Director of Jewish Life & Judaic Studies Teacher

About the role

Davis School Chicago is a proudly Jewish, college-preparatory high school opening in fall 2027 in downtown Chicago, in a state-of-the-art building at the heart of a great city for learning. Every adult at Davis is an educator and a culture-builder, held to two expectations at once: deep human warmth and uncompromising intellectual excellence. Davis is hiring a founding Director of Jewish Life & Judaic Studies Teacher to author the Jewish soul of a new school: the learning, the ritual life, the service program, and the connection to Israel that everything else is built around. The shape of the role is closer to a campus minister than a department chair — and the Director teaches a class, because the Director who teaches stays close to students.

Responsibilities: • Develop and lead the school's vision for Jewish learning, identity development, and community engagement, as a member of the senior leadership team • Design and lead the school's ritual life and tefillah, holidays, retreats, shabbatonim, and the service program • Lead the design and refinement of the Judaic Studies curriculum, and teach Judaic Studies in grades 9–12 • Hire, supervise, and evaluate Judaic Studies faculty as the school grows • Provide strategic leadership for Israel education, including immersive experiences and student and staff travel to Israel • Recruit, train, and coach students to lead tefillah, learning, shabbatonim, and chesed • Build partnerships with synagogues, camps, community organizations, and philanthropic partners

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; master's or M.Div preferred in Jewish Education, Judaic Studies, Jewish Leadership, Education, Spirituality, Theology, or Youth Leadership Development
• 3+ years of successful teaching or schoolwide leadership experience
• Leadership experience required — Jewish student center, campus minister, experiential program director, Judaics department, or instructional leadership preferred
• Hebrew proficiency preferred; rabbinic ordination welcome but not required
• Being Jewish is not a requirement, but a deep appreciation for and understanding of key Jewish traditions and rituals is critical Salary: $77,543–$137,099, based on the school's faculty salary schedule, plus a leadership differential of $4,000–$8,000 determined by years of leadership experience.
• Benefits:
• Paid time off and holiday pay
• Medical insurance
• 401(k) with employer match Davis School Chicago is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer.

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