Youth Education Director

Temple Shalom (Medford, MA) is a USCJ member synagogue with approximately 110 member families, located in Medford, Massachusetts. We are seeking a Youth Education Director to start June/July 2024.

The Youth Education Director will manage the lower school (pre-K through second grade) that meets on Sunday mornings, the upper school (grades 3-7) that meets Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons, and our teen programs (discussion-based learning on Sunday nights, madrichim/volunteer program, and Jr and Sr USY). The director will revise and strengthen our spiraling curriculum which covers Jewish history / Bible, Israel, shira, holiday observances, values, Tefillah, and Hebrew reading / writing / vocabulary.

The Youth Education Director will provide a challenging and engaging educational experience for our children, empowering them to be confident in their Judaism and giving them the foundation to be participatory Jewish adults.

Key Qualifications include:
-A Master’s Degree in Jewish Education (or equivalent work experience in Jewish educational leadership and/or school administration)
-Experience developing and implementing curricula, special learning programs, evaluating educational programs, and supervising teachers and student aides
-Experience working with and including diverse learners
-Familiarity with the landscape and varieties of supplemental synagogue-based education
-Understanding of the values and practices of Conservative Judaism and ability to be an enthusiastic advocate for both
-Flexibility, in both dealing with student needs as well as allowing for changes in weekly class plans
-Demonstrated organizational, staff management, mentoring, administrative, and communication skills

Design Responsibilities:
-Review, evaluate, and further develop religious school curriculum (pre-K through -7th grade) in our prioritized areas of study, namely: Hebrew Literacy, Prayer Proficiency, Connection to Israel, Knowledge of Jewish Holidays, Commitment to Tikun Olam, Understanding of Jewish History, and the Ability to Apply Jewish Values and a Jewish perspective to a context beyond our congregation
-Integrate classroom management approaches and varied instructional tools to create a dynamic learning environment that motivates staff, students, and their families, and accounts for diverse learner needs
-Innovate and expand youth education offerings, in particular for teens
-Participate in professional development opportunities that promote growth in Jewish knowledge, professional skills, and spiritual depth

Leadership/Administration Responsibilities:
-Manage the Religious School (pre-K through 7th grade), which provides in-person instruction on Wednesday afternoons & Sunday mornings
-Recruit, hire, supervise, train, and evaluate Religious School teaching staff and madrichim (teen assistants), as well as the USY advisor
-Build community and connections with school families through active communication and support, as well as periodic family-centered educational initiatives
-Oversee the twice-per-month Temple Shalom Teen Initiative (8th-9th grade)
-Promote the school through outreach, meeting with prospective students, and editing/creating website content, brochures, and social media

The Youth Education Director will collaborate with:
-Religious School Committee, lay leaders, and parent volunteers; report to the Religious School Committee chair
-Teen Programming Committee; report to committee chair
-Rabbi (facilitate her involvement in the religious school and teen program)
-B’nei Mitzvah Coordinator and Committee

Mission statement:
Temple Shalom is an egalitarian Conservative community that embraces the richness of Jewish tradition and thrives on the diversity of members’ backgrounds, family structure, and ideas. Our members’ lives are enriched through participation in our vibrant and warm Jewish kehilla (congregation) where passion for praying, playing, learning, and tikkun olam (social action) are fulfilled together. We’re a community: we support one another as we all strive to live our values.

Inclusivity Statement:
Temple Shalom stands for inclusivity, welcoming all Jews and their families into our community. Temple Shalom strives to be a safe and loving home for people of all races, cultures, sexual orientations, gender identities, ages, abilities, shapes, sizes, and backgrounds. We embrace, without hesitation, singles and families of all kinds, including interfaith families, and families with or without children. Our members have varying levels of formal Jewish education, and come from different denominational backgrounds. Temple Shalom deeply values the immeasurable contributions Jews by choice make to our community. We endeavor to eliminate any real or perceived barriers to full participation, by all members, in the congregation’s social, educational, and religious life; and encourage the participation of non-Jewish members consistent with Jewish law.

Temple Shalom | 475 Winthrop St., Medford, MA, 02155