Director of Judaics Studies

The Jewish Leadership Academy

Miami, FL

Now accepting applications for Middle and Upper School 2026-27 Director Of Judaics Studies

ABOUT US _______________________________________________________________

The Jewish Leadership Academy is a world-class Jewish Middle and Upper School dedicated to

developing the skills, curiosity, and potential of Miami’s most ambitious students for a life of

purpose, commitment, and service.

JLA is committed to:

❖ Challenging inquisitive minds to think critically

and creatively in pursuit of the highest academic standards across all disciplines.

❖ Putting values into action by embedding leadership training and community service into

the heart of the educational program.

❖ Engaging the mind and stirring the soul to connect with the Jewish past and the Jewish

present, the Jewish People and the Jewish State, through the broad and embracing lens

of Modern Orthodoxy.

We are carefully creating a faculty culture that is values-driven, committed to high standards

and high support, rooted in respect for all, and in an unabiding love for what we do. Click here

to view our Culture Deck.

JUDAIC STUDIES AT JLA ____________________________________________________

JLA is committed to accepting mission-appropriate students who seek to grow in their

understanding of and appreciation for Judaism, irrespective of any prior experience with Jewish

learning and irrespective of their or their family’s personal level of observance. On campus and

at all school functions, Jewish life and learning will be conducted in accordance with Modern

Orthodox standards and perspectives.

The focus of the Judaic Studies curriculum is the creation of a strong foundation in the

fundamentals of Jewish ideas and practice, with less focus on the technical aspects of Biblical

Hebrew and Aramaic. Courses are designed to expose students to the profundity of Jewish texts

and the depth of Jewish tradition while fostering the creation of personal connections to their

heritage that will last a lifetime.

Students at JLA take seven periods a week of Judaic Studies in addition to two periods a week of Hebrew Language. An optional daily period twice a week is also available to students in all

grades. In order to bolster JLA students’ understanding of both the Jewish present and past, and in order to imbue them with a strong sense of connection to the State of Israel, all students in grades 9-12 spend 3.5 weeks of every school year in Israel— in an immersive Judaic experience that will focus on Tanach, Jewish History, Contemporary Israel, and Ulpan.

In addition, all JLA students spend two hours per week in our Service Entrepreneurship Program

which is designed to bring the values of chesed and or la-goyim to life.

DIRECTOR OF JUDAIC STUDIES______________________________________________

The Director of Judaic Studies reports to the Associate Head of Upper School and is responsible

for overseeing the continued development of JLA’s distinctive Judaics curriculum. The successful

candidate will lead all aspects of Judaics academics, including (but not limited to) teaching and

learning, department collaboration, the strengthening of departmental norms and culture, and

the creation of opportunities for cross-curricular integration.

This role provides leadership for a strong department of talented and experienced educators.

The Director of Judaic Studies must bring confidence in pedagogy, instructional leadership, and

department management.

As a core member of the leadership team shaping the Jewish experience at JLA, the Director will

work closely with the Director of Jewish Life, the Campus Rabbi, and the Associate Head of

Upper School. The successful candidate will join a highly collaborative team with a shared vision

and a commitment to ensuring that the Judaics experience at JLA remains world-class.

RESPONSIBILITIES _________________________________________________________

Responsibilities will include:

❖ Teaching a modified load

❖ Advisory, media-literacy, research, service learning, ruach / inspiration or mentorship

role as part of our unique Friday schedule

❖ Maintain a strong, ongoing understanding of the needs, concerns, and successes of the

teachers within their department, and advocate for those needs.

❖ Supervise gradebooks and assessments

❖ Work in partnership with the Academic Dean to support instructional excellence, coherence across the department, pedagogical guidance, and alignment with Atlas.

❖ Provide informal mentorship and coaching in order to help cultivate a reflective and collaborative team culture.

❖ Facilitate regular discipline-specific team meetings (weekly or biweekly)

❖ Advise on supply needs and advocate for resources necessary to support teaching and

learning within the discipline.

❖ Observe and provide constructive feedback to faculty in the middle and upper divisions

1x per semester to support instructional growth and effectiveness, reporting the outcomes and recommendations to the Associate Heads and Academic Dean

QUALIFICATIONS _________________________________________________________

Applicants must have a minimum of 5 years of teaching experience at the Middle/Upper school level, as well as a strong foundation in classroom pedagogy. He/She must have an advanced degree in Judaic Studies or Education. Experience working with gifted and talented students is

an asset. Previous experience in management and leadership roles is preferred

In addition, the successful candidate will demonstrate:

❖ The ability to connect with and inspire students.

❖ Innovative and creative practices.

❖ Willingness to take risks

❖ He/she is guided by Torah values

❖ He/she is a lifelong learner

❖ The ability and desire to work collaboratively on a high-functioning team.

❖ Excellent people skills.

❖ Mastery of Google Workspace for Education and an overall comfort with technology.

❖ Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

❖ The desire to be a part of a learning community.