Sinai Akiba Academy is a preeminent private Jewish day school in Los Angeles, serving students in Early Childhood through Grade 8. Sinai Akiba Academy is undergirded by our school mission to engage students in the joy and discipline of learning, and nurture a community of ethical, critical thinkers who, shaped by our evolving Jewish tradition, walk through the world with confidence and humility. 

Our core values of Kehillah Kedoshah (Sacred Community); Talmud Torah (Academic Excellence); Derech Eretz (Kindness, Empathy, & Respect); Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof (Ethical Responsibility); Avodat Halev (Soulful Intention), and Ahavat Yisrael (Love for Israel) serve as a commitment with the students, families and community members that we serve to energize the present, explore the past, and embrace the future. 

POSITION SUMMARY

The Middle School Director is a full-time, year-round member of the Senior Leadership Team, reporting to the Head of School and working with all constituents—students, families, staffulty, and administrators—in support of the school’s mission and core values. The Middle School Director is responsible for providing leadership, oversight, and guidance to all Middle School faculty, students, and families. This role sets the tone for the entire division, understands all constituencies, and collaborates closely with the Lower School Director and Director of Jewish Education. Responsible for overseeing Middle School teaching and learning, the Middle School Director oversees curriculum development across disciplines, supports teacher growth and development, and works in collaboration with the Director of Student Life and Experiential Learning to enhance and sustain a positive and productive teacher and student culture and partnership with parents. This position plays a critical role in partnering with Head of School and the Senior Administrative Team.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Set Middle School priorities including departmental curriculum, objectives, assessments, and policies according to the needs of a range of learners and in collaboration with members of the School to maintain excellence within the Middle School academic and social-emotional programs
• Communicate and coordinate teaching objectives, curriculum, and resources across the department, assessing and tracking materials, methods, and means of student engagement and assessment
• Partner productively with parents and Middle School families through ongoing communication, visibility, and parent education
• Ensure that curriculum guidelines reflect both clear standards and current pedagogical trends
• Ensure proper placement of students in Middle School courses/levels
• Interpret and report records relating to standardized test scores as well as course grades within the School
• Work with parents, staffulty, and educational team when academic concerns arise regarding students
• Hold regularly scheduled departmental meetings, communicate meeting agendas, solicit feedback, and share information with Head of School
• Serve as a role model and coach to team to encourage their self-evaluation, professional development, and scholarship
• Observe and evaluate the performance of staffulty within the department, including goal-setting, and implement support and change as necessary
• Synthesize feedback and data regarding classroom observations and assessments to guide Middle School enhancements to policies and processes
• Assist in the search, recruitment, and evaluation of candidates for staffulty job openings
• Implement a focus on social-emotional engagement within the Middle School
• Review and align the curriculum across subject areas to ensure appropriate challenge, support, and alignment
• Collaborate with Senior Leaders to ensure a cohesive K-8 experience for students and families
• Partner with the Head of School to support the successful outplacement of 8th grade students to their high schools of choice
• Serve on the admissions committee to review and interview student applicants
• Foster trust and a positive School culture that promotes joyful Jewish learning
• Create a sense of School pride and enthusiasm that inspires creativity, collaboration, and community
• Engage Middle School students, staffulty, and parents with warm and regular communication about the School’s values, vision, program, policies, and events
• Serve as a visible presence and role model during the School day and at events
• Assist in preparing and managing the annual Middle School budget
• Model Sinai Akiba’s Core Values of: Kehillah Kedoshah (Sacred Community); Talmud Torah (Academic Excellence); Derech Eretz (Kindness, Empathy, & Respect); Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof (Ethical Responsibility); Avodat Halev (Soulful Intention), and Ahavat Yisrael (Love for Israel)
• Perform other duties as assigned by Head of School

REQUIREMENTS AND QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s Degree; Master’s Degree preferred
• Minimum of 5 years of professional experience leading a school or educational program
• An understanding of Jewish identity, holidays, practices, traditions, culture and life cycle events
• Experience collaborating with a leadership team
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Availability to be physically present when school is in session, and at special events (including some evening and weekend programs)

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

• Annual Salary Range: $130,000-160,000
• Excellent benefit package with a portion of medical paid by SAA
• Generous paid time off and holidays
• 403b and employer funded retirement plans
• Professional development opportunities

In the spirit of pay transparency we share the base annual salary range for this position: $130,000 - $160,000. Annual base salary is exclusive of fringe benefits, retirement plan employer contributions or potential stipends (for eligible employees). Pay ranges at SAA are reasonable estimates of what the School anticipates paying for a role but are not guaranteed. If hired at SAA, your final annual base salary will be determined by factors such as skills, education, experience, job level, part-time status and number of months of work per academic year. In addition to those factors, we believe in the importance of pay equity and consider internal equity with our current employees as a part of any final offer. Please keep in mind that the range mentioned above is the full annual base salary range for the role. Hiring at the maximum of the range is not typical for SAA in order to allow for future and continued salary growth.

Applicants may submit their resume for consideration to Wendy Psalms at wpsalms@sinaiakiba.org.

Sinai Akiba Academy provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants and employees and strictly prohibits any type of harassment or discrimination in regards to race, religion, age, color, sex, disability status, national origin, genetics, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, gender expression, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected under federal, state, and/or local laws.