Position SummaryGateways: Access to Jewish Education is seeking a lead facilitator to be the backbone of a new initiative built on the premise: teachers are scientists of learning, equipped to experiment with fidelity, observe outcomes and refine practice. Its purpose is to invert the prevailing default- in which tier-one instruction is general and specialists are pulled in when students struggle- by building general education capacity on the front end, so that classrooms are universally designed for diverse learners and specialists are freed to do the work only they can do. This work is likely to be targeted at K-5 instruction.The lead facilitator will be a sustained, paid professional engagement designing the learning arc with school leaders, convening the cohort, coaching between sessions, bringing in subject matter experts on specific topics, and holding schools accountable to the deliverables that distinguish this work from standard professional development. This is primarily a school-year position, 2-3 days a week, and reports to the Director of Day School Programs. The position is grant based with a two-year opportunity or more.
Duties and Responsibilities-
Design the learning arc in collaboration with school leaders and the Slifka advisory committee. The two core topics are tier-one instructional strengthening and formative assessment; additional topics (executive function, behavioral case consultation, social-emotional and mental health capacity, admissions and enrollment boundaries) may be folded in based on cohort priorities.
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Convene the cohort of up to 20 educators (roughly two per school) across a September kickoff retreat, regular sessions through the school year (mix of in-person and virtual), and a year-end convening. Sessions starting the second half of year 1 are structured as laboratory meetings the cohort co-designs a lesson, protocol, or instructional approach; cohort members implement it at their own schools; the group reconvenes to share what worked, what didnt, and how to refine.
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Coach between sessions with light-touch check-ins for cohort representatives and the school-based learning labs they convene internally. The collaboratives learning has to diffuse to educators who arent at the table; the facilitator is the connective tissue that makes that happen.
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Curate and bring in outside expertise on specific topics as the cohort surfaces them to shed light on research, insight, and new ideas for example, an executive function specialist, training and implementation of a multi-sensory literacy program, a clinical consultant. The facilitator is responsible for the quality of every voice in the room.
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Steward concrete deliverables. Each topic cycle produces a tangible output a vetted shortlist of recommended K5 math or literacy curricula, a shared framework for adapting tier-one practice for diverse learners, a cross-school formative assessment protocol.
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Jointly approve discretionary experimentation funds with each head of school. Schools can apply for funds to pilot ideas emerging from the cohort. Funds are released against specific proposals, not awarded upfront and the facilitator and head of school jointly agree that each deployment is worth trying and aligned with the collaboratives learning arc.
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Hold schools accountable to participation criteria that determine eligibility for Year 2 continuation: minimum session attendance, contribution to deliverables, convening of a school-based learning lab, and adoption of at least one collaborative output as ratified school policy or practice.
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Co-develop the evaluation framework with schools and the advisory committee at the September kickoff, so data collection is embedded from the start. Year 1 success looks like cultural and behavioral shift in participating teachers; Years 23 look toward measurable student-level outcomes.
Who we are looking forThe best-fit facilitator will bring a fresh perspective, the ability to frame challenges in new ways. They should be able to build credibility across a diverse network of Jewish Day Schools while remaining neutral and focused on the work. Experience outside the Jewish day school ecosystem may help foster these qualities, but candidates from within the network who demonstrate them should also be considered.The candidate we are looking for likely brings:
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Deep substantive expertise in some combination of: tier-one instructional practice, special education; universal design for learning; formative assessment and data-driven instruction; and school-based change management. Breadth across these is more important than mastery of any single one the facilitator does not need to be the expert in the room on every topic but must know enough to vet who is.
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Current classroom proximity. Recent, meaningful time spent in schools and as close to instruction as possible ideally through current or recent classroom teaching, coaching, modeling practice, observing instruction, and supporting educators with students.
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Experience designing professional learning for adult learners. The ability to translate ideas and evidence into dynamic, high-energy learning experiences that engage experienced educators and school leaders.
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A dynamic, high-energy facilitation style. The ability to create momentum, hold the attention of a room, and make participants want to return and engage deeply in the work.
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A track record of sustained facilitation, including multi-month or multi-year engagements with educator cohorts and responsibility for the quality of the program as a whole.
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An orientation to teachers as professionals. The cultural premise of this initiative teachers as scientists of learning is not rhetoric. The facilitator must operate from that stance authentically.
Familiarity with Jewish day schools / private schools is helpful, but not required. We are happy to provide network context, history, and stakeholder maps.We have a strong preference for someone in the Greater Boston area who can spend meaningful time with participants in their schools and facilitate in person.
Engagement structure-
Time commitment. Approximately 200 hours per year, distributed across the Fall kickoff retreat (one full day, currently targeted at Fall 2026), regular cohort sessions through the school year, between-session coaching of cohort members and school-based learning labs, year-end convening, and design/curation work between sessions. The cadence is likely more front loaded in the first year than the second year.
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Compensation. $150-$200 per hour based on experience
Qualifications-
Experience as a teacher and administrator in school setting
- Experience with a variety of student assessment tools and strategies; additional experience in coaching or consulting to teachers preferred
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Thoughtful communication skills; professionalism and sensitivity in interacting with parents, teachers, and a diverse learning population
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Strong organizational skills
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Masters degree in special education or related field
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Commitment to Gateways mission and the field of Jewish education
Gateways believes in the essentiality of a diverse workforce. We are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals, including people of color, women, people with disabilities, immigrants, LGBTQIA people, and people who come from low income or working-class backgrounds. We encourage you to apply without regard to race, color, religion, age, disability, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, ancestry, genetic information, medical condition, veteran status, or any other class protected under federal, state, or local laws. We know that the candidate who fits best may not meet 100% of the qualifications.Gateways will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. The interview process for this position will be conducted via Zoom. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact us for assistance.We are committed to a fair and respectful hiring process, and we do our absolute best to respond to every applicant. We prioritize communication and transparency with all candidates, even those who are not moving forward. In order to ensure that your submission is fairly considered, please complete your application at http://tinyurl.com/gatewaysjobs.
