Overview

Ben Porat Yosef opened its doors in 2001 with nursery classes and has grown steadily each year, from 27 to over 500 students in toddler through 8th grade. BPY is dedicated to educating students in the entirety of the traditions of the Jewish people. To this end, students experience and learn about the full array of both Sephardic and Ashkenazic customs, traditions and variations in Tefillah (prayer). Ben Porat Yosef is distinguished by its warm and nurturing environment.

Mission Statement

Ben Porat Yosef is an Orthodox yeshiva day school that aims to educate and nurture generations of knowledgeable, devoted Jews, motivated and confident learners, critical thinkers, responsible citizens and empathic, happy, and self-fulfilled human beings. We are dedicated to achieving excellence in Judaic and general studies through sound, creative teaching methods that emphasize differentiation and small group instruction, integration across the curriculum, and the development of dual language mastery. Enriched by our Sephardic and Ashkenazic heritage, strengthened by our connection to the people and land of Israel, and reinforced by our partnership with the home, Ben Porat Yosef is committed to creating a warm and personalized learning environment that is child-centered and that inspires a love for Torah and mitzvot.

The Position

Reporting to the Head of School, the General Studies Principal is a member of the administrative team of BPY. The General Studies Principal is responsible for the creation, implementation, monitoring, and assessment of the General Studies program for the elementary and middle school grades, in accordance with the vision and mission of Ben Porat Yosef. The candidate must articulate a vision for excellence, understand best practices, possess a proven capacity to inspire confidence, establish benchmarks for success and prepare students for 21st-century learning.  BPY is a dynamic, rapidly growing school and this position requires a skilled educator to build on our current model for middle school curriculum while continuing to strengthen the current elementary school curriculum.

Responsibilities

 

Educational Leadership

  • Maintain and grow the focus on academic excellence and ensure that all elements of the program throughout the grade levels are aligned with current best practices in education.
  • Recruit, hire, mentor, supervise and evaluate the General Studies faculty.
  • Maintain ongoing oversight and assessment of student achievements.
  • Utilize shared leadership strategies in collaboration with administrative team and faculty.
  • Provide professional development opportunities in the form of formative assessment and content/pedagogic related offerings.
  • Supervise and mentor faculty in areas related to the academic curriculum, social/emotional development of children, classroom management, and parent communication.
  • Set academic standards of excellence and help to ensure that the standards are met or exceeded
  • Model developmentally appropriate practices and positive behavioral management techniques through daily contact with the students and General Studies faculty in the classroom and throughout the school.
  • Communicate and work cooperatively with administrative team, faculty, support staff and parents to ensure the success of every child.
  • Possess strong interpersonal, communication, and writing skills, and help to represent the school at various public functions and events.

 

Students

  • Build and differentiate programming to meet the needs of diverse learners.
  • Build upon the warm and supportive environment, a hallmark of BPY, to ensure the success of each student.
  • Lead the process of cultivating a collaborative environment in both academic and non-academic areas to meet the individual needs of the “whole child”.
  • Develop a relationship with each student to support students in meeting their educational, social and emotional goals.
  • Involvement in the admissions interview and assessment of new students, and proper class placement of current students.
  • In conjunction with the administrative team at BPY,  implement and supervise a child-centered discipline program based on the best developmentally appropriate practices.
  • Coordinate with the Judaic Studies Principal and the Director of Special Services to help integrate the various programs of the school.

 

Curriculum

  • Create a program of academic excellence in all areas.  Develop benchmarks and assessments to evaluate the curriculum.
  • Work with faculty and staff to develop an innovative and purposeful integration of technology into the General Studies curriculum.
  • Provide guidance and oversight to teachers on the development of student goals and lesson plans, with a focus on student-centered, progressive education.
  • Support faculty in shaping activities and facilitating opportunities to encourage curiosity, exploration, and problem solving appropriate to the developmental levels of each child.
  • Maintain up-to-date knowledge of current child development practices.
  • Keep abreast of current research through professional periodicals, professional development and conferences.

 

Faculty

  • Recruit, hire and supervise General Studies faculty.
  • Evaluate the performance of the General Studies faculty for retention and/or dismissal purposes. This includes formal and informal observations, pre and post-observation conferences and written evaluations.
  • In conjunction with the Head of School and the administrative team, establish and implement a culture of ongoing professional development.
  • Maintain a system of communications in conjunction with faculty and staff to ensure regular, effective communication with parents.

 

Work Remotely: no
Qualifications:
  • Depth of experience running and developing a General Studies program in either a secular or Jewish Day School environment
  • Proven capacity to supervise faculty in a constructive and thoughtful manner
  • Proven experience and success as an organizational leader and/or educational administrator.
  • A team player
  • Ability to articulate and communicate goals, benchmarks for success, mission and vision for the General Studies curriculum to multiple constituencies: faculty, administration, staff, board members, parents, and the larger community.
  • An administrative style that is open, collaborative and inspiring.
  • Experience integrating technology into learning.
  • Experience setting and working toward professional development goals for faculty and staff, and the capacity to actualize those goals.
  • Demonstrated ability to set priorities, effectively manage time and delegate to others.
  • Strong supervisory and evaluation skills with an ability to hold staff and faculty accountable as needed.
  • Outstanding people skills: honest, warm, socially adept, inviting and accessible.
  • Excellent organizational skills
  • Ability to maintain composure under pressure and effective at managing conflict.
  • Ability to promote and foster educational excellence.
  • Vision to develop and advocate for new, imaginative and unique curricular components and to achieve results through a timely course of action.
  • Ability to approach work with enthusiasm, and creative energy. Demonstrate compassion and genuine caring for others with the capacity to gain insight into people and situations.
  • Possess strong moral compass and emulate values of the school.
  • Willingness to embrace new concepts and ideas, to take risks, and to learn from past missteps.
  • Creativity, compassion, and focus.
  • Forward-thinking
  • Charisma, personal warmth and ability to serve as a role model for the students

 

Advanced degree required.

Position Start Date: August 29, 2024
Send resumes and cover letter to:

Interested candidates are invited to send a resume with a brief statement of educational philosophy to Rabbi Saul Zucker, the Head of School at rabbizucker@benporatyosef.org.

Ben Porat Yosef, E. 243 Frisch Court, Paramus, NJ 07652

All inquiries will be kept confidential, no phone inquiries, please.