Director, Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement

Director, Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement

Full Time

South Orange, NJ

Congregation Beth El, a vibrant, progressive Conservative synagogue in the heart of South Orange, NJ, seeks a visionary, inspiring and collaborative Director of Early Childhood Education and Family Engagement to lead our beloved play‑based Thelma K. Reisman (TKR) Preschool and deepen engagement with young children and families throughout our growing community.

We are searching for an experienced educator who brings warmth, creativity, Jewish passion, and strategic leadership. The ideal candidate is committed to helping families find joyful entry points into Jewish life and strengthening community. This role reports directly into our Clergy and works closely with our Executive Director.

The Thelma K. Reisman Preschool provides a warm, nurturing, inclusive Jewish environment where children ages 18 months to 5 years can thrive.

• A comprehensive and flexible program with both part‑day and full‑day options
• A deeply connected and welcoming parent community
• Integration of Jewish values, holidays, Hebrew, and Torah learning into a robust, developmentally‑appropriate curriculum
• Year‑round operation serving ~70‑80 throughout the school year and summer camp
• A dedicated professional staff, including an Assistant Director
• Our school community reflects diverse backgrounds. Approximately 60% of families in our Jewish early childhood program are Beth El members, and the remaining families come from a range of faith traditions. In addition, in partnership with the local school district, our school hosts and manages three public pre‑K classrooms, which significantly expands the number of non–Beth El families on campus.

• Partner with the Clergy, Assistant Director and Education Director (K‑12) to continue elevating the preschool program and strengthening its Jewish identity.
• Build a culture of excellence in early childhood education and family engagement across the synagogue.

• Design, implement, and oversee a creative, developmentally appropriate curriculum rooted in best practices.
• Ensure Jewish content is meaningfully woven into daily learning through values, rituals, holidays, stories, Hebrew, and experiences.

• Provide professional development, coaching, classroom observation, and mentorship for teachers.
• Support pedagogical excellence, Jewish learning, and reflective teaching practices.
• Lead the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of outstanding educators.
• Supervise the Assistant Director.

• Bring a creative, expansive vision for how to attract and engage young families.
• Conduct proactive outreach to Beth El families and the broader local community.
• Build relationships with Beth El members, current and prospective parents of TKR students, through coffees, newsletters, and regular touchpoints.
• Provide transparent communication with caregivers, cultivating trust and partnership.

• Serve as the primary relationship‑builder for young families at Beth El, building pathways that connect young families with each other and with synagogue life.
• Design, supervise, and/or facilitate Early Childhood and Young Family programs, connecting the Preschool to the broader synagogue community.
• Recruit and manage program staff as necessary. Programs include:
  • Mini Minyan on Shabbat and holidays
  • High Holiday young family services (0–Pre‑K) and coordination of childcare
  • Young Family Friday night services and Havdalah gatherings
  • Baby/toddler parent groups that serve as gateways into the preschool community

• Oversee all aspects of daily school operations, including staffing, communication, scheduling, enrollment, budgeting, safety, licensing compliance for both public and private preschool programs, as well as summer camp.
• Lead licensing processes and ensure adherence to state standards.
• Oversee operational planning, staffing, logistics and communication for all Young Family programs, including Shabbat/holiday services, family events, childcare coordination, and…