Temple Beth Shalom Religious School Director
TEMPLE BETH SHALOM (TBS) in Santa Fe, New Mexico, seeks a Religious School Director, starting summer 2025, who is passionate about Jewish identity and learning. This person will lead the TBS Religious School and supervise our Youth Director, Preschool Jewish Educator, and B'nei/B'not Mitzvah Coordinator.
WHO WE ARE: Temple Beth Shalom is a welcoming and inclusive Reform synagogue in the unique and culturally rich city of Santa Fe, New Mexico. The extraordinary beauty, vast skies, and stunning sunsets of the high-altitude desert lend to a profound sense of spirituality.
The oldest and largest Jewish community in Santa Fe, now with around 300 households (about 800 individuals), TBS continues to grow. Our community is guided by our Rabbi of 11 years, and our Executive Director has been with us for 7 years. Our staff are kind, creative, and collaborative; we work in partnership with lay leadership, committees, and volunteers.
TBS celebrates the diversity of our community. We strive to inspire and model compassion and love in each other and in our ever-evolving tradition. We value the interpersonal wellness of our congregants and contribute to the wellbeing of our larger Northern New Mexico community. Our members often speak of TBS as extended family.
EDUCATION IS A CONTINUUM at TBS; all ages and stages contribute to the sustainability of our community and durability of our tradition. As Religious School Director, you help shape our Jewish future.
Three programs are under your direct guidance, as supervised and supported by our Rabbi: Sunday Religious Schoot: around 40 students from pre-K to 7h grade, plus a robust madrichim (teen aide) program; Wednesday Hebrew School: an intensive program for 4th through 7th with an optional 3rd grade; ? Our teen program, the Hochberg Academy, also on Wednesday evenings: serves 8th-12 graders as both youth group and religious education. Led by our experienced Youth Director, you'll have opportunities to teach in the program.
You'll supervise two additional part-time positions (active postings available) jointly with Rabbi: • Preschool Jewish Educator: our person responsible for Jewish content in the TBS Preschool; B'nei Mitzvah Coordinator: preparation and tutoring for our students and their families. You may be requested to assist with intake of baseline data regarding Hebrew knowledge for prospective B'nei Mitzvah students.
SCOPE: As the person entrusted with the functioning and well-being of these programs, Religious School Director expectations include: •Administrative: registration - tuition payments - payroll, purchasing, budgeting - student/teacher records - health/safety/security compliance - hire, supervise, support teachers and aides. Educational: collaboratively plan education/holiday calendar - lead T'fillah Sunday and Wednesday - organize Torah Study (7th and 8th grades) - implement curriculum and learning goals based around Hineini program and Discovery Modules, as developed by Rabbi - plan and implement spring Shabbaton - develop and implement creative summer activities - direct tutoring of B'nei Mitzvah students would be ideal. • Family engagement through orientation and family night programs - resources to support and integrate learningsynchronize events with calendar and Hineni - family participation in community celebrations and events. • Community: coordinate Religious School Committee activities, including Purim Carnival - Latke Lunch - Tu Bishvat or Pesach seder- encourage student and family enthusiasm and engagement. Supervisory: Religious School teachers and teen aides (Madrichim); Preschool Jewish Educator; B'neí Mitzvah coordinator; Youth Director. Collaboration: Participate in Religious School Committee meetings - Serve as resource for Adult Education committee, including hiring and content development for Adult Hebrew and Yiddish classes.
QUALITIES YOU BRING: • Excitement to inspire and enthuse Solid knowledge of Jewish texts, holidays, and values Skills in a variety of creative teaching modalities Ability to connect with children, youth, teens Desire to engage in family education Positive, collaborative mindset ? Passion and compassion Ability to use diverse technological tools to teach and to communicate Knowledge of innovative and best practices in Jewish education Successful teaching, administrative experience Strong organizational skills Strong communication skills Role model in the larger Jewish community Fundraising experience a plus • Educational credentials / Jewish education experience preferred.
THE DETAILS: This is a year- round, part-time position, approximately 20 hours per week. The normal on-campus work schedule includes Sunday, Wednesday evening, and Jewish holidays. Rate = $40.00/hour. Background check required. Interested? Need more information? Please call Wendy at 505-982-1376 or email [email protected]. Ready to apply? Please send your resume, cover letter, and three professional references to [email protected]. Check our active posts for Preschool Jewish Educator and B'nei Mitzvah CoordinatorInterested and qualified? Let's discuss combining positions!