Elementary School Judaic Studies Teacher

Sinai Akiba Academy is searching for full-time Jewish Education teachers to lead students through inquiry and learning in Torah, Jewish holidays, Hebrew language, Israel, and Jewish history. This role also supports students’ social-emotional learning, utilizing Responsive Classroom and RULER as a foundation. Kinder-5th Grade Jewish Education teachers plan and implement the curriculum using a variety of teaching approaches, involving both whole class and small group lessons that meet the needs of the students.

At their core function, Jewish Education teachers encourage and support student-driven learning and support students’ curiosity, collaboration, and critical-thinking.

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 under girded 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.

• As a Hebrew and Jewish Education teacher the roles and responsibilities of this position are inherently religious in nature and play a vital role in executing the School’s religious mission.
• Teach students Judaic Studies Curriculum including:
  Hebrew, Torah, chagim, tefillah, and the history and culture of Israel.
• Teach the meaning, stories, and lessons behind Jewish holidays and rituals as appropriate to the developmental stage being taught, according to Sinai Akiba Academy’s mission and Conservative Jewish values and practices (i.e. Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Simchat Torah, Hanukkah, Purim, Passover, Shavuot, Yom Ha’atzmaut).
• Teach about and celebrate Shabbat rituals on a weekly basis.
• Instill Ahavat Yisrael (Love of Israel):
  Love for the people and Land of Israel through ensuring that Jewish and Israeli symbols are displayed and referred to, including, but not limited to, Singing HaTikvah (Israeli national anthem), celebrating Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel Independence Day), and imparting the tenets of Zionism.
• Facilitate, plan, and prepare students for gatherings, assemblies, Jewish holiday performances, Kabbalat Shabbat and other events, as assigned by grade level.
• Support and reinforce Hebrew language immersion and learning.
• Ensure classroom set-up reflects Jewish symbols, traditions and values.
• Practice effective and supportive classroom teaching, innovative lesson planning, and dynamic assessment of student progress in line with Sinai Akiba’s educational philosophy and Core Values, enriched by differences and informed through inquiry, critical thinking and active student engagement.
• Plan, document, and teach an engaging curriculum and manage the overall implementation of assigned classes.
  Communicate effectively and thoughtfully with students, parents, and colleagues regarding classroom updates, student progress and any other pertinent School information through various avenues including email, weekly newsletters, phone conversations, in-person or virtual meetings.
• Motivate and nurture the academic, personal, emotional, and social progress of students.
• Differentiate curriculum and pedagogical practices to appropriately challenge a wide variety of learning styles and abilities to meet and exceed grade-level standards.
• Engage students in RULER, social-emotional learning including, but not limited to, SEL check-ins, reflections, and conflict resolution practices.
• Conduct meetings with parents/families and students through conferences (as scheduled and as needed) and plan for and lead parent‑teacher conferences.
• Teach all assigned sections and subjects as assigned by Division Director not to exceed a…