PDF of job description available here.
Join an Education Team defining the future of Jewish children’s learning!
At the Institute for Jewish Enrichment (IJE), children are co-creators of Judaism. We’ve developed an explosively creative, empathetic, project process to bring children into dialogue with self, peers, and our ancient and ongoing Jewish conversation. The impact is a child who owns their Judaism, is able to think critically and creatively, with skills to collaborate and dialogue respectfully with peers. There’s no place quite like it in the country.
We are seeking a part-time Jewish Middle & High School Educator to join our team at the IJE Field School as the lead educator and programming director for middle and high school aged students. Be an essential part of a remarkable team of individuals who are intellectually curious, compassionate, dedicated to partnering with Jewish children in learning, and perpetually driven to advance their teaching and themselves. Teens have a class on Wednesday afternoons at the IJE in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood, as well as a number of other social programs throughout the year.
Responsibilities:
1. Serve as the lead educator for the middle and high school classes one afternoon a week at the IJE. In collaboration with the IJE team, develop lesson plans, prepare materials, and become familiar with the IJE middle and high school curriculums. Apply your passion, energy, insight, intellect, and creativity to partnering with children in Jewish exploration. Our emergent curriculum is driven by children’s questions and ideas about their lives and
Jewish text.
2. Lead planning and execution of local social programs for the teens, a few each semester. Work together with teen volunteers to help plan events.
3. Serve as a Jewish community liaison for teens, connecting them to programs and resources that reflect their interests, and deepen their place in the broader Jewish community.
4. Option to join the Special Day team, serving as an educator for younger children on full days of Jewish enrichment, serve as a guest educator when there are absences, work in our Yetzirah (art) studio, and contribute to the IJE using your unique skills, experience, and areas of expertise.
5. We work as a team to strengthen our teaching practice. Educators come together for professional learning weekly, with multiple additional opportunities daily for reflection, coaching, and collaboration with colleagues.
Key Skills/Experience:
• Experience working with middle or high school aged children at a camp, synagogue school, or other formal or informal educational environment
• Significant understanding of Jewish cultural and religious practices
• Appreciation of diverse approaches to Judaism and Jewish life. We welcome and embrace individuals from historically marginalized groups in the Jewish community.
• Ability to decode Hebrew, and memorize and use new Hebrew phrases
• Ability to “own” a responsibility – you will be responsible for all things teen programming!
• Be a flexible risk-taker
• Work well on a team
• Carry an innate commitment to high standards
• Excellent organizational and communication skills (oral, written, and interpersonal)
Educator Logistics:
1. Part-time position available immediately. Must be available Wednesday afternoon from 3:00-6:00 pm, and occasional weekends for social programming.
2. Full time positions begin with an annualized salary of $44K, adjusted based on number of hours of work.
3. Opportunity for other responsibilities, including joining our special day team, serving as a guest educator, working in our Yetzirah (art) studio, and more!
Please send a cover letter and resume to Rabbi Daniel Atwood, Field School Director,
[email protected].
*The Institute for Jewish Enrichment is a 501(c)(3) organization that does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex,
sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, age, disability status, protected veteran status, or other protected
classes under the law.