Associate Religious School Director

Temple Rodef Shalom is a large, vibrant, warm Reform Jewish congregation located in the Northern Virginia suburbs just outside Washington, DC. Since our founding in 1962, we have grown into the largest Jewish congregation in Virginia, serving over 1,750 households. We serve 200 families in our Early Childhood Center, over 800 students in our Religious School, 300 children in our Day Camp and hundreds of people each week who walk through our doors to pray, sing, learn, connect and mark life cycle moments. Our Associate Religious School Director will serve in partnership with our Religious School Director in guiding our grades 4-6 programs. This includes supporting both staff and curriculum for our in-person Sunday Judaic and virtual one-on-one Hebrew programs, working with grade-level Lead Teachers on curriculum development and weekly lesson outlines, supporting family education, special programming, field trips and retreats, and infusing weekly t’filah with innovation and creativity. Specific responsibilities will vary depending on the strengths, interests and experience of the applicant. In addition to serving as an educational leader, collaborator and thought partner, our Associate Religious School Director will bring a commitment to helping children and families foster deep, meaningful, lasting connections to joyful Jewish living, learning and community. Our ideal candidate possesses a passion for Judaism and educational excellence, has a love of and commitment to Reform Judaism, Hebrew, Israel, study, social action, as well as a sense of creativity and enthusiasm for sharing these passions with our students and families. Responsibilities: Serve as the primary educational leader for grades 4-6: Support lead teachers and grade-level teaching teams with educational needs including lesson planning, differentiated instruction and classroom management, Judaic and Hebrew curricula development, review and implementation, including ordering and managing inventory of educational materials, Manage and support virtual, one-on-one Hebrew program for 300 students in grades 4-6 including: curricula, materials, monitoring student progress and teaching (as necessary) in person and/or on Zoom, Meet monthly with Judaic grade-level teaching teams and all Hebrew teachers, Coordinate specialist schedules, t’filah experiences and school-wide holiday programming, Plan and implement grade-level Shabbat dinners, trips, family education programs, retreats, speakers and experiential programs, Work with teachers to address and support individual learner needs, Assist in interviewing and hiring prospective teachers, scheduling substitute teachers and student placement & Communicate with students, families and teachers. The portfolio also includes: Assist RS Director to create and implement family education, engagement opportunities and/or holiday programming and parenting workshops, Collaborate to develop, plan and implement faculty orientation and professional development sessions, Support youth High Holiday programming & Responsibilities and assignments may vary based on staffing, curricular and program needs as determined by and in conversation with the RS Director. Skills: A strong understanding of Judaics as well as an expertise in Hebrew prayer skills, Exemplary teaching skills, Knowledge of child development, trends in Jewish education and curricular design, A dynamic relationship builder with excellent interpersonal and communication skills, A high level of organization and the ability to take initiative, prioritize and multi-task with attention to detail, Comfortable in a fast-paced environment, Creative, patient, and quick thinking, Strong written and oral communication skills & Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint, etc.) and Google Drive. Qualifications: We welcome applicants from a wide array of disciplines, educational trainings, and professional backgrounds. Our ideal candidate will hold a big-picture vision for learning and engagement. They should possess a strong attention to detail. The successful candidate will be highly motivated, flexible, and eager to learn and grow in this role. Additional Qualifications Include: Bachelor’s degree (required), Master’s degree in a relevant field – Jewish education, Jewish nonprofit management, etc. (preferred) & Three to five years work experience in a relevant work setting (e.g., education, non-profit, or experiential work). This job operates in a professional office environment. This role routinely uses standard office equipment (computers, phones, photocopiers/scanners) and software (Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Sharepoint, Google, Regpack, and Zoom). This position requires work on approximately 27 Sundays per year with Mondays off and may require work on some additional evenings, weekends, and Jewish holidays. During the remainder of the year, the work week is Monday through Friday. Full-time. Salary Range $72,000-$80,000 based on experience, plus benefits: medical, dental and vision; life insurance, long-term disability, pension contribution, PTO and parental leave. Interested candidates should send a cover letter and resume to Dara Holop, Religious School Director, at [email protected]. http://www.templerodefshalom.org.

(7/23/24)