Director of Youth & Teen Learning & Engagement

Temple Sinai 

Sandy Springs, GA

Temple Sinai, a Reform congregation 1,600 families strong, is seeking an energetic, warm and creative professional to join our dynamic education department staff as our full-time Director of Youth & Teen Learning & Engagement. 

The Director of Youth & Teen Learning & Engagement facilitates the planning and execution of all formal and informal learning experiences for students Kindergarten through 12th grade.  Ongoing responsibilities include:

• management of the entire K-12 department and associated programs (Noar Sunday, Noar Hebrew, and teen H.U.B. experiences*);
• supervision of two youth engagement professionals and the K-12 teaching staff;
• development and enhancement of educational goals and curriculum; and
• creation and implementation of other educational opportunities associated with these age groups.

The Director of Youth & Teen Learning & Engagement is supervised by the Senior Director of Learning & Engagement and is an essential member of the education professional staff to envision, shape, and implement changes where necessary in the programmatic life of our congregation.

Temple Sinai is a leading congregation in Atlanta’s large, strong and vibrant Jewish community.  As expressed by our mission and values , our staff and lay leadership work closely together to create a warm, compassionate and welcoming congregational family committed to tikkun olam, spiritual growth, inclusion and progressive Jewish values.   Our core values are manifest in our educational curricula as well as in all of our youth and teen programs and activities.

*Noar Sunday & Noar Hebrew are Temple Sinai’s Religious School programs; H.U.B. (Hadrachah u’Chesed v’Bina:Leadership through Kindness & Wisdom) is our teen engagement program.

Duties & Responsibilities

Director of K-12 Department

• Serve as director of Noar Sunday, Noar Hebrew and H.U.B. programs, overseeing and managing all education programs for K through 12th grade
• Oversee all operations and logistics for K-12 programs, including managing program calendar and logistics of Sunday schedules, Hebrew, special programs, etc.
• Coordinate informal youth and teen programs and initiatives
• In partnership with B’nei Mitzvah Director, monitor student progress in Hebrew and ensure families are in compliance with B’nei Mitzvah requirements
• Supervise two full time youth and teen engagement staff
• Manage the K-12 team to coordinate Madrichim program and logistics as well as High Holy Day programs for youth, teens and families

Curriculum Oversight & Development

• Oversee the development, creation, and implementation of the grade level curriculum for Noar Sunday and Hebrew Programs, in cooperation and coordination with education staff
• Direct the development, creation, and implementation of the grade level curriculum for post B’nei Mitzvah learning in coordination with education staff and clergy
• Support grade level teams and area specialists in planning and implementation of programs
• Participate in ongoing assessment of the curriculum
• Work with the Learning Resource Specialists to ensure quality programming for children with special learning and behavior needs, and serve as the administrator on call for students who are having difficulty during school hours

Faculty/Staff

• Hire and supervise Noar Sunday & Hebrew teachers, specialists, unit heads and teen learning faculty
• Support all faculty in day-to-day issues (e.g. classroom management, attendance concerns, student issues, etc.)
  • Work with youth and teen engagement staff to have a robust list of staff to call upon for youth group events, substitutes or other staffing needs
  • Help design and implement ongoing staff training opportunities
  • Create and nurture team environment among faculty and staff
  • Serve as point of contact with Shinshinim program

Communication & Publicity

• Manage communication plan and efforts for K-12 families
• Work with Communications Department to create communications vision and plan for all youth and teen programs
• Communicate with all faculty about school policies, schedules, program
• Communicate with Day School families about relevant programs and events
• Respond in timely manner to emails, phone calls and texts from parents and staff
• Communicate with parents regarding their children through in-person meetings, phone calls, and correspondence

Other

• Attend Program Staff, Full Staff, Education Department, and Youth/Family & Teen Committee meetings
• Maintain quality of overall school building environment
• Coordinate Day School and camp visits and partnerships
• Perform other job-related responsibilities as necessary as determined in conjunction with the Senior Director of Learning & Engagement

Qualities of Ideal Candidates

Temple Sinai’s new Director of Youth & Teen Learning & Engagement should possess:

• Demonstrated ability to inspire a love of Judaism and Jewish learning;
• Knowledge of and appreciation for experiential Jewish education and engagement;
• Genuine warmth, approachability and capacity for relationship-building with congregants and staff;
• Collaborative working style and ability to partner with members of the education and clergy team;
• Demonstrated capacity for creative thinking and strong organizational skills;
• Solid work ethic; Excellent oral and written communication skills;
• Desire to see themselves as an essential face of learning at Temple 

Director of Youth & Teen Learning & Engagement Qualifications:

• Experience working with youth and teens in a congregational and/or camp setting
• Advanced degree in Jewish education or equivalent preferred
• Ability to create and maintain authentic relationships with kids and adults of all ages
• Ability to engage parents and congregational leadership as partners in youth and teen work
• Ability to bring and implement new, creative ideas
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and organizational skills
• Comfort with Hebrew, Reform Jewish liturgy, and work in a Reform synagogue setting
• Good sense of humor, passion for learning, proven reliability and responsibility, and a desire to work collaboratively with a professional team

Interested candidates should send resume and cover letter to Marisa Kaiser at mkaiser@templesinaiatlanta.org.