Director of Education & Family Outreach

Director of Education & Family Outreach, SAJ-Judaism that Stands for AllSAJ is a joyous community of New Yorkers – a Jewish home where everyone’s voice is valued and heard. Imagine a religious school kids run towards and a synagogue where all can come together for social justice, study, and Shabbat. Ever since SAJ introduced America’s first bat mitzvah in 1922, it has been reconstructing Judaism, wrestling with God, questioning tradition and expanding its boundaries to ensure that Torah remains relevant, engaging, and welcoming to all.Over the last decade, SAJ has reinvented and revitalized our educational program, adding robust baby-pre-K and B

• Mitzvah family education programs, Hebrew tutoring, and teen programming in addition to Makom - our weekly religious school. With nearly 100 students participating in early childhood to teens programming, our student community is diverse, including interfaith, multicultural, and multi-racial families, LGBTQ, single and two family households, and both neurotypical and neurodivergent learners.SAJers of all ages gather on Shabbat to pray, sing, learn, connect, and eat. Our Pela (Pre-K) and Makom programs are intentionally held on Shabbat mornings to fully integrate students and families into our thriving intergenerational community and to enable them to experience the rhythm and joy of Jewish time. Encouraging creative expression and embracing complexity over simple answers, we empower students to see themselves as participants in Judaism’s evolving tradition and as agents of change in the world. With clear vision, clergy support and involvement, and deep commitment among families to the school and synagogue community, we continue to build on our successes and are focused on growing our program to its full potential.We seek a Director of Education & Family Outreach who : Loves Jewish ritual, texts, tradition, and klal yisrael and understands Judaism as evolving and dynamicIs a teacher at heart who brings creative pedagogies, prioritizes social-emotional-spiritual learning, and lifts up the unique gifts of every childEmbodies the values of hachnasat orchim (welcome) and hesed (kindness) in relationship to students, parents, congregants and staffIs an independent and motivated leader who will embrace the opportunity to design new initiatives to drive SAJ’s growthSupports the thriving of students, teachers, and parents with strong administrative systems, clear communication, and an organized approachIs flexible, creative and calm under pressureQualifications : 5 years of teaching in Jewish settings1 years experience supervising in a Jewish settingMaster’s Degree in Education preferred but not requiredMusical skills a bonus, but not requiredResponsibilities : Educational Leadership Work collaboratively with clergy team on overall vision, goals, and management of educational programCoordinate and run all aspects of Pela and Makom weekly Shabbat programsEnsure a safe and inclusive learning environment, honoring the diversity of our families and promoting a culture of belongingReview and revise Makom’s values-based curriculum, provide teaching team with robust curricular resourcesHire, train, and supervise Makom and Makom Shabbaton teachers, Pela (pre-K) leader, Hebrew tutors, and Teen CoordinatorOversee SAJ teen programming, including recruiting and hiring classroom Teen AssistantsRun SAJ’s Hebrew-at-home tutoring program, match kids to tutors, manage Hebrew instructional resources, and track student progressLead or co-lead Tefilah (prayer) for High Holiday Family services and weekly Makom Tefilah for 3-6th gradersLiaison with clergy on B
• Mitzvah student progress and clergy-led B
• Mitzvah Education ProgramEmpower students to both “hug and wrestle with” Israel, with sensitivity to synagogue members’ diverse viewpoints and in coordination with Rabbi LaurenCommunication and Administration Produce a weekly e-newsletter to parentsCommunicate with staff, parents, teachers, and other congregants in a warm, respectful and timely mannerSet appropriate expectations for part-time teaching staff and create systems that enable staff to excelMeet weekly with Rabbi Lauren and participate in SAJ staff meetings and trainingsWork collaboratively with SAJ staff to schedule programs and new outreach initiatives and to arrange logistics for eventsWork with SAJ administrative staff on integration of new families into our online billing, directory systems, and community newsletterDevelop needed policies for staff or school in consultation with Rabbi and Executive DirectorDevelop a budget for the next fiscal year, in coordination with SAJ Executive Director, and track expenditures to ensure fiscal responsibilityFacilitate student enrollment and re-enrollment into MakomProvide reports to the SAJ Board, as requested by the ChairCommunity Outreach Build relationships with potential member families with school age children and engage them in special community eventsDesign a 2 year plan for an expanded Makom Family Outreach initiatives, which can include but is not limited to in-house initiatives, public-space programs, organizational partnerships, in conjunction with Rabbi, parents and Board liaisonWork with SAJ administrative staff to ensure effective and appropriate communications and publicity for SAJ’s educational programmingParticipate in larger community events that will promote SAJ’s presence and support potential growthRecommend short and long term additions to our educational program based on unmet needs and strategic planningWork with staff to evaluate efficacy of outreach effortsCo-Curricular Programming & Community Building Coordinate children’s services and programming for all communally celebrated Jewish holidaysFacilitate community building through SAJ’s current co-curricular programming and through personal connectionsEstablish and monitor parent volunteer opportunitiesRecommend parents as appropriate for leadership pipeline within the broader SAJ communityRecruit families and coordinate children’s programming for synagogue retreatsAct as a Community Builder by facilitating connections among students and familiesWelcome and integrate new families into Makom and into the life of the synagogue in conjunction with the RabbiCompensation : Full time, $85,000-105,000 commensurate with experience. Generous benefit package includes health Insurance, paid family leave, and 20 paid vacation days. Offices are closed on the second day of Chagim (holidays, with the exception of Rosh HaShanah) and between December 25 and January 1. Expectation of 3 weekdays (or partial days) and Saturdays in person, with the option for remote work for the balance of the week. Attendance at holiday programs and occasional Friday evenings is expected. This schedule is subject to change. Direct supervision by Rabbi Lauren Grabelle Herrmann.Start Date : July 2025Send resumes to : educationdirectorsearch@saj.nyc#J-18808-Ljbffr

Salary : $85,000 - $105,000