Dean Of Jewish Life & Studies (Part-Time)

Davis Chicago•Chicago, IL

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Davis School Chicago is seeking a half-time (0.5 FTE) founding Dean of Jewish Life & Studies to serve as the architect and teacher of Jewish learning and communal life at its college-preparatory high school, scheduled to open in fall 2027 in downtown Chicago. Reporting to the Principal and serving on the senior leadership team, the Dean will establish the vision, frameworks, rituals, traditions, and cultural touchpoints that shape Jewish identity and community at the school. The role combines teaching Jewish Studies with designing and directing Jewish life, with other staff members and community partners supporting day-to-day programming. The Dean will lead Jewish Studies curriculum and instruction, Jewish experiential education, student leadership development, Israel education, community partnerships, holiday and ritual programming, and faculty development within Jewish Studies. The role includes teaching Principles of Jewish Learning, with teaching across additional levels as grades are added; designing and leading tefillah, holidays, Shabbatonim, service programming, and other signature experiences; and recruiting, training, and coaching students to take on leadership. The Dean will also build partnerships with families, synagogues, camps, and community organizations; manage departmental budgets and allocated resources; and establish systems and measurable outcomes to assess Jewish learning, identity development, leadership, belonging, and program effectiveness. The school seeks a warm, relational, intellectually rigorous, collaborative, and entrepreneurial educational leader who values Jewish identity and diverse Jewish experiences, honors tradition while embracing innovation, and supports thoughtful inquiry and meaningful debate. Being Jewish and rabbinic ordination are not requirements. Hebrew proficiency is preferred. This is a half-time position and is not eligible for the school’s benefits package. Paid leave and paid sick leave accrue as required by law. Anticipated annual compensation is $38,772–$68,550, based on half-time placement on the school’s faculty salary schedule, plus a $2,000–$4,000 leadership differential. Placement depends on relevant leadership experience and educational attainment.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required.
At least 3 years of successful secondary (grades 6–12) teaching or schoolwide leadership experience required.
Some form of leadership experience is required.
A deep appreciation for and understanding of key Jewish traditions and rituals is critical; being Jewish is not required.
Demonstrated ability to build Jewish learning and community.
Master’s degree or M.Div. in Jewish Education, Judaic Studies, Jewish Leadership, Education, Spirituality, Theology, Youth Leadership Development, or a related field preferred.
High school (grades 9–12) experience highly preferred.
Progressively responsible leadership in Jewish educational or communal settings preferred.
Rabbinic ordination is welcome but not required.

Nice To Haves

Hebrew proficiency.
Experience in Jewish day school, Jewish high school, Jewish communal, or faith-based education settings.
High school (grades 9–12) teaching or leadership experience.
Leadership experience in a Jewish student center, campus ministry, experiential program, Judaics department, administration, or instructional leadership.
Master’s degree or M.Div. in a relevant field.
Progressively responsible leadership in Jewish educational or communal settings.

Responsibilities

Develop and implement a vision for Jewish life and learning aligned with the school’s mission and values.
Serve on the school’s senior leadership team and partner with school leadership on strategic planning, enrollment growth, student engagement, and community-building initiatives.
Establish founding-school traditions, rituals, cultural norms, and systems for evaluating Jewish life and educational programming.
Integrate Jewish values throughout the student experience and create measurable outcomes for Jewish learning, identity development, leadership, and belonging.
Design and oversee a comprehensive Jewish life program that promotes belonging, engagement, leadership, and community.
Lead school-wide Jewish programming, celebrations, educational experiences, and signature moments.
Recruit, train, and coach students to lead tefillah, learning, Shabbatonim, and chesed, and support them in taking on responsibility.
Partner with students to create programming that reflects their interests, identities, and aspirations, and foster an inclusive environment for diverse Jewish backgrounds and experiences.
Design the school’s ritual life, tefillah, holidays, and rhythms of gathering with staff members and community partners.
Design and lead student Shabbatonim and establish the service program as a core expression of Jewish life.
Manage departmental budgets and allocated resources; set the calendar and standards for Jewish life programming, sharing planning and execution with staff members and partners.
Lead the design, implementation, and ongoing refinement of the Jewish Studies curriculum, including the placement mechanism for honors and standard sections.
Teach Jewish Studies, beginning with Principles of Jewish Learning and expanding across levels as grades are added.
Develop approaches to teaching Jewish texts, history, ethics, philosophy, and contemporary Jewish issues, and promote interdisciplinary learning connecting Jewish Studies with other subjects and real-world issues.
Integrate Israeli culture, literature, history, current events, and contemporary topics into instruction.
Differentiate instruction for diverse learners and learning styles; use educational technology and innovative teaching methods to support engagement and achievement.
Assess student progress using formative and summative measures and provide timely, meaningful feedback.
Showcase student achievement through competitions, presentations, exhibitions, and public events.
Promote inquiry-based learning, analytical writing, discussion, research, project-based work, and immersive experiential approaches where they deepen mastery.
Set the direction for Israel education and engagement initiatives and develop programming about Israel’s history, culture, society, and contemporary issues.
Help students engage thoughtfully and respectfully with complex issues related to Israel and the global Jewish community.
Serve as a visible ambassador for Jewish life at Davis School Chicago and build partnerships with families to support students’ Jewish growth.
Establish partnerships with synagogues, camps, and community organizations that extend Jewish life at the school.