children (ages 0-6 programming), and Manager of Makom Teen Community (grades 8-12)
- Collaborate with clergy, educators, and staff on religious school worship and holiday programming
- Coordinate with Religious School Administrative Assistant on operational tasks
- Support Temple Isaiah's strategic priorities around relationship-building and family engagement
- Communicate effectively with families, teachers, and lay leaders
Personal Characteristics and Professional Skills
- Experience supervising, coaching, and supporting teachers, including observation and feedback
- Commitment to inclusion of diverse learners and families
- Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple teachers, projects, and deadlines
- Clear, effective communicator with teachers, families, and colleagues (written and verbal)
- Collaborative leader who builds trust while holding professional expectations
- Solid understanding of Jewish learning, child development, and effective classroom teaching
- Ability to work sensitively and confidently with children, teachers, and families
- Self-directed, accountable, and comfortable balancing independence with teamwork
- Comfortable with technology and school-based systems
- Flexible and adaptable in a dynamic congregational setting
- Commitment to Reform Jewish values
Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree (Master's degree in Jewish Education or related field preferred)
- Background in Jewish education with demonstrated commitment to Reform Jewish values
- Teaching experience with elementary-age children
- 3-5 years experience in congregational education preferred
Schedule
- The anticipated start date for this position is July 1, 2026
- Temple Isaiah’s office hours are 9:00-5:00 Monday-Thursday and 9:00-2:00 on Friday
- Work schedule is adjusted to accommodate presence at Religious School programs, September-May:
- Sunday programs run 8:45-1:00
- Wednesday programs run 4:00-7:30
- Select additional evenings and weekends as needed
- Additional time for faculty meetings, planning, and special programs as needed
Compensation and Benefits
- The salary range is $70,000-80,000 and will be commensurate with experience
- Our comprehensive benefit package includes medical and dental insurance, a 403(b) retirement plan, as well as vacation and paid sick time
- Funding for professional development available
- Temple Isaiah is closed for up to 11 federal holidays and 8 Jewish holidays and closes at 2:00pm on Friday
- Temple Isaiah is an equal opportunity employee
To Apply: Please send cover letter and resume to Rabbi Sam Pollak, Director of Youth and Family Education ([email protected]).