Lower School Director

Lower School Director

Scheck Hillel Community School is a nationally recognized college preparatory and Jewish community school located in North Miami Beach, Florida. Founded in 1971, and led by a dynamic multi-faceted leadership team, our well-rounded, rigorous, dual curriculum program serves over 1300 students in PKT through 12th grade. The individualized college preparatory curriculum includes STEM and design, Capstone, College Dual-Enrollment, Arts, Athletics, and service learning.  Our 14-acre campus includes a 115,000 sq. ft. athletic complex with additional academic expansion plans.  

Mission:  From early childhood through Grade 12, Scheck Hillel Community School educates and inspires students to become exemplary global citizens with enduring Jewish identity, values and a commitment to the State of Israel, through a college preparatory curriculum and meaningful co-curricular experiences guided by Orthodox teachings and set within a nurturing, diverse community.

Vision:  Scheck Hillel Community School educates and inspires students to become exemplary global citizens with enduring Jewish identity and values, thereby strengthening our vibrant Jewish community for generations to come.

As a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, we attract and retain a diverse faculty and staff who demonstrate professional excellence with an unwavering commitment to delivering an education of unsurpassed quality. As a community school, we understand that our school is not just about education, it is about the whole child.

Position Overview:
Scheck Hillel is seeking an experienced, dynamic, and collaborative school leader to become our next Lower School Director. We are looking for someone who is excited to share our mission of academic excellence and empowering our students to live inspired and purposeful lives.

Reporting to the Chief Academic Officer and serving on the school’s leadership team, this position oversees the day-to-day operations of a large faculty and staff and students in grades K-5 while  collaboratively working with our School’s executive team on all efforts to set and achieve our school’s vision.

Responsibilities include:

Overall School Leadership

• Embody and reinforce the school’s Core Values of Kavod (respect), Emet (truth), Shalom (peace), Chessed (kindness) and Ruach (spirit) while leading the faculty, staff and students to grow academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.
• Act as the educational leader of the lower school division, responsible for its day-to-day mission.
• Sets the overall vision for the lower school program in alignment with the school’s mission, vision, and core values.  Ensure that all components of lower school programming are aligned with this vision. 
• Be a visible, present, hands-on leader responsible for all academic and cultural systems and all student outcomes.
• Oversee the academic/instructional process to drive academic results.
• Collaborate and partner with Scheck Hillel’s leadership team
• Main point of contact for student/family interactions/responsibilities.
• Hire, manage, and retain a high performing team of faculty and staff including teachers, guidance counselors, and curriculum coordinators.
• Sets and supervises the Lower School Budget
• Be aware of the educational, physical, social, and psychological needs of the school community and guide plans for meeting those needs.
• Ensure compliance with legal requirements of government regulations and agencies, and maintain the educational standards established by the state and by those agencies that examine and accredit the school.

Academic Vision Setting

• Lead and manage the lower school’s academic program
• Collaborate with the lower school’s faculty and staff on matters related to academic operations (i.e. map testing, benchmark testing, testing schedules and coordination)
• Support school culture and academic data analysis to identify gaps in data and effectively problem solve
• In collaboration with members of our Lower School Administrative Team, design and lead ongoing school-based professional development sessions for faculty and staff.
• Partner with Scheck Hillel’s CAO, school leaders, and instructional coaches in the development and implementation of strong vertical and horizontal lower school curriculum.
• Be knowledgeable and able to articulate advances and trends in education and pedagogical  standards, benchmarks, and indicators.
• Facilitate the creation and revision of vertical and horizontal alignment maps for standards, skills, content, assessment types, writing and research, and student support
• Provide teachers and instructional coaches with support in intellectual preparation of their subject areas as well as high-quality, actionable data analysis
• Create and foster a community of learners.
• Supervise the implementation of the lower school’s student services program including guidance, learning centers, health services, attendance, behavior management and related issues.

Culture Systems Vision Setting

• Lead faculty, staff, and students as a model of our community’s commitments, as well as have clear and kind conversations to hold all stakeholders accountable.
• Implement strong systems and routines in order to create a safe, productive, and joyful school environment, utilizing data systems for a data-driven response.
• Maintain active and strong relationships with students and families to support students in meeting academic goals and/or provide social-emotional support
• Serve as a liaison between faculty, staff, parents, leaders, and the community

Faculty & Staff Supervision

• Select and hire quality faculty and staff to support and maximize student achievement.
• Coach faculty to empower teacher growth and development and improve their practice through individualized observation, data analysis, coaching, professional development, modeling, and collaborative planning to ensure consistent, high quality instruction.
• When needed, create and implement faculty and staff development plans to support faculty and staff with targeted growth and improvement areas
• Identify, recognize, and promote employee excellence

Key Experiences and Qualifications:

• At least five years of division instructional leadership experience within an independent school setting.
• A minimum of a bachelors in an education related field, Masters preferred.
• A track record of success in previous school leadership in establishing cultural growth.
• Have a relentless drive to develop your leadership practice and to sharpen your skills as a leader in education
• Are self-aware and reflective with a strong desire to continuously grow professionally and personally.  Have a growth mindset and are quick to incorporate feedback into your daily practice
• Thrive on data. You can analyze qualitative and quantitative data to inform instructional planning and decisions
• Understanding that appropriate and healthy relationships are essential to working with people, value and enjoy cultivating deep relationships with students, families, and faculty to create a positive school environment
• Value the importance of modeling and reinforcing the school’s core values, norms, and policies
• Success in this role includes the ability for self-reflection, humility, candor, authenticity, and vulnerability.
• Strategic thinker and empathetic problem solver.
• Excellent Communication, Organizational, and Technology Skills
• Demonstrate the requisite commitment to fulfilling the School’s mission and Philosophy, which includes, providing a religious education consistent with fundamental beliefs of Judaism and teaching children to embrace Jewish heritage.
• Must be eligabe to work in the United States.

This full time, full year in-person position includes a comprehensive compensation package that includes excellent salary, benefits, professional development, and more.  To apply, submit a resume/CV, educational philosophy statement, and at least three professional references.  Visit our website at www.ehillel.org for more information about Scheck Hillel. 

Scheck Hillel is an equal opportunity employer.