Director of Youth Education

Director of Youth Education

Congregation Shearith Israel

About Us

Congregation Shearith Israel is a thriving Conservative Jewish community in the heart of Atlanta, surrounded by leading universities and cultural institutions. Rooted in Jewish tradition, our tight-knit community shares this mission: “We connect people to meaningful living through Judaism.”

Our educational vision focuses on fostering Jewish values, Hebrew literacy, and a connection to the ongoing story of the Jewish people. We seek an inspiring leader to execute our vision of Jewish education in our community.

Role Overview

The Director of Youth Education will report to the Senior Rabbi and oversee all aspects of our Youth Education program: Our supplemental Hebrew/Religious school for Pre-K through 7th grades (midweek and Sunday), our high school program, and our active Kadima and USY synagogue chapters. Working closely with our staff, clergy, and lay leadership, the Director will act as the Principal Educational Leader and point of contact for congregational engagement related to Youth Education. 

Educational Leadership

• Administrative Excellence

• Build a positive reputation among existing and potential new families to ensure a quality Jewish educational program is being delivered that is aligned with our congregational mission.
• Work in collaboration with the Education Committee.
• Communicate regularly with families.
• Conduct routine assessment of programs and learning goals for individual students and classes.
  
  

• Curriculum Development and Team Management

• Implement the curriculum for Pre-K through 7 (Machaneh Shai) that balances Jewish values, Hebrew language, and Jewish history. Update the curriculum as necessary.
• Organize and administer the 9 - 12th grade program (Shai High), including experiential learning opportunities, field trips, and sessions with invited guests.
• Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and mentor educators and teen madrichim (teaching assistants). Ensure these teachers have the resources needed to succeed in the classroom.
• Conduct individual reviews throughout the year to enable leadership growth of all hired team members.
  
  

• Management of Budget and Facilities

• In collaboration with the Executive Director and the Board of Trustees, create and maintain the budget for educational programming, ensuring responsible use of resources.
• Provide necessary information to the Executive Director for paying staff (teachers, madrichim, or others).
• Arrange facility needs and any supplies for teachers and classrooms.

Congregational Collaboration and Community Engagement

1. Maintain regular in-person office hours for staff and community engagement to include Sundays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays plus two additional days. Presence on Shabbat is welcome but not required unless there is special programming.
2. Support congregational programming with planning and presence for Jewish holidays, synagogue retreats, and other relevant experiential education opportunities.
3. Coordinate educational goals in collaboration with the Spiritual Musical Innovator, the B’nai Mitzvah planning teams, and programming for holidays.
4. Serve as the primary point of contact for parents, fostering open communication, and addressing individual needs.
5. Promote youth leadership development and relationship-building through Kadima and USY chapters by recruiting, hiring, supervising, and mentoring staff Advisors for each group.
6. Report program successes and challenges to the Jewish Learning Committee, Rabbinic team, staff, and the Board of Trustees.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading youth and/or religious school education programs.
• Passion for Jewish education and nurturing a positive Jewish identity for grades Pre-K through 12.
• Demonstrated administrative excellence.
• Master’s degree in Jewish education or related field preferred; equivalent experience strongly considered.
• Familiarity with Google Suite, Shulcloud, and Zoom is a plus.

Compensation and Benefits

• Salary:  $90,000-$100,000, commensurate with experience.
• Health, dental, and vacation benefits.
• Support for continuing education and professional development
• Synagogue membership included.

Application Process

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to [email protected]. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. The preferred start date is June, but flexibility will be granted for the right candidate.