Assistant Teacher Twos and Threes (Early Childhood)

Our Vision at the May Family Nursery School

Early childhood is a magical time of discovery for children and their parents. At Central Synagogue, one of the largest reform congregations in North America located in Midtown Manhattan, we provide children with rich learning and growth experiences that establish them as lifelong learners and celebratory experiences that connect them to the joys of Judaism through an exploration of values, traditions, and rituals.

Central Synagogue is one of the leading and largest Reform congregations in the country. Located in Midtown Manhattan, Central’s reach includes more than 2,800 member families, a livestream community numbering in the hundreds of thousands, and more than 800 students, from birth to twelfth grade, in the Nursery and Religious schools. It has long played a significant role in the national Reform movement and is known for its innovation and leadership in worship, leading to a greatly expanded audience over the last two decades.

Central Synagogue works toward a world in which Judaism is core to the lives of Central members and Jews everywhere and is a profound and positive force for humanity. Central continually redefines what it means to be Jewish today, both within the Synagogue community and far beyond the Synagogue’s walls. The diverse clergy and professional team work hard, in collaboration with lay leadership, to build deep and enduring relationships among Central members, creating a caring, dynamic, and joyful community. 

Central Synagogue is an inclusive and welcoming community. The Synagogue encourages participation from all who seek a connection to Jewish life and want to be part of its sacred community regardless of religious background, race, ethnicity, gender, ability, socioeconomic status, political affiliation, age, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Central is committed to being an open tent, a place that welcomes all people, including those who have been historically and institutionally marginalized or excluded from the Jewish community.  

The Synagogue is well resourced, has over 100 staff, and is governed by a 29-member Board of Trustees.  To learn more, please visit: https://www.www.centralsynagogue.org/.

Description

The Assistant Teacher is a member of the Central Synagogue May Family Nursery School teaching team who shares in the education, care, and well-being of his or her assigned group of students. Under the guidance of the Nursery School administration, the Assistant Teacher is required to implement planned curriculum, participate in team meetings and to uphold the objectives and overall philosophy of the Central Synagogue May Family Nursery School. The Assistant Teacher works closely with the head teacher/s and reports to the Early Childhood Director.

We are looking for an assistant teacher who is creative, flexible, and has a growth mindset. He or she should be eager to learn and contribute as a willing team player to establishing a warm and dynamic classroom environment.

Date:

May 2024

Start/End date:

Aug 28, 2024, through June 13, 2025

Reports to:

Early Childhood Director

Department:

May Family Nursery School

Hours:

Full-time, Exempt and not eligible for OT. Your hours of employment will be: Monday through Thursday 8:15 am – 3:30 pm and until 2:30 pm on Friday.

Essential Duties/ Key Responsibilities

Manage, with your teaching team, all aspects of daily classroom life, including health and safety of all students, establishment of comfortable classroom routines and transitions, and implementation of child-centered, developmentally appropriate, emergent curriculum that excites children about learning and prepares them for the next step in their education.
Plan and implement activities to support and foster positive self-esteem, social skills, developmental growth, and independence for all students.
Observe and record children’s progress, behavior, growth, and development on a regular and ongoing basis.
Work collaboratively with teaching team, administrators, specialists, and consultants.
Incorporate Shabbat, Jewish holiday celebrations, and Jewish values, customs, traditions, and rituals into the classroom.
Actively participate in all team meetings, staff meetings, professional development days, teacher trainings, and workshops.
Participate in teaching after school and other classes for the Nursery School and Central Synagogue education/family engagement programs.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree required; major in education or related field desirable.
Teaching experience in early childhood classrooms or other settings with young children.
Meet standards for licensing requirements (finger printing, child abuse and other relevant training, etc.

Other Duties

Please note that the above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for the performance of this job. It should not be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities, or requirements. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s rights to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

The expected salary range for this position is $44,000 to $49,000. Central Synagogue offers an extensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of our dedicated and diverse community. The salary is commensurate with experience based on several factors, including, but not limited to, skills, knowledge, training, education, areas of specialization, and depth and scope of experience. The above salary range represents the Synagogue’s good faith and reasonable estimate of the possible compensation range at the time of posting. Additional benefits include: paid vacation time in correspondence with school and religious holidays, paid sick and personal days, healthcare coverage, paid childcare leave, retirement plans, and life insurance.

Additional Certification

Central Synagogue requires all staff members (full-time AND part-time) to (a) provide proof of vaccination and booster against COVID-19 or (b) obtain an approved exemption as an accommodation. If you are offered employment this requirement must be met by your hire date unless reasonable accommodation for exemption is received and approved.

Application Process

To apply, please submit a resume, cover letter, writing sample, New York State Teacher certification documentation, and three references addressed to Cindy Grebow, Early Childhood Director, at [email protected]
Please reference the job title, “Assistant Teacher”, in the subject line of your email. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.