Who we are
For more than fifty years, Congregation B’nai Shalom has been a home for Jews seeking a warm and family-centered community in the East Bay. As Contra Costa County’s only Conservative congregation, we offer an innovative approach to Judaism that remains deeply rooted in tradition. We are committed to inclusion for all, and are welcoming to interfaith families, and to people of all races, abilities, ages, gender expressions, and sexual orientations.
What you will find
A welcoming and inviting atmosphere
A relaxed office environment
Flexible hours
Innovation welcomed
Position Details
The Director of Youth and Family Education will lead the religious education program, supervise the education staff, and work with clergy and lay leaders to coordinate healthy, engaging programs for children, youth, and families. The core goal is a vibrant, joyful religious education program that fosters the spiritual and moral development of our children. In collaboration with the clergy and Education Committee, the Director is responsible for instilling a sense of Jewish identity in our children and youth, creating a safe, welcoming environment for their faith development through community and family involvement. We value a confident, creative, and innovative professional to guide our school, so our students can both feel comfort in our tradition and learn the skills of questioning, interpretation, and analysis that will build the future of our movement and religion.
The Director of Youth and Family Education position is approximately 30 hours per week through the entire year. Our Religious School supports Pre-K through 7th grade. Our present operation includes a monthly Gesher Pre-K event; Sunday mornings for K-7; and, Wednesday afternoons additionally for 3-7. The Religious School academic year runs from September through May. The Director of Youth and Family Education reports to the Executive Director; content and curriculum is generally supervised by the clergy. The position can be expanded to include other duties to become a full-time position.
Specific Responsibilities of the Director of Youth and Family Education
Pedagogy
- Developing, adjusting, and implementing the Religious School curriculum
- Monitoring student progress within classrooms and school-wide activities
- Supporting the delivery of academic stimulation for students performing above the levels of proficiency
- Hiring, overseeing, and evaluating Religious School teaching and madrichim staff members
- Supporting the remediation of academic and behavioral issues as they arise
- Implementing procedures that track student attendance and follow-up with parents, as appropriate
- Coordinating with the Hazzan in planning and implementing the B’nai Mitzvah program
Community
- Organizing at least four seasonal family programs (generally Hanukkah, Tu B’Shevat, Purim, Passover)
- Collaborating with the Preschool Director and Executive Director to develop and implement strategies to retain Preschool students into the Religious School
- Working collaboratively with outside partners (JCCs, PJ Library, Urban Adamah, Wilderness Torah, Nazun, day schools, neighboring synagogues, summer camps, and other community institutions.) to plan and implement 4-6 community celebrations and family educational opportunities per year
- Supervise the youth group adviser in coordinating events for youth engagement, in collaboration with synagogue leadership
- Organizing and attending monthly Family Shabbat/class Shabbat services, including managing participation of students, coordinating catering/dinner, managing RSVP list, etc, in collaboration with clergy, staff, and lay leadership
- Designing and leading meaningful High Holy Day family service programming, in collaboration with clergy and lay leadership; expectation is a 90-minute service each on Rosh Hashanah I and on Yom Kippur
- Encouraging and facilitating participation in the regional Contra Costa Midrasha with our seventh-grade students
- Serving as the synagogue’s liaison to Jewish Teen organizations such as BBYO, USY, NFTY, or NCSY
Communication
- Crafting weekly and special email communications with parents
- Producing bi-monthly articles for the congregation’s newsletter
- Welcoming prospective synagogue members regarding the opportunities for their children in the religious school
- Promoting the posting on the congregation’s communication channels to promote the Religious School and associated youth and family programming
Leadership
- Leading regular staff meetings, including professional development and additional emergency meetings as needed
- Developing the annual school calendar
- Developing and implementing registration protocols and materials
- With the Executive Director, developing a marketing and recruitment plan for the Religious School
- Regularly convene the Religious School Committee and serve as a liaison to other committees of the board as needed
- Partnering with synagogue leadership and staff on fundraising and grant-writing opportunities; coordinating fundraising activities with staff, Religious School committee and parent volunteers
- Preparing and adhering to an annual budget for the Religious Education department and other associated areas in coordination with the Executive Director
- In coordination with the Executive Director and synagogue leadership, maintaining a secure, safe environment, including development and implementation of safety plans and protocols
- All other duties as assigned by the clergy or Executive Director as appropriate to the position
Benefits
Full-time salary up to $82,500
Part-time salary up to $57,500
Complimentary membership in the synagogue with discounted fees for Preschool, Religious School, and B’nai Mitzvah
Healthcare benefit
Three-weeks paid vacation
Life insurance, long term disability
Free or discounted admittance to synagogue events
Professional development support
Please send a resume to [email protected] or contact Stuart Kirsch, Executive Director, at 925-951-5386.
Congregation B’nai Shalom is an equal-opportunity employer. All candidates are welcome to apply and will be evaluated without regard to race, sex, gender identification, sexual orientation, national origin, native language, religion, age, disability, marital status, citizenship, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other characteristic protected by law.