Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Director of Curriculum and Professional Development for the Mann Family and Resnick Family Early Childhood Centers
Opportunity Statement
Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a large congregation in Los Angeles, is seeking an educational leader for the position of Director of Curriculum and Professional Development (DCPD) for the Mann Family Early Childhood Center (Irmas Campus) and the Resnick Family Early Childhood Center (Resnick Campus). The successful candidate will have the opportunity to promote a culture of professional growth for one of the best-regarded centers for the education of young children in Los Angeles and the Jewish community.
The Mann and Resnick ECC is guided by a team of over 90 educators and staff over two campuses, with an enrollment of approximately 360 children, 18 months to five/six years old, and a thriving Parenting Center for babies and their caregivers.
The Director of Curriculum and Professional Development is responsible for the implementation of the educational vision of the Centers. The position includes supporting the development of the emergent curriculum in the classrooms, acting as an instructional coach for the faculty, and planning and delivering professional development sessions for the educators on both campuses.
The Director of Curriculum and Professional Development reports to the Early Childhood Centers Head of School.
DCPD Roles and Responsibilities:
Educational Philosophy and Learning Environment:
- Partner with the Head of School to develop the ECC overall educational philosophy, and guide the curriculum design and implementation in accordance with Wilshire Boulevard Temple’s mission and core values, and with current educational best practices.
- Create and maintain an educational environment that supports children's learning and growth consistently in all classrooms.
- Initiate the process of identifying students whose learning, social, emotional, and behavioral needs are not currently met; partner with parents to provide information, initiate appropriate evaluations, and coordinate services as needed to help every child grow academically, socially, and emotionally.
- Partner with Temple clergy to infuse Jewish values, holiday celebrations, and Jewish practice into the ECC curriculum, in full alignment with the Temple’s mission and core values and practices.
- Stay current with research and innovation in the early education field, and initiate and implement periodic review of all curricula, programs, and projects to ensure they are aligned with the educational philosophy and current pedagogical thinking.
Leadership and Management of Faculty and Staff:
- Cultivate a positive, collaborative, growth-oriented, and professional working environment that attracts and retains a highly skilled and motivated faculty and staff.
- Promote a culture of learning, modeling continuous professional growth and creating opportunities for professional learning and ownership for faculty and staff.
- Support the Head on the recruitment and hiring of new staff members.
- Provide instructional coaching, professional development, and supervision of all Mann and Resnick ECC faculty. Ensure consistency in training and orientation.
- Create opportunities for leadership development for the ECC administration team, and cultivate leadership dispositions among faculty members.
- Partner with the Site Directors in making decisions regarding faculty assignments, class composition, and the distribution of responsibility among the ECC administrative team.
Parent Relations:
- Build relationships and maintain consistent communication with parents of current and prospective students.
- Coordinate a robust offering of parent education programs, including child development and current best practices in parenting and Jewish living, in partnership with other Temple resources.
- Speak with authority and experience on matters of child development and parenting.
Skills and Dispositions:
- Demonstrate commitment to and love for the physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and spiritual health and growth of children
- Uphold a deep respect for children and their families
- Understand children’s developmental needs and individual strengths, areas for growth, and unique personalities
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the principles of adult learning
- Communicate transparently, thoughtfully, and directly, orally and in writing
- Possess exceptional executive functioning skills including time management, organization, planning, goal-setting, and execution
- Demonstrate and embrace collaborative leadership skills
- Maintain both a practical and creative growth mindset; be willing to take risks and experiment with new ideas, and value these traits in others
- Embody reflective practice learning from both successes and failures, demonstrate an active commitment to personal and professional growth, and seek to develop these practices for others in the organization
- Proficient in Google Suite and possess an aptitude for technology and software applicable for schools
Qualifications & Job Requirements:
- Bachelor’s Degree in Early Childhood Education or related field required; Master’s Degree preferred
- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in similar leadership positions in a school or educational program
- Experience being part of and collaborating with a leadership team
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Availability to be physically present when school is in session, and at special events (including some evening and weekend programs)
Compensation/Benefits:
Wilshire Blvd. Temple offers a competitive salary and benefits package. More specific information related to salary and benefits will be provided to candidates invited to interview.
Salary is commensurate with experience, degrees awarded, and certification(s)
Salary Range: $100,000-$125,000
Employment begins July 1, 2024
Application Process:
Interested applicants should send a resume, cover letter, and a brief summary of their overall educational philosophy to [email protected]. Please direct any inquiries and questions to this email.
Duration/Status: Full-time; Exempt administrator
Location: Wilshire Boulevard Temple Irmas and Resnick Campuses
The position will remain open until filled.
Wilshire Boulevard Temple is an equal-opportunity employer and complies with all applicable state and federal laws.