Director of Education & Family Outreach, SAJ-Judaism that Stands for All
SAJ is a joyous community of New Yorkers – a Jewish home where everyone’s
voice is valued and heard. Imagine a religious school kids run towards and a
synagogue where all can come together for social justice, study, and Shabbat.
Ever since SAJ introduced America’s first bat mitzvah in 1922, it has been
reconstructing Judaism, wrestling with God, questioning tradition and expanding
its boundaries to ensure that Torah remains relevant, engaging, and welcoming
to all.
Over the last decade, SAJ has reinvented and revitalized our educational
program, adding robust baby-pre-K and B*Mitzvah family education programs,
Hebrew tutoring, and teen programming in addition to Makom - our weekly
religious school. With nearly 100 students participating in early childhood to
teens programming, our student community is diverse, including interfaith,
multicultural, and multi-racial families, LGBTQ, single and two family households,
and both neurotypical and neurodivergent learners.
SAJers of all ages gather on Shabbat to pray, sing, learn, connect, and eat. Our
Pela (Pre-K) and Makom programs are intentionally held on Shabbat mornings to
fully integrate students and families into our thriving intergenerational community
and to enable them to experience the rhythm and joy of Jewish time.
Encouraging creative expression and embracing complexity over simple
answers, we empower students to see themselves as participants in Judaism’s
evolving tradition and as agents of change in the world. With clear vision, clergy
support and involvement, and deep commitment among families to the school
and synagogue community, we continue to build on our successes and are
focused on growing our program to its full potential.
We seek a Director of Education & Family Outreach who:
? Loves Jewish ritual, texts, tradition, and klal yisrael and understands
Judaism as evolving and dynamic
? Is a teacher at heart who brings creative pedagogies, prioritizes
social-emotional-spiritual learning, and lifts up the unique gifts of every
child
? Embodies the values of hachnasat orchim (welcome) and hesed
(kindness) in relationship to students, parents, congregants and staff
? Is an independent and motivated leader who will embrace the opportunity
to design new initiatives to drive SAJ’s growth
? Supports the thriving of students, teachers, and parents with strong
administrative systems, clear communication, and an organized approach
? Is flexible, creative and calm under pressure
Qualifications:
? 5 years of teaching in Jewish settings
? 1+ years experience supervising in a Jewish setting
? Master’s Degree in Education preferred but not required
? Musical skills a bonus, but not required
Responsibilities:
1. Educational Leadership
a. Work collaboratively with clergy team on overall vision, goals, and
management of educational program
b. Coordinate and run all aspects of Pela and Makom weekly Shabbat
programs
c. Ensure a safe and inclusive learning environment, honoring the
diversity of our families and promoting a culture of belonging
d. Review and revise Makom’s values-based curriculum, provide
teaching team with robust curricular resources
e. Hire, train, and supervise Makom and Makom Shabbaton teachers,
Pela (pre-K) leader, Hebrew tutors, and Teen Coordinator
f. Oversee SAJ teen programming, including recruiting and hiring
classroom Teen Assistants
g. Run SAJ’s Hebrew-at-home tutoring program, match kids to tutors,
manage Hebrew instructional resources, and track student progress
h. Lead or co-lead Tefilah (prayer) for High Holiday Family services and
weekly Makom Tefilah for 3-6th graders
i. Liaison with clergy on B*Mitzvah student progress and clergy-led
B*Mitzvah Education Program
j. Empower students to both “hug and wrestle with” Israel, with
sensitivity to synagogue members’ diverse viewpoints and in
coordination with Rabbi Lauren
2. Communication and Administration
a. Produce a weekly e-newsletter to parents
b. Communicate with staff, parents, teachers, and other congregants in
a warm, respectful and timely manner
c. Set appropriate expectations for part-time teaching staff and create
systems that enable staff to excel
d. Meet weekly with Rabbi Lauren and participate in SAJ staff meetings
and trainings
e. Work collaboratively with SAJ staff to schedule programs and new
outreach initiatives and to arrange logistics for events
f. Work with SAJ administrative staff on integration of new families into
our online billing, directory systems, and community newsletter
g. Develop needed policies for staff or school in consultation with Rabbi
and Executive Director
h. Develop a budget for the next fiscal year, in coordination with SAJ
Executive Director, and track expenditures to ensure fiscal
responsibility
i. Facilitate student enrollment and re-enrollment into Makom
j. Provide reports to the SAJ Board, as requested by the Chair
3.Family Outreach
a. Build relationships with potential member families with school age
children and engage them in special community events
b. Design a 2 year plan for an expanded Makom Family Outreach
initiatives, which can include but is not limited to in-house initiatives,
public-space programs, organizational partnerships, in conjunction
with Rabbi, parents and Board liaison
c. Work with SAJ administrative staff to ensure effective and
appropriate communications and publicity for SAJ’s educational
programming
d. Participate in larger community events that will promote SAJ’s
presence and support potential growth
e. Recommend short and long term additions to our educational
program based on unmet needs and strategic planning
f. Work with staff to evaluate efficacy of outreach efforts
4. Co-Curricular Programming & Community Building
a. Coordinate children’s services and programming for all communally
celebrated Jewish holidays
b. Facilitate community building through SAJ’s current co-curricular
programming and through personal connections
c. Establish and monitor parent volunteer opportunities
d. Recommend parents as appropriate for leadership pipeline within
the broader SAJ community
e. Recruit families and coordinate children’s programming for
synagogue retreats
f. Act as a Community Builder by facilitating connections among
students and families
g. Welcome and integrate new families into Makom and into the life of
the synagogue in conjunction with the Rabbi
Compensation:
Full time, $85,000-105,000 commensurate with experience.
Generous benefit package includes health Insurance, paid family leave, and 20
paid vacation days. Offices are closed on the second day of Chagim (holidays,
with the exception of Rosh HaShanah) and between December 25 and January
1. Expectation of 3 weekdays (or partial days) and Saturdays in person, with the
option for remote work for the balance of the week. Attendance at holiday
programs and occasional Friday evenings is expected. This schedule is subject
to change. Direct supervision by Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann.
Start Date: July 2025
Send resumes to [email protected]