Position Title: Director/Head of School
Congregation Beth Elohim Early Learning Center
Acton, Massachusetts Full-Time Position
ABOUT THE CBE EARLY LEARNING CENTER
At Congregation Beth Elohim Early Learning Center, relationships come first. Caring, experienced teachers, engaged families, joyful children, and a welcoming Jewish community come together to create a place where everyone feels known, children develop a lifelong love of learning, and educators are deeply valued. We're looking for a leader who will honor this strong foundation while leading our community into its next chapter.
The ELC is a Department of Early Education and Care (EEC) licensed preschool in Acton, Massachusetts. It serves approximately 65 children infants to five years old split across five classrooms. The ELC is a part of and operated by CBE and is located in CBE’s building. The ELC, being a part of CBE, shares its mission, vision, and values.
The program’s play-based education fosters intellectual and social-emotional growth, community-building, and mutual respect, as interpreted through the lens of Jewish wisdom and values. Children are encouraged to express their interests and abilities through play, language, music and art. Numbers, letters, science, and nature are an integral part of the everyday experience. Our curriculum is led by an outstanding staff that includes 18 dedicated educators representing over 200 years of early childhood education. Our school celebrates the fullness of living in a multicultural world and celebrates heritage through songs, holidays and festivals, story, dance and language. While the ELC is proudly Jewish in affiliation and incorporates Judaism into elements of the curriculum, we welcome and cherish families of all faiths and cultures to our community. Historically, non-Jewish families make up over one-third of the school population.
ABOUT CONGREGATION BETH ELOHIM
Congregation Beth Elohim (CBE) is a non-affiliated synagogue in Acton, Massachusetts, about 25 miles northwest of Boston. We draw our membership from over a dozen surrounding cities and towns. CBE is committed to fostering an open, diverse, and close-knit community that acts as a place for spiritual development, as well as the celebration of Jewish culture and values. As an independent congregation, we forge a unique balance between preserving Jewish traditions and embracing progressive ideals. Guided by the principles of Learning, Worship, and Acts of Loving Kindness, CBE strives to foster a warm, welcoming, and inclusive environment that fulfills the ever-changing needs of our Jewish community.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Director shall report to the CBE Board and fulfill the following responsibilities:
- Guide implementation of the educational vision and philosophy of the ELC in collaboration with clergy, Board of Directors, teaching staff, other professional staff, Parent-Teacher Organization, and school community.
- Weave core Jewish values (such as Chesed/Kindness, Kehillah/Community, and Tikkun Olam/Repairing the World) into the daily culture, curriculum, and community life of the school to draw the community closer together.
- Maintain and meet all EEC requirements for high quality care.
- Hire, train, mentor, supervise, and evaluate ELC staff in accordance with all EEC requirements.
- Engage in professional development and create opportunities for ongoing professional development of staff.
- Engage in the development, implementation, and assessment of a play-based curriculum deeply rooted in and interpreted through the lens of Jewish wisdom and values.
- Foster an environment where students, families, and staff are encouraged to build lasting and meaningful relationships and learn from each other. This includes planning and attending occasional community building programs for families.
- Foster strong relationships with families through effective communication, daily interactions, and intentional family engagement programming.
- Coordinate administrative aspects of the educational program, including but not limited to maintaining school records, school registration, and creating the school calendar.
- Strengthen the relationship between the ELC community and the wider CBE community, including coordination with the CBE Religious school with respect to alignment of culture, curriculum, and program, as well as collaborating with clergy to create welcoming, low-barrier opportunities for families to engage in broader synagogue life.
- Plan and manage the annual budget.
- Promote and publicize the ELC.
- Promote the physical and emotional safety and well-being of the children and teachers, rooted in the value of Sh'mirat HaGuf (guarding the body) and mutual respect.
QUALIFICATIONS
- B.A./B.S. in Early Childhood Education or related field (Master’s preferred)
- EEC Director 1 or 2 certification (preferred)
- At least two (2) years experience as a director of an early education program (at least five years of leadership experience in an education program preferred; experience with a non-profit or a religious organization preferred).
- Strong literacy in Jewish values, traditions, and holidays, with a demonstrated ability to integrate and share these concepts within a pluralistic, inclusive, and progressive early childhood environment (preferred).
SALARY AND BENEFITS: 80,000.00 - 90,000 Annual; Paid Time Off, Religious and Secular Holidays, Health Insurance, Retirement Contribution Matching
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $80,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Parental leave
- Professional development assistance
- Retirement plan
Work Location: In person
