Erie Catholic school system (ECSS)
Job TITLE: PRINCIPAL
Reports to: ECSS PRESIDENT
position status: FULL TIME, exempt
Position Summary:
The Catholic School Principal is the dynamic educational and spiritual leader of the school, dedicated to the development of the whole child, the teaching of the Catholic faith with a focus on Jesus Christ, and the integration of faith into all aspects of school life.
The Principal works closely with ECSS leadership, the Assistant Principal, teachers, and support staff to deliver academically distinguished curricula that challenges and engages students while promoting service and extracurricular opportunities that extend children’s learning beyond the traditional classroom. The school leader creates and maintains a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment and builds a positive, collaborative relationship with parents, diocesan clergy, and the Church community.
Detailed job divisions, outlining focus and direct responsibility, between the Principal and Assistant Principal will be confirmed at the start of each academic year.
Required Qualifications:
· Practicing Catholic.
· Valid and active Pennsylvania Administrative Certificate or ability to obtain certification. (Applications from out of state candidates within one year of completion will also be considered.)
· Master’s degree with graduate work in curriculum, instruction, supervision, or another related field.
· At least five years of successful teaching experience, preferably in a Catholic school.
· At least two years of successful administrative experience, preferably in a Catholic school.
· Experience leading and managing multi-dimensional organizations and situations.
· Experience using data to make informed decisions about student achievement and other data driven needs.
· Experience conducting informal and formal observations of teachers.
· Demonstrated adherence to the highest moral standards.
· Committed to the ECSS mission, vision, and philosophy.
· The President may approve appropriate or acceptable alternatives to the above.
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:Mission and Catholic Identity
· Articulate to faculty, staff, students, parents, and the community a clear vision of the school and system’s Catholic Identity, mission, vision, and philosophy.
· Lead and oversee the integration of the Catholic Faith into all aspects of daily school life.
· Collaborate with the System Chaplain and the Director of Campus Ministry to ensure that the Religion curriculum, instruction, and Religion teachers meet standards set by the Diocese of Erie.
· Collaborate with the System Chaplain and the Director of Campus Ministry to ensure that students, faculty, and staff have regular opportunities for faith formation, participation in liturgy, communal prayer, and service projects that support Catholic values and diocesan approved agencies and efforts.
· Ensure that the school environment expresses the signs of Catholic culture, both physically and visibly.
· Encourage students to grow in virtue, to practice self-discipline, and to develop a sense of fairness and accountability.
· Encourage students to make decisions through a Catholic moral lens, even when it is difficult.
· Witness to faculty, staff, students, and parents a commitment to the gospel and the Catholic faith by personnel actions and words.
Leadership for Academic Excellence
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Academics to review the curriculum, instruction, and assessment needs of the students based on student achievement data.
· Hold faculty accountable for their understanding and use of educational resources (e.g., National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools (NSBECS), ECSS Curriculum Standard/Scope and Sequence, Erie Catholic Staff Hub, and the like.)
· Supervise and evaluate curriculum implementation and instructional practices.
· Follow system policy for formal teacher evaluations.
· Supervise, monitor, and ensure the implementation of approved student accommodations.
· Serve as educational leader and coach in all aspects of curriculum, instruction, and assessment (CIA).
· Monitor and analyze student achievement data and lead development of strategies for improvement.
· Monitor and analyze educational programs, services, and instructional materials to determine their effectiveness in helping students to meet identified learning goals.
· Set high expectations for all school personnel and students.
· Ensure that student conduct is addressed by school personnel in a manner consistent with restorative practices and Catholic values.
· Ensure that faculty, students, and parents are aware of the document, Profile of an Eighth Grade Graduate of the ECSS, its purpose, and assessment process.
· Ensure that education focuses on the whole person - the spiritual, intellectual, physical, psychological, social, moral, and aesthetic capacities of each student.
· Lead by example and promote a positive school climate that emphasizes dignity, responsibility, and accountability.
School Operations and Vitality
· Manage all school operations, including but not limited to hiring of qualified personnel, academic quality, scheduling, supervision, budget oversight, facilitates, technology, and event coordination.
· Collaborate closely with the Vice President of Human Resources on all matters related to employee hiring, issues/concerns, and termination.
· Provide the Vice President of Human Resources with updates on the status of employee issues/concerns.
· Plan for the onboarding and mentoring of teachers and staff who are new to the building.
· Assign appropriate mentors who meet Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) induction requirements for first year teachers.
· Ensure that induction requirements are met.
· Supervise the school’s operational staff and ensure all are evaluated according to system policy.
· Develop a schedule of monthly meetings with faculty and staff and bi-weekly meetings with grade level teams.
· Develop agendas for faculty and/or staff meetings that address relevant information in a clear, concise manner and allow for participant input/discussion.
· Take the necessary steps to ensure a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment for all members of the community.
· Work with the Director of Health and Safety to schedule safety and security training for school personnel, students, and volunteers, as well as on-going practice sessions of safety preparedness procedures.
· Assume leadership of all extra-curricular activities and attend school sponsored activities, functions, and athletic events.
