Woodstock Jewish Congregation
Lev Shalem School
School Director and Teacher
Part-Time, Salaried | Approximately 20 Hours/Week
About Lev Shalem School
Lev Shalem School is WJC’s spiritual community for young people, ages 3–17. Rooted in a progressive, non-dogmatic approach to Jewish life, we are a sukkah for sacred learning, community building, and self-exploration. Our name — “whole heart” — reflects our commitment to being a full, open-hearted space for every child and family who walks through our doors.
Our Vision:
A world where young people enter the world feeling empowered, responsible and in love with their heritage, whether it is inherited or chosen, where we break down misconceptions that wisdom and the sacred can only be found here (in synagogue), but yes, indeed, it is here!
Our Mission:
Foster a spiritual community for kids to approach spirituality individually and collectively in a Jewish context. Be a space for them to learn our wisdom tradition, accessible approaches to Jewish spiritual practice within a community to try things, play, and have fun with their tradition. We aim to cultivate within our students a sense of a joyful, nourishing Judaism that is based in love, and an understanding of oneness and interconnection with all beings and the earth. We are a sukkah for sacred learning, community building, and self-exploration.
Position Summary
The School Director is the educational and visionary leader of Lev Shalem School. This is a dual role: the Director is both the school’s lead teacher and its program administrator. The ideal candidate deeply understands — and embodies — the WJC/Lev Shalem ethos: warm, spiritually curious, non-hierarchical, and unafraid to break the mold of traditional religious school. They bring creativity, organizational skill, and genuine love for children and families to everything they do.
The Director works in consultation with the clergy, coordinates programming for children ages 0–17 across the congregation, and is responsible for growing and sustaining the school’s community over time.
Current School Programs
-Youngsters (ages 3–6) — weekly
-Lev Shalem Main Class (ages 8–11) — weekly
-B’Mitzvah Class (ages 12–13) — biweekly, facilitated by Hazzan Raechel and Rabbi Karen; Director coordinates and supports
-Jew Crew Teen Youth Group (ages 14–17) — monthly programming
Duties & Responsibilities
Teaching & Curriculum
-Develop and maintain an evolving annual curriculum for all classes, aligned with the school’s mission and rooted in Jewish wisdom practices, spiritual exploration, nature, song, and community
-Serve as lead teacher for the Lev Shalem Main Class (ages 8–11), teaching approximately 10 students with a teacher’s assistant, Wednesdays 4:00–6:30 PM (arrive 3:30 PM; depart by 7:00 PM including cleanup)
-Supervise the teacher for the Youngsters class (ages 3–6) on Wednesdays, 3:45–5:00 PM
-Plan and facilitate Family Sessions around the holidays
-Decorate and maintain classroom spaces that reflect students and their learning
-Maintain student attendance records
-Write and send a family communication email after each session summarizing the class and including photos
Program Administration & School Growth
-Serve as the primary administrator and logistical coordinator for the school program
-Oversee the full school calendar, scheduling of classes, family sessions, and special events
-Lead student recruitment and enrollment for all age groups
-Hold regular communication and coordination meetings with teaching staff
-Coordinate Hebrew tutors and Hebrew reading proficiency for students
-Meet monthly with the Lev Shalem School committee
Preferred
-Develop and implement a plan to expand the school with a fourth class offering and hiring a second teacher, with initial planning occurring in the summer
-Initiate and develop a Tot Shabbat program for families with young children
Youth & Teen Programming
-Plan and facilitate monthly programming for Jew Crew, the teen youth group (ages 14–17)
-Foster a teen community that feels seen, engaged, and connected to Jewish life and the synagogue
B’Mitzvah Coordination
-Coordinate the B’Mitzvah class (ages 12–13) in collaboration with the clergy, who serve as the primary facilitators
-Maintain scheduling, communication with B’Mitzvah families, and logistical support for the program
Holiday & Congregational Children’s Programming
-Coordinate children’s programming at WJC during holidays and festivals throughout the year
-Collaborate with clergy and synagogue staff to integrate Lev Shalem School into the broader life of the congregation
Parent & Community Engagement
-Serve as the primary point of contact for Lev Shalem School families
-Maintain consistent, warm, and timely communication with parents and guardians
-Actively cultivate relationships with families and the wider WJC community
-Solicit and incorporate family feedback to strengthen and grow the school
Qualifications
Required
-Deep alignment with the WJC and Lev Shalem ethos – joyful, spiritual, non-dogmatic, and relational
-Experience teaching children and/or youth in a Jewish educational, camp, or comparable spiritual setting
-Demonstrated ability to develop creative, mission-aligned curriculum
-Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with children, parents, teens, and colleagues
-Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple programs simultaneously
-Warm, open-hearted, and comfortable with a non-traditional, spiritually exploratory approach to Judaism
-Proficiency with basic digital communication tools (email, simple newsletters, photo sharing)
Preferred
-Experience in Jewish education, Jewish studies, education, or a related field (formal degree or equivalent life/professional experience)
-Familiarity with Jewish spiritual practices, holidays, lifecycle events, and Hebrew
-Experience facilitating teen programming or youth groups
-Background in mindfulness, nature-based learning, social-emotional learning, or related approaches
-Experience in staff hiring or supervision
-Knowledge of B’Mitzvah preparation processes
Compensation
Compensation:
This is a part-time salaried position.
Salary: $40,000-$60,000/year for approximately 20 hours per week
Reporting Structure:
The Director reports to our Director of Operations and consults with clergy on vision and curriculum.
How to Apply
To apply, please send the following to our Director of Operations, Tara Nicholson - [email protected]:
-A cover letter describing your connection to the Lev Shalem School mission and what you would bring to this role
-Your resume or CV
-Two or three references (professional, educational, or communal)
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. We encourage interested candidates to apply promptly. WJC is an equal opportunity employer and warmly welcomes applicants of all backgrounds, identities, and Jewish journeys.