Religious School Director

Temple  Israel of Great Neck is seeking an experienced Jewish educator to lead the Kulanu Religious School.   Kulanu provides a vibrant educational experience that emphasizes Jewish traditions including Shabbat, holidays, tefillah and kashrut. Our program creates strong, lasting Jewish memories and connections for our children and families, inspiring participation through high school and beyond.  We embrace Ashkenazi and Sephardi traditions.

The Director of our community school must be warm, knowledgeable, well-organized, and energetic.  The ideal candidate will be an effective administrator, communicator and community-builder who will be able to direct and enhance the formal and informal educational components of our K through B'nai Mitzvah programs in Judaic and Hebrew studies in collaboration with clergy, senior staff, teachers and parents.

Kulanu Religious School, a joint project of Temple Israel and Temple Beth-El of Great Neck, currently serves 130 students and their families in grades Kindergarten through 7th grade.  Class sessions take place on Sunday mornings, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons in addition to our robust Shabbat and Yom Tov services and programs.

Key objectives of Kulanu Religious School:

• Inspire a sense of Jewish identity and pride in our traditions;
• Foster literacy and understanding in prayer and Torah learning;
• Nurture our students’ knowledge and appreciation of Jewish holidays and life-cycle events;
• Meet students and family where they are and engage them in Jewish learning;
• Build a strong sense of Jewish community.

Religious School Director duties include:

Educational:

• Ensure a safe, respectful learning environment;
• Collaborate in reviewing and updating Religious School’s existing Jewish and Hebrew curriculum including tefillah, Shabbat and holidays, kashrut and other Judaic topics;
• Mentor and coordinate professional development for faculty and hold regular faculty meetings;
• Work with parents and teachers to provide a meaningful educational experience for all students, including those with special needs.
• Coordinate and support the teen Madrichim and supervise our Shinshin (Israeli teen educator).
• Work collaboratively with the leader of our Teen program.

Administrative:

• Develop a cohesive vision of learning for youth and families in collaboration with clergy, board, Early Childhood Director, teen engagement professional, lay committees and faculty.
• Hire and supervise religious school teachers, administrative and support personnel;
• Oversee Religious School operations: budget, calendar, school records, safety and other administrative matters; student recruitment,  ordering textbooks and supplies, coordinating programs/events/activities with synagogue, etc.
• Participate in planning, decision-making and programming as a member of the senior staff;
• Participate occasionally in Executive Committee and Board of Trustee meetings;
• Prepare and distribute school communications through email, social media and synagogue bulletin
• Facilitate Religious School Education Committee meetings;
• Supervise B’nei Mitzvah training and guide families through this process;
• Coordinate and/or conduct learning opportunities for parents or other family educational activities.

Community:

• Oversee Religious School Parent Orientation to present Religious School and synagogue offerings and requirements;
• Coordinate parent-teacher meetings and communication with parents; foster family engagement;
• Promote our educational programs to families new to our congregation and prospective families;
• Facilitate and/or conduct a variety of Shabbat and Yom Tov experiences for families such as student/family workshops; Friday Evening and Saturday Shabbat services; family education, post-B’nai Mitzvah, youth programs, and holiday services;
• Coordinate childrens’ Shabbat and High Holiday services including hiring and supervising leaders for those services in collaboration with our clergy.

Qualifications include:

• A./B.S. or higher degree in education and/or Judaic Studies;
• Experience in educational administration;
• Experience in Jewish education, including teaching and curricular coordination;
• Understanding of child development and multimodal learning styles;
• Proficiency in Hebrew language, prayer, and general Judaic subjects
• Creativity and flexibility;
• Highly effective communication skills;
• Strong commitment to Jewish life and community;
• Experience with digital learning- a plus.

Details:

• Benefits: Vacation, Medical coverage available
• Salary Range: $75- $90K.
• Start Date: July 1, 2023
• Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Susan Brustein, committee chair, at [email protected]