· Take responsibility for the school’s budget and financial transactions in conjunction with the Vice President of Finance and the Business Manager.
· Identify budgetary needs and propose budget adjustments.
· Collaborate with the Director of Government Programs, Catholic Schools Office (CSO); the Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit #5; local public school districts; and/or other approved agencies to determine educational services and staffing for which the school is eligible.
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Communication, Marketing, and Enrollment and the Campus Liaison to plan and implement recruitment and retention strategies and activities.
· Champion the implementation of communication, marketing, and enrollment strategies to faculty and staff.
· Oversee and participate in enrollment management strategies in an effort to support student recruitment and retention.
· Take responsibility for student enrollment as defined by the President.
· Oversee the management of the school’s facilities, ensuring that the campus is clean, secure, and safe.
· Communicate facility concerns to the Director of Maintenance and plan for routine maintenance and renovations.
· Collaborate with the Vice President of Technology to ensure school technologies meet current needs of personnel and students, equipment is maintained, communication systems are secure, and technology policies are communicated and enforced.
· Ensure that all ECO and CSO required/requested reports are completed professionally with accuracy and submitted in a timely manner. The Vice President of Academics serves as the liaison to the CSO and will communicate reporting needs.
Governance Leadership: Professional and Community Leadership
· Act with integrity, fairness, and in an ethical manner.
· Review school and employee policies and procedures with faculty and staff, yearly.
· Communicate updated school and employee policies and procedures to faculty and staff in a timely manner.
· Monitor, assess, and document the quality of implementation of school and employee policies and procedures by all school personnel.
· Promote collaboration among faculty.
· Establish professional learning teams (PLTs) within the school community in conjunction with the Vice President of Academics and set a schedule of leadership participation in each PLT.
· Recommend potential system curriculum committee members and/or content lead teachers to the Vice President of Academics.
· Promote parent/guardian involvement in religious activities, school programs and events, and service to the school and Church.
· Participate actively in all ECSS principal meetings, CSO leadership meetings, and professional development.
· Provide the assistant principal, faculty, and staff with regular updates on relevant academic and community information learned through ECSS and CSO leadership meetings and/or professional development.
· Identify, promote, and support professional development specific to the needs of the teachers, staff, and parents.
· Attend ECSS Board of Directors meetings at the discretion of the President.
· Keep the President informed of the school’s activities, successes, and challenges.
· Maintain effective communication with all stakeholders, listening and responding in a timely manner to questions and concerns.
· Establish and maintain positive relationships with local community groups and individuals to foster understanding and solicit support for overall school objectives and programs.
· Promote and support institutional advancement.
· Work with the other system principals to collectively advance the ECSS mission, vision, philosophy, and goals.
· Perform other related duties as assigned by the President.
Competencies:
· Knowledge of the teachings of the Catholic Church.
· Knowledge of child and adolescent development, learning, and behavior.
· Knowledge of the ECSS PreK-8 Curriculum and the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools.
· Knowledge of best practices in decision-making.
· Knowledge of and skill in teaching and using evidenced-based instructional methods and assessment strategies.
· Knowledge of and skill in using effective assessment methods, managing data, and interpreting and analyzing assessment data.
· Skill in active listening and communicating effectively orally and in writing, utilizing a variety of communication tools and techniques.
· Skill in recognizing, employing, and evaluating evidenced-based instructional methods and resources and assessment strategies.
· Skill in completing teacher and staff professional observations and evaluations and conducting follow-up meetings to discuss observation ratings and comments.
· Skill in conducting student, teacher, and/or parent conferences.
· Skill in leading collaborative work teams and working collaboratively with individuals across the system.
· Skill in organizational and time management. Must be able to handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
· Skill in critical thinking, problem solving, and strategic planning.
· Skill in delegating responsibilities.
· Skill in accurately managing a school budget and financial transactions.
· Skill employing job-appropriate technologies and integration of instructional technologies.
Work Conditions:
· Required to work in a school environment, including a professional office environment.
· Professional attire, as outlined in the ECSS Administrative Dress Code, is required.
· Required to work some evenings and weekends.
· Required travel among school campuses, parishes, and sites outside of the Erie area necessitates the incumbent to have a vehicle and valid driver’s license to attend job related meetings, seminars, and professional development.
· Required to manage all levels of stress.
· All Erie Catholic positions require on-campus attendance; remote work and flexible scheduling options are not offered.
Property and Confidentiality Requirements:
All property, including intellectual property, materials, equipment, actual products, and services developed or accrued as part of the job duties and responsibilities listed above, is the property of the ECSS. It may not be used for personal profit or gain and will be relinquished to the ECSS upon termination of employment from the ECSS. In addition, the person employed in this position shall maintain confidentiality with regard to the personal and private information about students, faculty, and staff; programs and services; and any other proprietary information accrued as a result of Erie Catholic’s employment or as required by state or federal laws and regulations.
Note: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, competencies, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may be assigned or changed at any time with or without notice.
ECSS is committed to equal employment opportunity and employs all qualified persons without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age handicap, or any other classification protected by the federal, state, or local laws.
Job Type: Full-time
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
