Director of Youth Education

Congregation Beth Israel (CBI) of West Hartford, CT seeks a visionary Director of Youth

Education within our progressive reform Jewish congregation. While our foothold in the Greater

Hartford Jewish community spans nearly two centuries, CBI’s gaze is forward facing. Our dynamic

Youth Education Program, which offers a meaningful Jewish educational experience for children

from Pre-K through 7th grade as well as a vibrant teen madrichim program, has nearly doubled in

size over the past two years. Offering in-person Sunday learning and weekly individualized Hebrew

instruction both in person and online, we now serve approximately 150 students, supported by 17

teachers and 13 madrichim.

We seek an energetic, compassionate leader to oversee all aspects of this youth education program.

The ideal candidate for this role is a thoughtful collaborator and strong organizational leader who

will work closely with clergy, educators, families, and students to cultivate a joyful, inclusive learning

community grounded in Jewish values, faith, justice, and tradition. They will have a clear vision of

how to identify great teachers, support families, and foster student responsibility and engagement.

Key responsibilities of this role will include, but are not limited to:

Educational Vision & Philosophy:

o Articulate and execute a thoughtful philosophy of Jewish education that aligns with

CBI’s mission and values and URJ principles of learning

o Implement Judaic and Hebrew curriculum and programs for approximately 150

students in preK-Gr7

o Work with internal and external stakeholders to explore opportunities to keep Jewish

teens connected with each other and our CBI community in their post bar and bat

mitzvah years

o Organize, implement and lead experiential learning opportunities such as

Shabbatons, field trips, speakers, and other creative programming within and outside

of CBI throughout the school year.

Community & Communication:

o Develop strong, collaborative relationships with clergy, staff, teachers, parents, and

learners.

o Coordinate with parents to facilitate family wide involvement in the Youth

Education Program

o Manage and communicate events and changes to the community calendar both

digitally and in print

o Coordinate volunteers within and outside of the YEP classroom and as it relates to

special events and family wide programming

Teacher Recruitment, Mentorship & Development:

o Recruit, hire, and onboard outstanding educators.

o Supervise, observe, and mentor teaching staff of approximately 15-20 part-time

educators, with a focus on promoting professional growth and best practices.

o Create and seek out opportunities for ongoing professional development of teachers

Fiscal Responsibility/Administrative

o Prepare and present annual budget, communicating semi regular updates to the

board and clergy as needed, and

o Maintain budget including salaries, stipends, and materials.

o Apply for relevant grants as they become available.

o Submit revenue and expenses, including payroll, through the Executive Director.

Key qualifications include but are not limited to:

• Candidate should have a bachelor’s degree in Education, Jewish Studies, or equivalent

experience. A master’s degree is valued but not essential.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in educational settings, ideally including program

leadership and staff supervision.

• Candidates with fewer years of experience may be considered if they demonstrate exceptional

leadership, innovation, and impact in the field of Education and/or Jewish Studies.

• Experience building community, preferably in settings that include a synagogue religious

school, Jewish camp, day school, Hillel, or other Jewish environments.

• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills with a drive for excellence.
• Understanding of diverse learning styles and a commitment to inclusive education.

To apply: Submit cover letter and resume