Work with us!

We are hiring a new Religious School Director!

Congregation Etz Chayim seeks an energetic, creative, and warm Jewish educator to join our team. We are expanding our Department of Learning and hiring a part-time Religious School Director. This person will join our small, collaborative team to guide the learning programs for families with children in preschool through Grade 5. They will report to and work closely with our Director of Learning (DoL), Abra Greenspan. Our new Religious School Director will be proactive and a team player who enjoys working with colleagues and members and is a logistics wizard.

Congregation Etz Chayim is an independent congregation, unaffiliated with any denomination. Located in Palo Alto, in the heart of Silicon Valley, we are committed to being a vibrant Jewish community– participatory, egalitarian, joyful. inclusive, caring, and supportive of all our members wherever they are in their Jewish life. 

Skills and Experience Required:  

• Experience in creating, delivering, and overseeing engaging and meaningful Jewish learning

• Knowledge of Jewish texts, customs, and holidays

• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills

• Managerial or supervisory experience

• Working knowledge of Hebrew preferred, but not required

• Computer Skills including Google Office Suite

Compensation: commensurate with experience.

Location: Flexible, Hybrid. In-person mandatory on certain days for meetings and Religious School but possible option to work from home on other days. 

Primary Religious School Director Responsibilities: 

Religious School Management

• Supervise Preschool – 6th on-site on Sunday mornings, 3rd-5th on Wednesday afternoons

• Oversee student registration and enrollment 

• Responsible for School Emergency Preparedness and serve as Incident Commander when Religious School is in session

• Submit Room Setups and Monitor Facilities Usage (AV equipment, kitchen and library access, etc.) 

• Manage RS Teacher payroll

• Propose RS Annual Budget in collaboration with DoL

• Create monthly report to DoL for Board Report

• Collaborate with DoL to set school calendar

Religious School Curriculum 

• Coordinate and oversee curriculum

  • Responsible for developing, planning and assessing program of instruction for RS

  • Provide support and consultation to teachers regarding curriculum content 

Shabbat and Holidays

• Coordinate with rabbi for students to co-lead/participate in Shabbat evening and morning services and be present, if possible when students lead

• Take leadership in organizing Children’s Programming for High Holy Days

• Take leadership in organizing Purim ETZtravaganza, the Purim celebration for Religious School families

• Take leadership in organizing family and Religious School programming for other holidays and festivals (i.e. Tu Bishvat, Lag B’Omer, etc.) 

Communications 

• Write and send a weekly newsletter to families 

• Partner with Etz Parent Association 

• Communicate with parents and families, synagogue staff, lay leadership, and congregation as a whole, networking with community-at-large, as appropriate

• Review and update relevant website pages 

Faculty Engagement 

• Recruit, hire, manage, supervise, and advise Preschool – 5th grade teachers

• Facility annual Faculty Orientation and other faculty meetings

• Support growth of faculty through classroom observation, performance evaluations, and feedback 

• Model creative teaching techniques and guide teachers

• Collaborate with DoL for Professional Development for self and for teachers

Student Learning

• Track and address special needs

• Handle discipline issues and respond to concerns

Family Engagement 

• Build relationships with current families and recruiting new families 

• Create opportunities to build community among Religious School families

• Cultivate parental involvement in supporting the Religious School programming

Family Programming and Community Outreach

• Develop and expand relations with other communal organizations around programming for children

• Serve as the point-person for community organizations 

This position requires regular participation in weekly staff meetings. To apply for the position, please send a cover letter and resume to abra@etzchayim.org.