Position Title: Gan Shelanu Lead Teacher
Reports to: Director of Early Childhood Education
FLSA Status: Non-Exempt
Last Updated: July 2025
Salary Range: $20 -$24
WHO WE ARE
Adath Jeshurun Congregation was founded in Minneapolis in 1884 and is the oldest affiliate of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism west of Chicago. Our vibrant congregation consists of 900+ households, with members ranging in age from 0 to 103, and opens many doors to Jewish life inside and outside of our building. Difference is a good thing. We believe that there are many doors to Jewish life, and it takes all of
us to oen them.
Adath Jeshurun, a member of the Conservative Movement, is a progressive, egalitarian, and sacred community dedicated to Torah (learning and tradition), Avodah (prayer and spirituality), and Gemilut Hasadim (acts of loving indness).
Adath fully embraces Jewish life in America and the proliferation of Jewish literature, music, learning, social justice, and mindfulness practice. In the spirit of holding innovation as part of tradition, there are many doors of Jewish life that call us to action, especially on issues of racial justice and equity, awareness of people with disabilities, and our burial society to provide support to congregants in times of grief. Our action extends to Israel, as we are always finding new ways to affirm Adath’s historical support for the flourishing of Masorti/Conservative Judaism a
nd religiou pluralism.
Gan Selanu Preschool is Adath Jeshurun Congregation’s early childhood program for children aged six weeks through pre-kindergarten. The Gan provides a rich variety of learning experiences intended to stimulate the cognitive and social development of children within a Jewish context. Gan Shelanu works to instill students’ pride in their heritage, the importance of community and love f giving back.
Gan Shelanu’s school year runs from late August to late May. We also offer a pre-school summer camp from mid-June to mid-August. Some teachers elect to only work during the school yar.
JOB SUMMARY
The Lead Preschool Teacher is responsible for:
• Developing and maintaining pos
itive relationships wih children and parents
• Creating engaging lessons, facilitating opportunities that encou
rage curiosity, exploraion and problem-solving
• Establishing strong classroom routines and adapting
teaching to meet the leaning styles of children
• Communicating with families through phone calls, dailyreports and newsletters.
• Observing each child, track their proress and report to parents
• Maintaining a clean classroom consistent withhealth and safety standards
• Providing basic needs for children including assisting with tileting and
changing diapers
• Supervisng nap rooms when appropriate
• Working from 8:00 a.m. –
1:15 p.m., additional afternon opportunities are available
The Lead Preschool Teacher reports to the Director of Early Childhood Education and partners with an Assistant Teacher or Teacher’s Aide as well as staff workingwith kids in the same age group.
The position could be full-time or part-time and is non-exempt. Full-time benefits include health care (medical and dental), a health savings account, contribution to a retirement account, life and disability insurance, PTO and holidays. Benefits are offered base on
full-time or part-time status.
ADITIONAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
• Actively support the principle of the Conservative Judaism Movement.
• Actively support the Congregation’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, access, racial justice and
anti-racism. Conduct all activities wih a high degree of cultural competency.
• Maintain effective, collaborative wo
rking relationships with colleagues, clegy, lay leaders, and community partners.
• When representing the Congregation to internal and external audiences, articulate Adth Jeshurun’s desired image and position.
• Contribute to building a cohesive, respectful, responsive, and
productive staff environment that demonstrtes the Congregation’s values and mission.
• Actively participate in all-staff meet
ings,trainings, and other meetings as requsted.
Education and Experience - Required
• Associate or bachelor’s degree in early childhood development or education, Child Development Associate (CDA) Credential or current enrollment in a similar deree program
Education and Experience – Desired
• 2 years of experience, especially as a led teacher in a licensed daycare or similar setting
• First aid and CPR certification (we will provide if necessary)
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Demonstrates inspiring leadersip and cultivation of a collaborative working environment
• Outstanding ability to communicate sensitivel and diplomatically with all children, families, and staff
• Able to navigate and use a device to document and monitor routines of children and to communicate with parents/guardians, use a time clockapp to clock in and out digitally, use video conferencing.
In addition to job-specific knowledge and skills, all employees are expeted to demonstrate Adath Jeshurun’s staff covenant values of:
• Jewish-driven ideals
• Communication that is direct, honest, kind, and reflets tzelem elohim, the Divine image in each of us; mutal respect
• Listening through relationships;hearing each other
• Servng our community and makig connections
• Generosity and integrity
• Respectful disagreement
• Accountabiity: when we commit
to something, we do it to the best of our ability
• Teamwork, adaptaility, creativity, mindfulness, and openness
•Laugher with each other
• Shared undrstandings that make us stronger
PHYSICAL DEMANDS AND WORK ENVIRONMENT
The physical demands described here represent those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of this position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these functions.
While performing the duties of this position, the employee is regularly required to speak, hear, and see. Specific vision abilities this position requires include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
The employee uses hands or fingers to handle or feel objects, tools, or controls. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, sit, reach with hands and arms, climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, wok in an office environment, work in a seated position, and work with computers.
The employee must be able to transport themselves and attend off-site meeings and acivities. The employee must occasionally lift and move up to 35 pounds.
DISCLAIMER
The above information has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work employees perform in this role. It is not intended to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to the job. Management has the right to assign or readsigm schedules, duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.
