Position Type: 30–35 hours/week, 12-month position
Salary Range: $70,000 – $80,000 commensurate with education, experience, hours
Typical Hours: 8am to 3pm
Reports to: Director of Early Childhood Education
About Temple Sinai Nursery School (TSNS)
Temple Sinai Nursery School (TSNS) is a NAEYC-accredited, play-based early childhood program serving just under 100 children ages 18 months through Pre-K. TSNS is an integral part of a vibrant Reform Jewish synagogue in Northwest Washington, DC, and is grounded in Jewish values. The Temple and TSNS are committed to inclusion and diversity, welcoming all children and staff regardless of their background.
The program is inspired by Reggio Emilia principles and guided by a deep respect for children as capable, curious learners. Classrooms emphasize play, exploration, and meaningful relationships, with educators thoughtfully designing environments and experiences that support each child’s development. TSNS also offers a summer camp for families seeking year-round childcare and enrichment programs for their children.
At TSNS, children, families, and educators form a warm and connected community. The institution is committed to fostering a joyful, inclusive environment where children develop a strong sense of belonging, and where educators are supported as reflective practitioners and lifelong learners.
Position Summary
The Assistant Director plays a central role in ensuring strong classroom practice, supporting teachers, and fostering a nurturing, inclusive environment for children and families. As the primary supervisor and mentor of the teaching staff, this individual remains closely connected to classroom life while contributing to the growth and evolution of TSNS programming.
Additionally, the Assistant Director will help lead the continued development of the summer camp program. Historically a vibrant and well-attended part of TSNS, camp was reintroduced in summer 2025 following a five-year pause due to the pandemic and a major campus construction project. As the school has since expanded its academic-year offerings, including a longer day, this is an exciting moment to thoughtfully reimagine camp for the TSNS of today. The Assistant Director will play a key role in leading a collaborative process to evaluate the program and design an updated model for summer 2027 that aligns with the play-based, relationship-centered approach.
Key Responsibilities
Staff & Classroom Support
- Support supervision of teachers and classroom environments by providing classroom observations and modeling teaching practices.
- Provide guidance on classroom management, child development, and research-informed practices.
- Ensure consistency and quality across classrooms.
- Contribute to staff morale, collaboration, and team cohesion.
Student & Family Support
- Coordinate student support needs in collaboration with teachers, school leadership, and specialists.
- Partner with families with warmth, professionalism, and responsiveness.
Summer Camp Development
- Lead the re-envisioning and design of camp in partnership with the Director and administrative team to support the ongoing development of and administer TSNS’s Summer Camp program for Summer 2027 and beyond.
- Help articulate and align the camp experience with TSNS’s core values, including play-based learning, relationship-building, and Jewish life.
Program Development & Strategic Initiatives
- Gather input from current staff and families to inform program enhancements and future planning.
- Research and reflect on best practices in early childhood summer programming.
- Support maintenance of the school’s NAEYC accreditation.
- Contribute to long-term visioning, with implementation responsibilities evolving over time.
Program Implementation
- Support integration of Jewish values, traditions, and culture into daily classroom experiences.
- Assist with school-wide programming, events, and special initiatives.
- Step in for the School Director as needed.
Operations & Compliance
- Support licensing compliance and safety procedures (OSSE and local regulations).
- Help ensure classrooms meet health, safety, and documentation standards.
- Other duties as assigned by the school Director, as needed and applicable.
Qualifications
- Advanced degree: Early Childhood Education or Special Education.
- Demonstrated leadership: Within a school setting (e.g., mentoring colleagues, leading initiatives, or contributing to program development).
- Strong understanding: Of child development and developmentally appropriate practice.
- Familiarity: With Judaic content preferred, but candidates do not have to be Jewish.
- Excellent skills: Interpersonal, written and oral communication, and problem-solving.
- Ability: To build trusting relationships with staff and families.
- Mindset: Collaborative, flexible, and proactive.
Physical Requirements
This role requires the ability to actively engage in a preschool environment, including moving quickly between classrooms and playground spaces, lifting and carrying young children when needed, and participating in all aspects of daily school routines.
Application Process
Interested candidates should submit a resume and letter of interest to Melanie Douglass at [email protected] by May 8. As part of the interview process, candidates will be invited to lead a brief professional development experience with faculty members.
Temple Sinai Nursery School offers competitive salaries, benefits, and professional development opportunities. The institution is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status. Employment at Temple Sinai is at-will.