Religious School Director

DESCRIPTION:

Mount Zion Temple is a vibrant and welcoming Reform Jewish community of over 650 households in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1856, we treasure our rich heritage as the oldest Jewish congregation in the Upper Midwest, while embracing progressive ideals within our congregation and in our work in the Twin Cities Jewish and broader communities.
Mount Zion Temple’s Religious School mission is to engage students in a quality and inclusive Reform Jewish learning experience from preschool through twelfth grade based on three core values: Da’at (knowledge), Kehillah (community), and Yahadut (Jewish identity).

We are seeking an exceptional, full-time director to lead our nationally-recognized Religious School (Pre-K through 12th grade). Our educational program is robust, with approximately 110 children in the Lower School (Pre-K through 6th grade) and 65 in the Chai School program (7th-12th grade), many of whom also serve as madrichim (classroom assistants) in the Lower School. The vast majority of our students continue on to Confirmation, and many continue through 11th and 12th grades. Our special needs inclusion program, KULAM, has been a core part of our religious school since the 1980s and received significant funding from the Taishoff Family Foundation. Religious school takes place on Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons/evenings from September to May.

The Religious School Director serves as part of the highly collaborative Mount Zion leadership team with clergy and fellow senior staff. The Director supervises our KULAM program coordinator, a faculty of 25-30 teachers, and support staff. The Religious School Committee meets monthly to support and advise the Director and to help engage religious school families.

A successful applicant will be a talented and committed educator and administrator with very strong leadership, organizational, and relationship building skills and a commitment to inclusive Jewish education. This applicant will have strong Judaic and Hebrew knowledge, deep understanding of Jewish pedagogy and curricula, and skills in program and fiscal administration as well as faculty recruitment, supervision, and development.

JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Lead the Mount Zion Religious School consistent with its mission and values. Overall administration of the religious school includes recruiting,
hiring, evaluating, and retaining highly qualified religious school staff (teachers, advocates for students with special needs, and childcare teacher).

• Develop and maintain a fiscally sound budget in collaboration with the Executive Director, Clergy, Budget Committee, and Board of Directors.

• Supervise the KULAM (inclusion) program supervisor, teachers, and childcare teacher for drop-in care.

• Serve as part of a congregational senior leadership team with clergy and other senior staff.

• Oversee Religious School sessions in person and/or online on Wednesday afternoons/evenings and Sunday mornings during a traditional school
year.

• Coordinate with the Youth and Young Adult Engagement Associate, who oversees the informal education programming at the congregation, to
manage the teen madrichim (classroom assistants) program.

• Oversee several grade-level student Shabbatonim (some with overnights), 5-7 family education programs on Shabbatot or Sundays, other programs
as desired, and attend Shabbat services that include B’nei Mitzvah and/or other congregational events.

• Inform and maintain strong relationships with teachers, staff, families, and the larger Mount Zion community via formal (e.g., calendar, bulletins,
meetings) and informal communications.

• Establish and maintain collaborative relationships with Twin Cities Jewish organizations to facilitate a strong Jewish community and continued
growth in religious school enrollment and Temple membership.

• Work in partnership with the Religious School Committee, a group of dedicated family members, clergy, and staff who work to support the success
of the Religious School Director and Religious School programs.

EMPLOYMENT TERMS AND COMPENSATION

This is a full-time, 12-month appointment. Compensation includes a salary of $60,000 - $75,000, depending on experience.
Benefits: HSA coverage, health insurance, dental insurance, short-term disability, and life insurance. (Per Mount Zion's regular benefit policy, which may change from time to time.

Retirement Plan/Pension Plan: Participation in the Mount Zion 403(b) Plan after 12 months of full-time employment as described in the Employee Handbook.

Vacation Days and Sick Time: Per the Mount Zion Employee Handbook and policy.

Mount Zion will provide a stipend for moving expenses if appropriate.

REPORTS TO: The Religious School Director reports to the Senior Rabbi. The Religious School Director will collaborate with the Rabbis, Cantors, and Religious School Committee regarding curriculum and programming to ensure alignment with synagogue-wide philosophy and practice.

SKILLS AND CHARACTERISTICS:

• Knowledge and experience in Reform Jewish and Hebrew Education.

• Knowledge of contemporary best practices and experience with classroom teaching and management preferred.

• Previous school administrative experience preferred.

• College degree in related field. Advanced degree preferred.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement
Mount Zion Temple provides equal employment opportunities for all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type, without regard to race, color, age, sex national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by law.