Director of Jewish Education

Temple Israel – Columbus, Ohio

Start date: May 2025

Temple Israel is seeking a dynamic and passionate Director of Jewish Education to lead our fast-growing Religious School and adult lifelong learning program. The Director will play a key role in overseeing and enhancing our Jewish educational offerings for students in grades Pre-K through 7. They will  foster a love for Jewish learning, tradition, and community, using strong organizational and communication skills, and working side by side with an innovative team.  This is a full-time position with responsibility for all aspects of our Religious School, from curriculum development to teacher supervision. Responsibilities also include overseeing adult lifelong learning opportunities.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Direct the Religious School
• Oversee the Religious School program for grades Pre-K through 7, ensuring a meaningful, engaging, and age-appropriate Jewish educational experience.
• Hire and manage teachers, providing guidance, support, and professional development to ensure the highest standard of education.
• Develop, implement, and evaluate the Religious School and Hebrew Pod (language acquisition) curriculum in consultation with the Senior Rabbi, Education Team, and administrative staff.
2. Create and Coordinate Special Programs
• Develop innovative and engaging educational experiences for children and teens during the High Holidays and other Jewish holidays.
• Organize and oversee post-B’nai Mitzvah Madrichim leadership program.
• Collaboratively create adult lifelong learning experiences with clergy.

Team:

• Report directly to the Senior Rabbi
• Supervise 11 Religious School Teachers and 27 Teen Madrichim
• Collaborate with supportive team, including clergy, administrative staff and the Education Team of 5
• Thought partner with Jewish Educators Organization (JEOrg) for Columbus

Desired Experience & Qualifications:

• A strong background in Jewish education, with a deep knowledge of Jewish tradition, holidays, and customs.
• Experience in educational leadership, including curriculum development, teacher management, and program coordination.
• Proven ability to work effectively with children, teens, and families in a synagogue or educational setting.
• Leadership and Administration: A minimum of 3-5 years in leadership roles within Jewish education, such as managing religious school programs, supervising staff, or overseeing education departments in various settings.
• Curriculum Development: Experience in designing, implementing, and evaluating engaging Jewish educational curricula for learners of all ages, from early childhood to adults.
• Program Innovation: Proven ability to develop creative and meaningful programs that integrate Jewish values, holidays, and traditions into the educational experience.
• Teacher Development: Experience in hiring, training, mentoring, and evaluating educators to foster a collaborative and high-performing team.
• Budget Management: Familiarity with creating and managing budgets.
• Conflict Resolution and Problem-Solving: Experience managing challenges and conflicts in a way that fosters growth and maintains positive relationships with students and adults. 

Temple Israel’s Religious School Overview:

• Our Religious School runs on Sunday mornings from 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM. The schedule includes Tefillah, Kehillot (camp-style programming with Mussar) for specific grades, Shirah with the Cantor and more.
• Hebrew Pods meet on Sundays after Religious School and several weekdays for grades 3-6.
• The robust Madrichim (teen leaders) program assists in the classroom and contributes to creative, inclusive programming.

Hours:

The position requires 40 to sometimes 50 hours per week with Mondays and most Saturdays off through the school year. Hours are generally 10 am - 6 pm on weekdays (flexible per Hebrew Pod times), 7:30 am - 2:00 pm on Sundays, adult education courses as scheduled and periodic family services on Fridays and holidays. Remote work availability is determined by the supervisor/Senior Rabbi.

Location: 3100 E Broad Street Columbus, OH 43209. 

Additional Benefits:

1. Health Insurance: Including medical, dental, and vision plans.
2. Retirement Benefits: Temple Israel offers pension benefits through the Reform Pension Board
3. Paid Time Off (PTO): Including vacation days, personal days, and holidays.
4. Professional Development: Funding for attending conferences, courses, or other educational opportunities related to Jewish education.
5. Association of Reform Jewish Educators (ARJE) membership
6. Parental Leave: Paid maternity/paternity leave, as appropriate.

To Apply:
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Natalie Adler at [email protected]. We look forward to hearing from you.

Temple Israel is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees and applicants, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status. We encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply and join our community rooted in respect, equity, and shared purpose.