Jewish Life Fellow

Staff / Full-Time
Annual Salary Range: $50,000 – $55,000

Gann Academy, Waltham, MA

ABOUT GANN

Gann Academy is a pluralistic Jewish high school that challenges students to cultivate their talents and interests in all areas of human potential: intellectual, artistic, spiritual, and physical. Our faculty, made up of both Jewish and non-Jewish educators, facilitates the student journey. We seek professionals who are committed to collaborating and growing in their teaching practice; supporting diverse learners in the classroom; and connecting with students outside the classroom, both formally and informally.

Gann Academy is committed to building an inclusive workplace culture where talented people of widely diverse backgrounds can thrive. We believe the inclusion of diverse perspectives will improve our work and produce better societal and learning outcomes for all. All employees participate in this commitment, whether internally, in building a welcoming workplace culture, and/or externally, in ensuring inclusive engagement with families and other community members.

Perhaps most of all, Gann offers a community of smart, collaborative, and compassionate professionals— people who care about their work, their school, and their colleagues. We help one another learn, solve problems, and have fun.

ABOUT OUR TEAM

Our Jewish Life Department consists of talented professionals who demonstrate exceptional commitment to instructing and engaging students. If you enjoy working with students and want to develop their love and connection to Jewish life, this role offers you a fantastic opportunity to join Boston’s leading Jewish High School in an early career role. Gann’s outstanding faculty sharpens our students’ intellect, challenging them to become analytical, creative, empathetic, and out-of-the-box thinkers.

ABOUT THE POSITION

Gann Academy seeks candidates for a full-time, in-person, Jewish Student Life Fellow position for the 2025-2026 school year. The position will contribute to our comprehensive experiential Jewish Education program in the areas of Tefilah (“Zman Kodesh”), Shabbat and Holiday Programming, Student Leadership, and other aspects of Jewish Life and Jewish Studies at Gann. Successful candidates will have a passion for Jewish Life and Education, and a commitment to collaborating, reflecting, and growing in their leadership practice. Personal qualities such as creativity, curiosity, perseverance, and flexibility are desirable, as are effective communication skills with both students and families. Candidates will be able to connect well with teenagers, serve as role models of engaged and inspired Jewish living, and facilitate students’ development of their Jewish identities. Candidates should enjoy working in a pluralistic Jewish setting and engaging students from all Jewish backgrounds.

This is an in-person, full-time position starting in August 2025. The salary range is between $50,000 and $55,000 annually, commensurate with relevant work experience and qualifications. The portfolio of responsibilities is detailed below:

Jewish Life responsibilities may include

  • In collaboration with colleagues and school administration, planning all retreats, grade-level shabbatonim, holiday and special programming, and Jewish life programs and events
  • Working as a Jewish identity advisor to guide and mentor students through their Jewish journeys
  • Leading Zman Kodesh two (2) mornings per week and during other days of the school year when Zman Kodesh takes place (ie. Rosh Chodesh, Jewish Holidays)
  • Jewish Educational Travel: Supporting the planning and delivery of elements of educational travel opportunities for students, including senior Israel class trips, alternative break trips, and gradewide travel experiences.
  • Israel Programming: Working collaboratively to plan and implement Israel educational programming, including but not limited to Yom HaShoah, Yom HaZikaron, and Yom HaAtzmaut
  • Support school-wide and community events through student coaching and mentorship, project management, and logistical support
  • Teaching or Co-teaching Jewish Studies classes and experiential modules, as relevant
  • Preparing lessons and developing curriculum; teaching, leading, and guiding students
  • Support Academic programs through classroom substitution and support, as needed
  • Support the Admissions team in planning and delivering programming to engage prospective students; conduct interviews with prospective students

Collaborative Responsibilities

  • Work with students outside of the classroom as needed
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues across all departments
  • Attend and participate in department meetings; collaborate with department members and instructional director on curriculum development, lesson planning, student issues, and department initiatives
  • Assist with substitution when able; arrange and communicate class coverage as needed

Professional Development, Growth, and Training

  • Attend and participate in all faculty/staff work-day programs, in-service training (including both August and June in-service days), orientation programs, seminars, and safety training/drills
  • Pursue professional development opportunities in or out of school; display willingness and ability to grow, learn, and practice self-reflection; work with the instructional director and other members of the faculty and administration on educational and pedagogical growth and innovative tools and techniques in and out of the classroom

Administrative Responsibilities

  • Attend and participate in parent/teacher conferences and advisor conferences which may take place in the evening
  • Keep records of correspondence with parents, progress of advisees, records of teaching practice and student work, and utilize the school database appropriately to communicate student issues
  • Take and record attendance; prepare and file reports, letters, grades, and comments as required and directed by school administration
  • Complete required paperwork, forms, surveys, employment documents, background checks/fingerprinting, online training programs, and other school policy and legal requirements by established deadline

COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS

  • Experience working with teens, ideally in a Jewish summer camp or youth group environment.
  • A background in Jewish studies and/or good knowledge of Jewish texts and traditions.
  • Strong interpersonal skills and well-developed empathy.
  • Ability to work within a pluralistic Jewish setting.
  • Ability to work collaboratively with students, faculty, staff, and community members.
  • Self-starter with good organizational and planning skills.
  • Ability to prioritize several projects, assimilating information with accuracy and consistent attention to detail.
  • Possess excellent computer skills in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint. An ability to quickly learn school-specific software programs.
  • Excellent written and oral communication skills.
  • B.A. Degree is preferred.

EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

  • Competitive salaries
  • Professional development
  • Comprehensive benefits package featuring generous paid time off policies -including sick time, paid vacation, personal days, and U.S. holidays, Gann employees get up to an additional 15 days off for Jewish Holidays, depending on the Jewish Calendar of the year
  • Short Fridays
  • Comprehensive Health Insurance
  • Retirement Plan Match (403B) starting immediately!
  • Hungry? Gann has a full-service kosher dairy dining hall complete with a fresh salad bar and multiple hot meal options
  • Free parking!
  • Fitness facilities for our faculty and staff
  • Life Insurance
  • Short – and Long-term disability

WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL DEMANDS

Physical demands include dexterity for office machine/supply operation including but not limited to computers, telephones, electronic calculators, copy machines, and printers. Stooping, bending, reaching for files or supplies, and sitting or standing for extended periods are common.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

Gann Academy is an equal-opportunity employer. It is the policy of the school to prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type and to afford equal employment opportunities to employees and applicants, without regard to race, creed, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression), and pregnancy, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or veteran status.

ACCOMMODATION

External and internal applicants, as well as position incumbents who become disabled as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act must be able to perform the essential job functions (as listed) either unaided or with the assistance of a reasonable accommodation to be determined by management on a case-by-case basis.

E-VERIFY

This employer participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the U.S. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, this employer is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before the employer can take any action against you, including terminating your employment. Employers can only use E-Verify once you have accepted a job offer and completed Form I-9.

Gann Academy

Waltham, MA
High School
Day
All Gender
Religiously-Affiliated