3.5.08

Job Posting – Youth Educator

Temple Israel of Sharon, Massachusetts, a 700-family Conservative congregation south of Boston, seeks a full-time educator who will be part of a team that is implementing a creative, new educational structure to provide formal and informal education throughout the congregation.  

The Youth Educator’s primary responsibilities involve the formal and informal education of the synagogue’s teens, from post-b’nai mitzvah through high school. S/he additionally will have full responsibility for informal education of Kadima- aged children (beginning in grade 5), as well as some outreach to students in their early college years. 

The Youth Educator reports to the Director of Congregational Life, who oversees all learning activities within the congregation, and works closely with other members of the synagogue’s educational team and the synagogue’s lay volunteers.

Job responsibilities include:

• Formal Education: in the High School (grades 8-12), oversee daily operations and hire, prepare, supervise and evaluate teachers; work with others to engage teens in learning that address their needs as they mature into Jewish adults.  
• Informal Education:  primary responsibility for youth-oriented programming (Kadima, Junior and Senior USY, and Koach); hire and oversee youth group advisors; outreach to Schechter and Gann teens to engage them in youth programming.
• Family Education: shares support responsibility for family education; coordinates with members of the education team to anticipate the needs of teens and engage them in programs for families.
• T’fillah: shares responsibility for teaching students the skills necessary for worship and an understanding of the structure and meaning of prayer; primarily responsibility for organizing teen t’fillah.

Depending on the applicant’s prior experience, the Youth Educator may be asked to teach in the High School (grades 8-12) or religious school (grades K-7) for a limited number of hours and/or play a significant role in developing and planning social action projects and programs.   

The Youth Educator should be a dynamic team player, innovative, flexible, and passionate about Jewish life.  The Youth Educator also should be creative, enthusiastic, inspiring, and a positive role model and guide to the synagogue’s Jewish teens.

Candidates should have a Bachelors degree and three years of relevant experience working with youth.  This full-time position begins summer 2008.  A comprehensive compensation package including health insurance, disability insurance, pension contribution, and vacation is available. 

Interested parties should submit a current resume, a letter describing educational philosophy and experience, and contact information for three professional references to youth.tisharon@gmail.com or to Youth Educator Search, Temple Israel, 125 Pond Street, PO Box 377, Sharon, MA 02067.  Resumes will be reviewed beginning March 17, 2008, and will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled.