JCL Names David Siskin to Serve as Middle School Director at the JCC

[by Phyllis Shaikun]

David Siskin, the Jewish Community of Louisville’s (JCL) middle school director at the Jewish Community Center, is the newest member of the JCL family. A graduate of the University of Arizona, he grew up in Bethel, CT, and started working as a counselor-in-train-ing with the Bethel Parks and Recreation camp program when he was just 16. He was quickly promoted to counselor and then to supervisor for activities and curriculum for campers up to grade four.

A 2003 move brought him to Tucson, AZ, where his parents, Harriet and Alan, had relocated the year before, where he worked for the Amphitheater School District as head soccer and baseball coach for boys’ and girls’ teams. At the same time, he worked with Tucson’s Jewish Community Center as camp sports and group director. He developed and administered an after school soccer program, taught a computer learning class and even created and supervised week-long trips for the teen department.

In 2007, he joined the Charleston, SC, Jewish Community Center as children, youth and camp director. For three years, he was responsible for all activities within the program and prepared budgets for children and youth camping services. He provided a balanced itinerary for campers and after-school attendees, and managed children’s Jewish holiday programs. This past spring, he decided to seek new challenges in a new area of the country and began a job search that brought him to Louisville.

“I had never even been to the city before I saw the posting for a middle school director’s position in Louisville on the Jewish Community Centers of America web site,” says Siskin. “I always liked working with that age group and I follow sports, so I knew Louisville had a great center compared with others. It looked like a good opportunity for me and I pursued it.”

 

He came on board over the last few weeks and already has a list crammed-full of program ideas that should keep middle schoolers busy, involved and begging for more. “I’d like to run Saturday night out programs,” he says. “I realize it might be hard to get the kids here at first, but if we can invite bands to ‘jam at the J,’ we can hopefully lure them in. If we do that, we can motivate them to do more.” He recalls a band jam and contest in Arizona that had half the gym filled with kids listening to music and dancing while the bands played.

Travel camp is another item on his agenda. “They’re even popular on the east coast,” he notes, “and it’s a program we can still get into. We can also stage an Israel after Dark program and do a night-life thing with food to get kids out over the weekend.”

Siskin is excited to be at the Center because he likes the family-like atmosphere JCC’s create. They’re warm and friendly and everyone cares. If you are interested in talking with him or in learning more about the middle school program, call 459-0660 or email dsiskin@jccoflouisville.org.

Leave a Reply