Assistant Director of Education and Family Learning
ROME GROUP, Des Moines, IA, United States
Assistant Director of Education and Family Learning
FLSA: Salaried, non-exempt; Full Time; hours scheduled are Sunday through Wednesday plus Friday (Thursdays are a day off), with occasional additional hours as needed for Jewish holidays and special events.
The Assistant Director plays a central role in fostering meaningful family learning and community‑building at Congregation Shaare Emeth, with a primary focus on Religious School families from Pre‑K through 5th Grade. This position provides leadership for the JQuest @ Shaare Emeth program (Pre‑K–1st Grade), overseeing Sunday morning programming, supporting faculty, and ensuring a joyful, organized, and developmentally appropriate learning environment.
The Assistant Director maintains and evolves curriculum frameworks for our elementary grade programs, creates engaging annual family learning experiences, and partners with educators to implement high‑quality programming. This role is also responsible for designing and facilitating grade‑level and community‑wide family engagement opportunities that help families connect more deeply to Jewish learning and synagogue life.
In partnership with clergy and administrative staff, the Assistant Director manages key operational responsibilities, including scheduling, communications, and program logistics in partnership with our Administrator, while also supporting recruitment, outreach, and family transitions into different aspects of synagogue life.
Additionally, the Assistant Director leads the 3rd–5th Grade Hebrew program, ensuring student progress, supporting faculty, and coordinating instruction to meet diverse learner needs. The position contributes to school‑wide planning and serves as a collaborative leader within the educational team.
Roles and Responsibilities JQuest @ Shaare Eeth Program
Cover all duties related to JQuest recruitment and outreach for school enrollment, shared with Associate Rabbi/Director of Education and Administrator.
Be present on Sunday mornings to oversee the JQuest @ Shaare Emeth program for Pre‑K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade.
Maintain and update the curriculum framework for all JQuest Grades and create all of our “family‑and‑me” program activities. Responsibility for some curriculum writing, updating, and supporting faculty in implementing lesson plans as needed.
Work with Education Administrator to manage administrative tasks for JQuest including support with communications and organizing supplies.
Assist JQuest families with their transition to membership before 2nd Grade in collaboration with the Director of Membership Engagement.
Create intentional bridges between the Shirlee Green Preschool, JQuest, and the Religious School.
Family Learning Programming
Work with religious school families to engage them in grade‑level and all‑school community programming in partnership with the Associate Rabbi/Director of Education. Create and execute learning opportunities for family engagement, especially grade‑level family programs. This includes program plans, researching special supplies needed, outreach to families, and working with faculty.
Assist with communications and outreach for any programs involving traveling off‑site in cooperation with the Associate Rabbi/Director of Education and the Education Administrator.
Manage building usage and communications with Director of Operations on a weekly basis.
Organizational and Faculty Support for Religious School
Work with the Associate Rabbi/Director of Education and the Education Administrator to create and maintain the calendar, chuggim (elective) lists for Sunday and Midweek, and specialist schedules for the Religious School year.
Consult on class lists and placement of students in programs.
Help co‑create faculty meetings and orientation, professional learning, opening and closing day of religious school programming.
Support specialized professional learning for JQuest and other staff as needed.
Curriculum Planning and Resources
Organize and make program materials, supplies and specialty items accessible to staff throughout the school year, especially for lesson plans related to art projects, hands‑on activities for Hebrew, and more.
This staff position will hold the primary responsibility for the 3rd‑5th grade Hebrew program, with input regarding the 6th Grade Hebrew program in coordination with B’Mitzvah Academy. The Assistant Director will have a deep understanding of student progress, addressing needs for learners, coordinating staff and Hebrew groupings to achieve student success.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, Jewish studies, all areas of education, or related field preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ work experience in a related field as well as knowledge of non‑profit agency operations. Practical experience with outreach programming and/or curriculum writing preferred.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with a variety of individuals within the Congregation Shaare Emeth community.
Computer savvy, comfortable working Microsoft Office, ShulCloud, and other programs when necessary.
Ability to be flexible and responsive work tasks and timing.
Understands the developmental and emotional needs of young people and able to relate with children of all ages appropriately and compassionately.
Desire to be a part of a team approach to programmatic development and implementation that is highly collaborative.
High standards of integrity and confidentiality.
Comfortable working with lay leadership and with parents as partners.
We offer a competitive compensation package, including a salary range of $50,000-$55,000 and a generous benefits plan. Current benefits include 100% employer‑paid health insurance premium for the employee (with an annual out of pocket maximum of $1800 for the employee), a minimum 4.5% employer contribution to a retirement plan (with an option for additional matching up to 7.5%), synagogue membership, Long Term Disability, six weeks paid Parental Leave, and more.
