Inclusion Specialist

Inclusion Coordinator

Dates: 9 months per year (present - May)

Hours: 8 hours per week (average)

Compensation: $10,000 per 9 months

Requirements: minimum bachelor’s degree in Special Education or equivalent

Applicants should send cover letter and resume to Hillary Pinsker Engler at [email protected]

About our Community:

Temple HBT, a down-to-earth, social justice-y, economically and racially diverse Reconstructionist synagogue in the city of Boston, is looking for someone to better support the needs of diverse learners in our synagogue school and holiday programs. The Inclusion Coordinator (IC) will be supervised by the Education Director (ED) and collaborate with administration, teachers, and families to support students (and teachers) with learning differences in the HBT Religious School (Chaverim). Chaverim serves 50 students, and approximately 20% have identified learning differences such as: ADD/ADHD, dyslexia, ASD, mental health, developmental and/or other behavior-related concerns. The IC will be an active presence at school hours (Sundays 9:45am-12:15pm, Wednesdays 4:30-6pm) and will plan and meet with staff and parents outside of school hours. Nonschool hours are flexible.

About our Religious School:

Chaverim families belong to a warm, inclusive community, with shared Jewish values and a commitment to bringing greater kedusha/holiness and tzedek/justice into the world. Through meaningful, relevant learning and practice, students gain facility and familiarity with Jewish texts, prayers, and traditions, and are also encouraged to “wrestle with God” in their own ways. Our goal in Chaverim is for students to become thoughtful, engaged, and grounded young adults who have a foundational Jewish literacy, feel at home in (and contribute to) the HBT community, and are prepared to learn and grow on their lifelong Jewish journeys. 

Pre-K students meet once a month on Sunday mornings. Students in K-7th meet every Sunday morning, and 3rd-6th graders meet Wednesday afternoons as well. Most classes are mixed-grade, with 5-14 students per class.

Responsibilities of Inclusion Coordinator:

1. Student Support

1. Conduct intake interviews with all parents of students with special needs
2. Create or update a learning plan for each student to share with parents, teachers, and ED, and work with teachers to implement learning plan in their classrooms
3. Communicate regularly with parents, teachers, and ED to adjust/implement learning plan
4. Lead small pull-out Hebrew learning groups for students (approx. 30 minutes Sundays and Wednesdays) 

2. Teacher & Madrich/Teen Aide Support:

1. Observe classes and make recommendations to teachers about accommodations or modifications to increase inclusion for both individuals and class as a whole
2. Meet with teachers to address specific challenges and strategies for supporting students, such as differentiated instruction, classroom management, responding to behavioral challenges, and more
3. Train teachers and teen aides in inclusive teaching strategies and implementing specific student learning plans 

3. Services & Specials Support:

1. For Shacharit, Ma’ariv, B’reirot, and Kulanu Yachad (regularly scheduled school/community services and electives) support inclusion by anticipating and addressing challenges/needs as we plan, and implementing ways for all students to participate. This may include directly supporting students at these events or planning for other staff/volunteers to do so.
2. Assist with establishing a Sensory Room where students needing a break during Chaverim or religious services can visit
3. Assist with creating inclusion tools to post on website and provide in the synagogue
4. Help those planning other community-wide programs (HBT retreat, High Holy Day services, etc) anticipate and support inclusion needs to facilitate students’ participation in non-Chaverim HBT activities/events

4. Inclusion Liaison between HBT and Local Resources

1. Serve as point of contact/coordinator for families who participate in Gateways programs
2. Attend monthly Gateways Community of Practice sessions and other professional development around religious school inclusion
3. Help connect families and HBT with available resources, grants, etc for supporting the inclusion of students with special needs

Qualifications:

• Background and experience in inclusion/supporting students with special needs
• Familiarity with Hebrew reading/writing preferred
• Commitment to supporting diverse learners in a warm, diverse environment where community-building and spiritual/social development are as important as “academics” 
• Enthusiasm about supporting the work of our Reconstructionist Jewish religious school (open to applicants who are not Jewish)
• Ability to work well with students, parents, and teachers and be flexible