Director of Literacy and Instruction
Overview
Gesher Yehuda was founded thirty years ago because one child had needs that could not be met in a mainstream school. Thirty years later, Gesher remains a K-8 community Yeshiva in the Sephardic tradition for Jewish children, where they can develop the self-esteem and confidence needed to live a full and successful life. Several years ago, the school centralized its focus on serving students with language-based learning differences through research-based, multi-sensory, and cross-disciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. Through its admission process, the school works to identify mission-aligned students who will thrive in a bespoke educational environment focused on discovering and growing their talents and capabilities. As a result of this work, the school has seen increased demand, growing 50% in the last two years.
With both the increased focus and growth in its student population, Gesher Yehuda seeks a Director of Literacy and Instruction, who will serve as a key academic leader of the school, a partner for the Head of School and Principal, and a collaborator for and developer of the balance of the school’s professional community. The Director will lead the school’s efforts to strengthen instruction and other aspects of teacher practice and growth in the spirit of continuous improvement.
Mission + Vision
Where every child has the self-esteem and confidence to bring their gifts to successfully living a full life.
At a Glance
Established: 1993
Enrollment: 67
Total faculty: 68
Faculty with advanced degrees: 25%
Student/teacher ratio: 2:1
Annual operating budget: $4.4M
Campus size: 20,000 sq ft
Responsibilities
•Creating and overseeing K-8 curriculum;
•Guiding and coaching teachers in their pedagogical practices and implementation of the curriculum;
•Providing professional development for teachers and education programs for parents;
•Analyzing student data to support each student’s learning profile and program;
•Partnering with teachers to keep parents informed regarding student progress;
•Serving as a key member of the leadership team that guides the school as a whole;
•Participating in the school’s admission work, including meeting with prospective families, evaluating prospective students, and serving on the admission committee.
Opportunities and Challenges
•Lead the growth of the school’s dedicated professional community and establish additional pipelines of trained educators to join the school as openings occur;
•Partner with other school leaders and the professional community to develop a curriculum, focusing on matching the needs of Gesher’s students and aligning both vertically and horizontally;
•Refine and strengthen instructional practices and protocols;
•Clarify systems and structures to support consistent approach to student behavior;
•Strengthen Gesher’s partnership with parents, including communicating student progress and growing parent understanding of language-based learning differences so they can support their children at home.
Qualifications and Personal Attributes
Candidates should be bring all or most of the following:
•Joy, enthusiasm, and deep compassion for working in schools serving K-8 students with language-based learning differences;
•A Master's Degree in Special Education and further certification attesting to their understanding of and engagement with the field of special education and literacy;
•Extensive training in teaching literacy in a special education context, including but not limited to a comprehensive understanding of phonics, reading comprehension, reading development, and writing strategies;
•Strong teaching and curriculum building experience;
•Experience hiring, onboarding, training and supporting teachers in a special education setting;
•Strong relational leadership and team building skills;
•Engaging communication skills, including the ability to write, speak, and present with skill, confidence, and clarity and listen for understanding;
•Exceptional executive function skills;
•Interest in being part of the leadership of a growing school, and all the creative energies that this will require;
•Alignment with the mission of the school and the community of students and families it serves.
Learn More
Click on the links below to learn more about Gesher Yehuda.
To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:
- A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
- A current résumé;
- A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:
Chris Boyle
Consultant
chris.boyle@carneysandoe.com
Kim Peeples
Senior Consultant
kim.peeples@carneysandoe.com
The starting salary is based upon, but not limited to, several factors which include years of experience, education level, and expertise.