#J-18808-Ljbffr
The Assistant Director plays a central role in fostering meaningful family learning and community‑building at Congregation Shaare Emeth, with a primary focus on Religious School families from Pre‑K through 5th Grade. This position provides leadership for the JQuest @ Shaare Emeth program (Pre‑K–1st Grade), overseeing Sunday morning programming, supporting faculty, and ensuring a joyful, organized, and developmentally appropriate learning environment.
The Assistant Director maintains and evolves curriculum frameworks for our elementary grade programs, creates engaging annual family learning experiences, and partners with educators to implement high‑quality programming. This role is also responsible for designing and facilitating grade‑level and community‑wide family engagement opportunities that help families connect more deeply to Jewish learning and synagogue life.
In partnership with clergy and administrative staff, the Assistant Director manages key operational responsibilities, including scheduling, communications, and program logistics in partnership with our Administrator, while also supporting recruitment, outreach, and family transitions into different aspects of synagogue life.
Additionally, the Assistant Director leads the 3rd–5th Grade Hebrew program, ensuring student progress, supporting faculty, and coordinating instruction to meet diverse learner needs. The position contributes to school‑wide planning and serves as a collaborative leader within the educational team.
Roles and Responsibilities JQuest @ Shaare Eeth Program
Cover all duties related to JQuest recruitment and outreach for school enrollment, shared with Associate Rabbi/Director of Education and Administrator.
Be present on Sunday mornings to oversee the JQuest @ Shaare Emeth program for Pre‑K, Kindergarten, and 1st Grade.
Maintain and update the curriculum framework for all JQuest Grades and create all of our “family‑and‑me” program activities. Responsibility for some curriculum writing, updating, and supporting faculty in implementing lesson plans as needed.
Work with Education Administrator to manage administrative tasks for JQuest including support with communications and organizing supplies.
Assist JQuest families with their transition to membership before 2nd Grade in collaboration with the Director of Membership Engagement.
Create intentional bridges between the Shirlee Green Preschool, JQuest, and the Religious School.
Family Learning Programming
Work with religious school families to engage them in grade‑level and all‑school community programming in partnership with the Associate Rabbi/Director of Education. Create and execute learning opportunities for family engagement, especially grade‑level family programs. This includes program plans, researching special supplies needed, outreach to families, and working with faculty.
Assist with communications and outreach for any programs involving traveling off‑site in cooperation with the Associate Rabbi/Director of Education and the Education Administrator.
Manage building usage and communications with Director of Operations on a weekly basis.
Organizational and Faculty Support for Religious School
Work with the Associate Rabbi/Director of Education and the Education Administrator to create and maintain the calendar, chuggim (elective) lists for Sunday and Midweek, and specialist schedules for the Religious School year.
Consult on class lists and placement of students in programs.
Help co‑create faculty meetings and orientation, professional learning, opening and closing day of religious school programming.
Support specialized professional learning for JQuest and other staff as needed.
Curriculum Planning and Resources
Organize and make program materials, supplies and specialty items accessible to staff throughout the school year, especially for lesson plans related to art projects, hands‑on activities for Hebrew, and more.
This staff position will hold the primary responsibility for the 3rd‑5th grade Hebrew program, with input regarding the 6th Grade Hebrew program in coordination with B’Mitzvah Academy. The Assistant Director will have a deep understanding of student progress, addressing needs for learners, coordinating staff and Hebrew groupings to achieve student success.
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree in nonprofit management, Jewish studies, all areas of education, or related field preferred.
Experience: Minimum of 3 years’ work experience in a related field as well as knowledge of non‑profit agency operations. Practical experience with outreach programming and/or curriculum writing preferred.
Excellent oral and written communication skills and the ability to communicate with a variety of individuals within the Congregation Shaare Emeth community.
Computer savvy, comfortable working Microsoft Office, ShulCloud, and other programs when necessary.
Ability to be flexible and responsive work tasks and timing.
Understands the developmental and emotional needs of young people and able to relate with children of all ages appropriately and compassionately.
Desire to be a part of a team approach to programmatic development and implementation that is highly collaborative.
High standards of integrity and confidentiality.
Comfortable working with lay leadership and with parents as partners.
We offer a competitive compensation package, including a salary range of $50,000-$55,000 and a generous benefits plan. Current benefits include 100% employer‑paid health insurance premium for the employee (with an annual out of pocket maximum of $1800 for the employee), a minimum 4.5% employer contribution to a retirement plan (with an option for additional matching up to 7.5%), synagogue membership, Long Term Disability, six weeks paid Parental Leave, and more.
#J-18808-Ljbffr