Senior Director of Learning

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF LEARNING 

Jewish for Good serves as the vibrant hub where everyone belongs, nourishing the roots of local Jewish life.  We provide engaging opportunities that deepen Jewish connections, knowledge, and relations to Israel, services for helping those in need; programs that foster healthy living; and pathways for charitable giving.  We are located in the Levin JCC at 1937 West Cornwallis Road, Durham, North Carolina, 27705.   

The Learning Division is one of four key programmatic pillars of Jewish for Good, which includes the Sandra E. Lerner Jewish Community Day School, the Lerner Early Childhood Center and the Beth El Early Childhood Center.  Collectively these programs serve over 200 children infant through 5^th grade each year with an operating budget of $3.5 million. 

At Jewish for Good, the Early Childhood Center is focused on exploring, imaging, and creating.  Children will explore Jewish life and values; imagine and engage in enriching experiences; all while creating a meaningful community.  To provide an inclusive Jewish environment, while meeting the guidelines set forth by the National Association for the Education of Young Children regarding five interrelated dimensions of early childhood practice.  These dimensions are:

1. Creating a caring community of learners;
2. Teaching to enhance development and learning;
3. Constructing appropriate curriculum that dovetails with early learning standards through a variety of multisensory activities and follows curriculum themes;
4. Continually observing and assessing children’s learning and development; and
5. Establishing reciprocal relationships with all families.

These dimensions are infused on the program each day through the programs learning through play educational philosophy and developmental building blocks. 

The Lerner Elementary School, serves approximately 60 students Kindergarten through 5^th Grade.  As a school, we are committed to achieving the highest standard of academic excellence, fostering learning of Jewish values, culture and traditions while building a diverse and caring community one mensch at a time.  We practice this each day through:

1. One child at a time.
2. Academic excellence.
3. Jewish continuity, community and culture.
4. Pluralistic, diverse environment.
5. Hands-on, integrated learning.
6. Community of life-long learners.
7. Safe and caring community.
8. Social responsibility and ethical thinking.

These eight core concepts are brought to life through our dual curriculum, which teaches students knowledge and values, in both Judaic and General Studies.  Additionally, students have opportunities each week to learn Hebrew, explore arts, music, & physical education, engage in Mitzvot, and have chances to play, ensuring we are attending to the whole child. 

POSITION OVERVIEW:

The Senior Director of Learning is a fulltime, salaried exempt position.  This position is serves as the face of both the Early Childhood Center and Elementary School, is responsible for leading the day-to-day operations of the school and serves as primary administrative contact for both faculty, students and parents alike.   

Senior Director level positions at Jewish for Good are members of the Senior Professional Staff are responsible for the strategic and tactical oversite of their division and serve as face of their division. 

This position reports to the CEO of Jewish for Good and will supervise the Director of ECLC Administration, Director of ECLC Programming, Early Childhood Ambassador, Elementary Executive Manager, Elementary Dean of Students, and Elementary Grade Level Leads.    

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Build and Support Faculty

• Assign, supervise, mentor, evaluate, and recruit (as needed) faculty and staff for the Lerner Elementary School and in partnership with Directors for ECLC.   
• Plan and conduct faculty meetings and ongoing professional development annually.
• Provide autonomy to faculty and ensure a sense of accountability in areas of instruction and student achievement; while ensuring early learning standards and state academic standards are fulfilled.
• Setting the tone of the school; promote a positive sense of camaraderie, professionalism, and trust in the workplace; fostering a culture of hakarat hatov (calling out the good).

Create Environment for Learning and Growing

• Elementary School: Design, evaluate and update the curriculum, textbooks, and other educational resources, in line with the school’s mission and educational philosophy, in partnership with faculty, which includes, but is not limited to core subjects, Judaic, Hebrew, Visual Arts, Music, and Physical Education; monitor the implementation and execution of the curriculum and overall progress of students.
• Early Childhood Center: Develop broad themes that can be infused monthly across age levels to guide faculty in facilitate hands on learning across direct and indirect teaching in their classrooms.
• Across Programs:
  • Develop school year calendar and work closely with leadership to coordinate school-wide programs and events.
  • Embrace and assist Faculty with differentiation to meet the individual needs of students.
  • Support positive behavior and classroom management, primarily by supporting team members in the classrooms and secondarily through direct interventions, where needed and lead student support team to address needs when they arise; facilitate meetings with parents as needed

Establish Robust School Community

• Present the school and its mission to prospective parents, students and the greater community.
• Proactively recruit and provide outreach to families within a 1-hour radius of the school.
• Manage re-enrollment process for current students and admissions process from inquiry through enrollment for new students in partnership with leadership
• Serve as key staff with organizations Learning Committee.

Ensure Operational Excellence

• Oversee all aspects of the Learning budget; working closely with CEO to establish tuition rates, salaries, and other expenses.
• Drive regular and episodic communications with families; including weekly Shabbat newsletter, ongoing communications via Brightwheel, and social media.
• Manage all aspects of the schools accreditation (SAIS) and state related school reporting.
• Actively participate on leadership team, committees, and their initiatives.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Eligible to work in the United States.
• Master’s Degree in Education in related field.
• Approximately eight (8) years or more of experience working in an elementary school and/or early childhood setting, including several years of supervisory and/or leadership experience in an educational environment
• Experience teaching in an elementary and early childhood; ability to support faculty in all areas of curriculum and development.
• The flexibility to meet job requirements beyond the school day.
• Knowledge and experience with Responsive Classroom, Conscious Discipline and differentiated instruction.
• Demonstrate
  • Pursuit of continual growth and professional development
  • Passion for working with children and creating the best conditions for learning and growth
  • Strong written, oral, and non-verbal communication skills, including interacting with compassion and empathy
  • Positive attitude and good judgement in the face of challenging situations
  • Capacity for creative problem solving, critical thinking, ability to think on one’s feet, and flexibility
  • Excellent work ethic, models respect, honesty, and integrity