Director of Gan Elohim Early Learning Center Temple Beth Elohim

Temple Beth Elohim (TBE) in Wellesley, MA is looking for a new Director of the Gan Elohim Early Learning Center who will serve as a creative visionary, an engaged leader, and a supportive manager for the staff, students, and their families as our preschool program enters its next chapter. Founded in 1971, Gan Elohim has fostered the growth of generations of children, and currently serves 81 students ages 15 months to 5 years in 7 classrooms under the guidance of 18 staff members. The Director will be responsible for overseeing the daily operational and administrative systems to ensure the safety, happiness, and appropriate development of the students, developing and communicating a vision for excellence within Gan Elohim, as well as supporting and empowering our educators and staff as they work to implement that vision. Reporting to the Director of Young Family Learning and Engagement, the Director also serves on the Education Team, working in partnership to implement the overall vision for Jewish learning and living at TBE.

ABOUT TBE
TBE is a vibrant, thriving congregation in Wellesley, MA, and stands as an innovator in many areas of synagogue life. Our 1300 member families travel to TBE from 37 different Boston-area communities to seek its caring and spiritual search and to commit themselves to exploring new ways of Jewish learning and living by finding their own paths towards shalom. More than 600 children in our community engage regularly in learning programs and community building, and hundreds of adult community members participate in the spiritual, intellectual, social, activist and caring aspects of communal life at TBE. Truly amazing things are happening here and we can’t wait to welcome a talented Director to our visionary team.

Core areas of responsibility include, but are not limited to:

Creative Visionary
• Develop, communicate, and implement a unique and impactful vision for excellence within Gan Elohim in alignment with TBE’s vision of Jewish learning and living
• Develop and lead curricula implementation with Gan Elohim educators and staff in partnership with TBE staff and clergy.
• Demonstrate a passion for creating safe, creative learning environments that support students’ cognitive, physical, social-emotional, and spiritual development.
• Integrate best practices in the field of early childhood education into the development and implementation of vision for Gan Elohim
• Serve as a contributing member and thought partner on the Education Team.

Engaged Leader
• Create and actively promote a comfortable and welcoming environment where every educator, staff member, and family is treated with dignity and respect.
• Create and/or maintain communication systems to keep families and the wider synagogue community informed of Gan Elohim’s activities.
• Cultivate meaningful, engaged partnerships with families to demonstrate a commitment to working with diverse families with diverse learners.
• Serve as a warm, welcoming presence both within Gan Elohim and at events in the broader TBE community.
• Ground all actions and decisions inTBE’s vision that “all paths lead to shalom.”

Supportive Manager
• Recruit, support, and retain a team of educators and staff who work collaboratively to build a vibrant Gan Elohim community.
• Create a safe space for educators to share challenges and work collaboratively towards finding appropriate solutions.
• Oversee systems of supervision, feedback, and reflection for Gan Elohim educators that will allow them to strengthen their practices.
• Provide opportunities for professional development and growth that will support educators on their own paths towards excellence.
• Ensure all TBE policies, EEC guidelines, as well as any other licensing/accreditation agencies’ guidelines are adhered to at all times.
• Oversee data collection and review processes, including enrollment, health information, attendance, financials, and other important data points.
• Manage Gan Elohim’s budget and materials acquisition processes in coordination with the Director of Young Family Learning and Engagement.

Requirements
• Must meet the standards for hiring as cited in the EEC’s 606 CMR 7.00: Standards for the Licensure or Approval of Large Group and Child Care Programs.
• Massachusetts EEC Director II Certification by August 2021.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Early Childhood Education.
• Strong administrative skills, including high-level computer and technology proficiency.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Outstanding time management and multi-tasking abilities, with attention to detail.
• Provide current CPR/First Aid certification or completion upon hire.
• Provide current EEC Professional Qualifications Registry (PQR).
• Follow all EEC Minimum Health Requirements for Educators.

Physical Demands
• Performing the duties of this job requires the employee to regularly move from standing to crouching, sitting on the floor, and back to standing. The employee will use hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls; and see, talk and hear. The employee is occasionally required to carry children of up to 40lbs. This job’s specific vision abilities include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

Hours
• This is a full-time, year-round, position with varied hours including weekends and holidays.

Salary & Benefits
• This position offers competitive compensation and benefits, including but not limited to, health insurance, voluntary dental insurance, flexible benefits plan (FSA), long term disability insurance, workers compensation, retirement savings plan, temple membership, paid time off, family leave, and professional development.