Shoshanna Schechter
Silver Spring,MD
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal, enhancing revenue by 50%. Expert in fundraising strategy and building interpersonal relationships, I excel in program development and strategic planning. Leveraged pluralistic Jewish education to foster community engagement, demonstrating exceptional multicultural sensitivity and organizational leadership.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Crisis Intervention Specialist / 988 Supervisor
Grassroots Crisis Intervention
Columbia, MD
02.2024 - Current
- Supervise and train crisis chat counselors to ensure effective intervention and support for individuals in crisis
- Conduct risk assessments, safety planning, and de-escalation for visitors in acute distress
- Collaborate with leadership to improve program operations and implement quality benchmarks
Senior Principal Consultant
Schechter Educational Services
Silver Spring, MD
01.2018 - Current
- Provide personalized college counseling and educational consulting for families and students of diverse abilities
- Develop comprehensive application strategies, leveraging data-driven insights to optimize outcomes
- Build strong relationships with university admissions professionals and clients across multiple states
Special Education Teacher / Summer Principal
Maya Angelou Schools - Youth Services Center
Washington, DC
02.2022 - 02.2024
- Taught and case-managed detained youth with diverse disability profiles, ensuring compliance with IDEA
- Served as Summer Principal, overseeing a team of 20 educators and staff members
- Implemented trauma-informed and restorative justice practices to foster student growth
Humanities Faculty (PT)
University of Texas - El Paso
, Remote
09.2016 - 07.2023
- Developed and taught online Humanities courses for diverse student populations
- Designed curriculum for varying course lengths, including intensive short semesters
- Trained faculty in instructional design and best practices for online learning
Special Education Teacher / Resource Educator
Montgomery County Public Schools
Montgomery County, MD
01.2021 - 03.2022
- Delivered targeted reading interventions and case-managed students with disabilities
- Coordinated extended school-year services for students with moderate to severe disabilities
- Implemented restorative justice practices to support student development
Director of Jewish Life
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
Rockville, MD
07.2019 - 05.2020
- Designed and facilitated religious, cultural, and social action programming for 500+ students
- Supervised 16+ faculty members and represented the school on community committees
- Fostered partnerships with local, national, and international Jewish organizations
Faculty - Religious Studies & Gender Studies
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA
09.2012 - 08.2019
- Taught undergraduate courses in Jewish Studies, Gender Studies, and Queer Theory
- Designed and led donor-supported travel courses to Israel
- Consistently received exemplary teaching evaluations
Hillel Director & Admissions Specialist
Randolph-Macon College
Ashland, VA
08.2017 - 07.2019
- Increased student enrollment by 25% through targeted recruitment and engagement strategies
- Managed programming for Jewish campus life and cultivated donor relationships
- Served as a faculty advisor and led travel courses to Israel
Executive Director
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
Philadelphia, PA
11.2014 - 07.2017
- Provided executive leadership for a national organization, overseeing a $1.5M annual budget and managing a team of 10 senior staff and over 50 total staff members.
- Developed and implemented strategic business plans, increasing revenue by 50% in 2016.
- Spearheaded new initiatives, including the establishment of 2 Endowment funds and the creation of the ALEPH Network and an international adult education initiative.
Director of Women's Division, Israel, and Overseas Programming
Jewish Community Federation of Richmond
Richmond, VA
01.2012 - 12.2014
- Directed a $1.5M Women's Philanthropy Campaign, achieving a 20% increase in giving
- Oversaw Israel engagement initiatives and collaborated with international Jewish organizations
- Designed leadership development programs for emerging and senior community leaders
Education
Doctorate in Higher Education Instruction and Leadership -
Alverno College
12.2026
Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration -
The Jewish Theological Seminary
09.2017
Doctorate in Special Education -
Columbia University - Teacher's College
09.2017
Master's in Jewish Studies - Gender Studies
The Jewish Theological Seminary
05.2008
Bachelor's - Anthropology and Jewish Studies
University of Maryland
12.2000
Skills
- Fundraising strategy and donor relations
- Grant writing and foundation relations
- Program development and event planning
- Crisis intervention and risk assessment
- Strategic planning and organizational leadership
- Pluralistic Jewish education and engagement
- Referral networking
- Client confidentiality
- Multicultural sensitivity
- Legal compliance
- Remote support provision
- Professional boundaries
- Interpersonal relationships
Certification
- Teaching Credential: Special Education (6th-Adult, Generic)
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention: CPI, QPR, and LivingWorks
- Certified Distance Learning Instructor: UTEP
- Associate Member: IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association)
References
Available upon request
Languages
Hebrew
Professional
Timeline
Crisis Intervention Specialist / 988 Supervisor
Grassroots Crisis Intervention
02.2024 - Current
Special Education Teacher / Summer Principal
Maya Angelou Schools - Youth Services Center
02.2022 - 02.2024
Special Education Teacher / Resource Educator
Montgomery County Public Schools
01.2021 - 03.2022
Director of Jewish Life
Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School
07.2019 - 05.2020
Senior Principal Consultant
Schechter Educational Services
01.2018 - Current
Hillel Director & Admissions Specialist
Randolph-Macon College
08.2017 - 07.2019
Humanities Faculty (PT)
University of Texas - El Paso
09.2016 - 07.2023
Executive Director
ALEPH: Alliance for Jewish Renewal
11.2014 - 07.2017
Faculty - Religious Studies & Gender Studies
Randolph-Macon College
09.2012 - 08.2019
Director of Women's Division, Israel, and Overseas Programming
Jewish Community Federation of Richmond
01.2012 - 12.2014
- Teaching Credential: Special Education (6th-Adult, Generic)
- Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention: CPI, QPR, and LivingWorks
- Certified Distance Learning Instructor: UTEP
- Associate Member: IECA (Independent Educational Consultants Association)
Doctorate in Higher Education Instruction and Leadership -
Alverno College
Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration -
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Doctorate in Special Education -
Columbia University - Teacher's College
Master's in Jewish Studies - Gender Studies
The Jewish Theological Seminary
Bachelor's - Anthropology and Jewish Studies
University of Maryland
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