Washington Hebrew Congregation is a large, historic, Reform synagogue blessed with a Religious School that serves over 1800 families with children from Pre-K through 12th grade through a variety of programs. We have two Religious School campuses where we run parallel programming. We are seeking an Assistant Director to help oversee our dynamic and engaging Religious School.
We are eager to find an enthusiastic, outgoing, and warm individual who strives for excellence. WHC is a professional environment with high expectations; we offer the support and resources to actualize our goals and uphold our standards. This position is a great chance for someone to learn, grow, explore, implement innovative ideas, and have tremendous impact. Our ideal candidate has worked in creative educational settings (like camp, youth groups, progressive schools) and enjoys working as part of a team. Ideally, this individual is seeking to focus their work on programming for children in Pre-K through 7th grade with additional responsibilities based on their strengths and interests.
The Assistant Director serves as a member of the Religious Education Team. In collaboration with the team, this individual promotes and oversees the continued success of the Religious School in the ways listed below, as well as other ways according to the individual’s strengths and interests, taking into account the evolving needs of the school and community. We seek someone who loves this sacred work, has a strong desire to learn and grow in the position, and approaches their work with a high degree of professionalism. This position is supervised by the Director of Lifelong Learning.
Other things we’d love to see in a candidate?
- A love for children of all ages and desire to work meaningfully with them;
- Experience with Reform Judaism;
- Musical abilities as a song-leader;
- A sense of humor and humility;
- A desire to help imbue people’s lives with meaning through Judaism!
VISION, CURRICULUM & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM RESPONSIBILITIES
- Prepare/coordinate usage of supplemental educational materials for teachers and students.
- Partner with families to develop “Independent Studies” experiences for students as needed.
- Assist teachers in making our programming inclusive and relevant to all students.
- Remain up-to-date on advancements and opportunities related to our curriculum.
- Communicate the vision to our school community in relevant ways.
- Serve as a senior building administrator on school days (Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday).
FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Assist in the recruitment and interviewing of faculty in partnership with the Director.
- Liaise with parents and teachers regarding individual student needs when relevant.
- Address specific faculty needs within classroom and site throughout the year.
- Help oversee ongoing correspondence with families.
- Brief all faculty on a weekly basis regarding upcoming programs and schedules.
COMMUNITY BUILDING RESPONSIBILITIES
- Promote staff morale and fulfill the mission of WHC and the Religious School.
- Design and lead our Junior Youth Group programs for students in 2nd through 7th
- Assist in community-wide family programming.
- Build relationships with and among WHC’s Religious School families.
SUPERVISION
Our Educator receives regular and ongoing supervision by the Director of Lifelong Learning. This includes, but is not limited to, goal setting, ongoing evaluation of progress, professional development opportunities and tons of support! This position is a great place to learn and grow.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates must hold a college degree. Experience working in a supplemental school or camp setting desired. Self-awareness, attention to detail and computer literacy are essential. A successful candidate will need to multi-task, communicate effectively and professionally, and maintain an organized and focused approach to the execution of the position’s responsibilities. They will strive to provide teachers, students and parents with a positive, supportive, and caring environment on behalf of the WHC Religious School. As with all WHC staff, the candidate is expected to work as part of a team to create a professional atmosphere in the office and school environment and to serve the Temple’s constituencies with excellence.
This position description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. They will be required to follow any other instructions and to perform any other duties requested by their supervisor. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
Important note: we’re NOT looking for a unicorn. If all, most, or some of this overview sounds appealing, we encourage you to reach out! We love working with passionate people who care deeply about the Jewish future.
Washington Hebrew Congregation is an equal opportunity employer!