Music Educator – Early Childhood, Religious School & Congregational Life
Reports to: Director of Early Childhood Education and Director of Youth and Family Engagement
Employment Type: In-Person, Part-Time Exempt
Start Date: August 15, 2025
Salary: $50,000
Position Summary
Temple Shaaray Tefila is seeking a dynamic and passionate music educator to join our team in a part-time role that blends music education, songleading, family worship, and community-building. This position plays a vital role in shaping the musical and spiritual experiences of our nursery school, religious school, and youth programs, while supporting holiday celebrations and congregational events throughout the year.
About Us
Temple Shaaray Tefila’s mission is to cultivate a community driven by making meaning, building connections, and living our purpose, rooted in Reform Jewish values, toward making lives and communities more whole and holy. We are an actively engaged Reform congregation of over 700 families located on the Upper East Side of New York City. In 2025, we will celebrate our 180th anniversary, honoring a rich legacy while continuing to grow and evolve.
Key Responsibilities
Early Childhood (Nursery School & Parenting Program)
TST’s Nursery School seeks a warm, engaging, and creative Early Childhood Music Educator to serve children ages 18 months to 5 years. The educator will inspire a love of music through joyful, developmentally appropriate experiences rooted in Jewish values and traditions.
- Teach 12 weekly music sessions (20–30 minutes per class).
- Lead a weekly Shabbat sing-along for the Nursery School.
- Support and perform at special events, including:
- Chanukah classroom celebrations
- End-of-year celebrations
- Nursery School graduation
- Book Fair
- Collaborate with clergy and school staff to design and lead seasonal and holiday music programming and tot family worship as described below.
- Partner with the Director of Early Childhood to create and implement a rich and creative music curriculum that complements classroom learning.
- During the 7-week summer session, lead music sessions three days per week, including weekly Shabbat sing-along for campers.
Religious School
The Music Educator will also serve as a core music and Tefillah leader for students of all ages in the Religious School program.
- Lead music and Tefillah in the sanctuary, chapel, or classrooms.
- Facilitate drop-in music sessions for younger grades.
- Collaborate with classroom faculty to align music with curriculum goals.
- Prepare materials (slides, songsheets, and siddurim) to support student learning.
- Attend all Religious School programming (Sunday mornings and Monday evenings).
- Participate in staff training and team-building events throughout the year.
Worship and Holiday Programming
This role includes collaboration with clergy and education staff on synagogue-wide worship and holiday celebrations.
- Lead or support musical worship for:
- High Holidays: Tot Worship, Teen Services, Religious School Services
- Jewish Holidays: Simchat Torah, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, and more
- Shabbat Experiences: Tot Shabbat (AM/PM), Young Family Shabbat, Havdalah; these services are typically twice a month.
- Family & Tot Programs: Tot Holidays, Women’s Seder, Tot Purim, etc.
- Assist Cantor in leading the children’s choir (e.g., “School of Rock Kid Choir”).
Other Duties and Collaboration
- Attend regular planning meetings.
- Collaborate across departments to support music, education, and spiritual life.
- Perform additional responsibilities as assigned in support of synagogue and community programming.
Please Note: The responsibilities above reflect the general scope of the role. Duties may be reassigned as needed to meet evolving organizational needs.
Qualifications
- Strong Jewish background and musical proficiency (guitar and vocal skills essential)
- Minimum 3 years’ experience in early childhood and/or religious school settings
- Passion for working with children and teens in educational and informal settings
- Familiarity with Jewish liturgy, holidays, and Hebrew language
- Strong communication and collaboration skills
- Confidence in leading groups and creating joyful, musical experiences
- Bachelor’s degree preferred
- Demonstrated organizational and project management skills
- Proficiency with Google Workspace
- Flexibility to work on High Holidays, Jewish holidays, weekends, and evenings
- Availability during Religious School times: Sundays (AM) and Mondays (PM)
Preferred/Bonus Qualifications
- Summer camp experience
- Background in special needs and inclusion
- Other educational experiences beyond traditional university education
- Schedule:
- Monday, Tuesday or Thursday, and Friday: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
- Sunday: 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM
- Flexibility is required for additional worship, programs, and events
Application Process
- Resumes accepted through June 5, 2025 (rolling review until deadline)
To Apply:
Qualified candidates should submit a one-page cover letter explaining why this position is a good fit, along with a current resume, to:
Sara Beth Berman
Director of Youth and Family Education
[email protected]
Equal Opportunity Statement
Temple Shaaray Tefila provides equal opportunity to all individuals regardless of race, color, national or ethnic origin, religion, age, sex, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, veteran status, disability, citizenship status, or any other category set forth in federal or state regulations. This policy applies to all employees and candidates for employment.