OFFICE OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION – DIOCESE OF HARRISBURG
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS' JOB DESCRIPTION
Full-Time starting in July or August 2026
City & State: Lancaster, PA
School: St. Leo the Great School
FLSA Status: EXEMPT
St. Leo the Great Catholic Elementary School (PreK-8) is looking for a new principal to start
in the 2026-2027 school year. St. Leo the Great School is renowned in the Lancaster area
for its academic excellence. For the past 60+ years, our teaching philosophy has been
guided by the belief that each student is a unique gift of God, created with special gifts and
talents. It is our goal to nurture and develop those gifts to the benefit of the Church and the
community. We maintain this goal through a Classical Education Model that draws on the
Catholic Church's historical tradition of education and keeps Jesus Christ at the center. As
the principal of a Catholic school, you will have the support of the school staff, the
parishes that are connected to the school, the school board, the diocesan office, and the
faithful community. You will collaborate with and get to know fellow school principals who
share your calling from the other 31 schools in our diocese. You will be instrumental in the
formation and growth of over 300 young lives (based on current enrollment).
The Elementary School Principal in the Diocese of Harrisburg has the primary responsibility
for both the spiritual and educational leadership and the administration of the school,
which seeks to offer high-quality academic programs that are integrated with religious
truths and values. The Elementary School Principal is directly accountable to the Pastor.
In general, administrative tasks include:
- Organization of the school so that appropriate religious formation and learning can
take place
- Development of a competent faculty and staff
- Development and implementation of an appropriate curriculum
- Provision for the safety, welfare, and care of the students while they are attending
school
- Management of the physical facilities of the school
- Management of the financial and business affairs of the school as determined by
the approved budget by the Pastor and the School Board
- Development of good school-community relationships and involvement in all
aspects of the Development Program.
The minimum expectations for achieving the above tasks are the following:
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
1. To administer the school according to Diocesan and local policies.
2. To give leadership for achieving the goals of Catholic education.
3. To show evidence of knowledge of the Catholic Philosophy of Education.
4. To work towards the creation of a Catholic community within the school.
5. To be a leader in the school faith community, integrating the goals and objectives of
the school with those of local parish(es), especially in the faith formation and
ongoing development of students and faculty.
6. To provide opportunities for prayer and the sacraments for staff and students.
7. To maintain open channels for two-way communications with all segments of the
school clientele.
8. To show respect for individuals and fairness in dealing with others.
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE BOARD
1. To serve as the Executive Officer of a Board of Education, executing and
implementing its policies and directives in coordination with those of the Diocesan
Office of Catholic Education.
2. To report regularly to the Board regarding the implementation of diocesan/local
policies, curriculum development, evaluation, and school concerns.
3. To prepare the necessary background material for local policy formation and for
long-range planning.
4. To update the Board on current educational trends, issues, new laws, and other in
service matters that will be useful to them.
5. To assist the Board and the Pastor in the preparation of the annual budget and to
administer and monitor the approved budget within the designated parameters.
6. To confer regularly and frequently with the Chairperson of the Board of Education.
LEADERSHIP OF FACULTY AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
1. To hire and assign teachers in accordance with Diocesan policies.
2. To provide orientation and ongoing in-service for the faculty according to their
needs.
3. To direct and involve the faculty in an ongoing program of philosophy and Mission
Statement evaluation, curriculum assessment, and planning for instructional
improvement.
4. To assist the entire faculty in the integration of the Catholic Philosophy of Education
and the Classical Education Model into the curriculum.
5. To ensure the implementation of the Diocesan Religion curriculum and a spiritual
and religious formation program for the faculty and students.
6. To promote the growth of the faculty through ongoing supervision and evaluation.
7. To diversify the curriculum to serve the scope of abilities, talents, interests, and
needs of students.
8. To be familiar with all textbooks and instructional materials used throughout the
school.
9. To devise a plan for the regular replacement of textbooks and materials.
10. To assist teachers in the guidance, assessment, and analysis of student
achievement.
11. To provide the faculty with materials and resources necessary for their assigned
tasks.
12. To conduct monthly faculty meetings and to provide opportunities for faculty
involvement in the agenda preparation.
13. To oversee the scheduling of classes and daily lesson planning by teachers.
MANAGEMENT AND RECORD-KEEPING
1. To develop and communicate routine procedures for the operation of the school.
2. To publish rules, regulations, schedules, and procedures, and to be consistent in
expectations regarding them.
3. To maintain discipline throughout the school so that a learning environment
prevails.
4. To unify expectations for high academic standards throughout the school.
5. To implement fire, tornado, health, and safety codes in the school and on the
school grounds.
6. To provide appropriate maintenance and cleanliness of the school for the safety and
well-being of the students.
7. To meet deadlines with official school reports and statistics as required by Diocesan
and State personnel.
8. To keep school files organized professionally.
9. To maintain an up-to-date professional file for each teacher.
10. To be responsible for overseeing that accurate and up-to-date cumulative,
attendance, and health records are kept on every student.
PARENTAL INVOLVEMENT AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
1. To provide opportunities for regular conferences and meetings of parents and
teachers.
2. To provide channels for parent involvement and input in curriculum and school
policies.
3. To alert parents to the special needs and/or problems of their children.
4. To keep parents informed through regular school bulletins.
5. To cooperate with, and help to promote, the various programs existing in and for the
school.
6. To represent the school to the general community.
7. To develop and maintain public relations with and among appropriate publics.
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
1. To engage in the Elementary Principal's Personal Performance Review
2. To engage in an annual Elementary Principal's Performance Review with the
Pastor/Executive Pastor.
3. To complete the Elementary Principal's SUMMARY sheet
4. To update the Elementary Principal's Information sheet annually.
QUALIFICATIONS:
1. A practicing Catholic, whose value system and lifestyle are consistent with Catholic
Church teaching, committed to ongoing personal spiritual development, and willing
and able to foster a faith community among faculty members and students.
2. An educator who holds a Master's degree in Educational Administration with a
Pennsylvania Administrative certificate or a Master's degree in Education with a
commitment to pursue the required courses for a Pennsylvania Administrative
certificate.
3. An educator who has had at least five (5) current years of satisfactory Catholic
school teaching/administrative experience.
4. An educator who can present evidence of certification of religious studies
comparable to the current requirements established by the Office of Catechetical
Training or one who is committed to attaining such certification within the first three
years of principalship.
5. An educator with an openness to and interest in developing a Classical Education
Model.
The Catholic Schools' Department reserves the right to waive whichever of the
qualifications it deems individual circumstances warrant.
