High School Principal
NOTRE DAME PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL PRINCIPAL for 2023-2024 SCHOOL YEAR
The Bishop of the Diocese of Phoenix, the Catholic Schools Office and Notre Dame Preparatory High School, Scottsdale, Arizona is seeking an enthusiastic, visionary, qualified Principal with strong leadership and commitment to and experience in Catholic education for the 2023-2024 school year.
Since its founding in 2002, Notre Dame Prep has been dedicated to keeping God and family as our highest priorities. The school believes the greatest service we can provide our students is to create an environment that inspires a love of learning and a commitment to faith and justice in the service of others. Notre Dame Preparatory High School is a growing co-educational diocesan high school of over 800 students with strong parental support and involvement. Offering a college preparatory curriculum, the school serves the greater Northeast Valley community of the Metro Phoenix area.
ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:
As a spiritual leader:
- Functions as a religious leader working with the chaplain to continually uplift the school’s mission and philosophy in accordance with the goals of Catholic education
- Witnesses Gospel values and promotes Catholic moral teaching in the policies and life of the school
- Demonstrates evidence of knowledge of the Catholic philosophy of education
- Assists the chaplain in ensuring quality Catholic religious instruction of students
- Encourages involvement with parish communities
- Works towards enhancing the school’s Catholic identity within the school and greater community
- Empowers and motivates teachers in sustaining the faith community of the student body
- Assists the chaplain in providing opportunities for religious experiences for staff, students, and the school community
- Ensures that all faculty and staff are committed to the goals of Catholic education
- Assists the chaplain in nurturing the faith development of faculty and staff through opportunities for spiritual growth
- Supports the chaplain in his ministerial priesthood of teaching, divine worship and pastoral governance.
- Supports and fosters consistent practices of Christian service
As an instructional leader:
- Plans, evaluates, and adjusts the on-site instructional programs to adhere to the diocesan curriculum standards, Western Catholic Education Association (WCEA), North Central Association (NCA), and the students’ needs
- Promotes an effective teaching/learning environment which encourages the implementation of various teaching strategies that engage learners
- Approves the master teaching schedule and any special assignments
- Allocates instructional planning resources in alignment with financial resources to meet student needs
- Monitors testing programs and communicates student data to parents and the school community
- Collaborates with local public school districts regarding federal services, educational programs and allocations for teachers and students
- Assumes responsibility for his/her own professional growth and development
As a school leader:
- Administration
- Follows established policies, practices and procedures of the Diocese of Phoenix
- Sends completed diocesan forms and reports to Catholic Schools Office by due dates
- Follows through on decisions
- Identifies and effects needed change
- Interprets and uses research to guide action plans
- Recognizes and fosters leadership ability among staff
- Teaching/Learning
- Integrates Catholic principles throughout the curriculum in collaboration with the chaplain
- Promotes an effective teaching/learning environment
- Develops and implements a balanced curriculum providing for proper articulation
- Creates an environment which encourages teachers to develop creative programs
- Makes diocesan curriculum standard guides available
- Communication
- Initiates and/or facilitates open communication within the school community.
- Interprets the school programs and policies for the school community
- Maintains regular dialogue with the Diocesan Catholic Schools Office personnel and attends and actively participates in Diocesan Principal meetings
- Establishes and publishes the local school calendar in accordance with state law and diocesan directives
- Maintains articulation between feeder schools and establishes a cooperative and friendly relationship with the local Catholic and public high schools
- Fosters school participation in the local civic community when appropriate
- Schedules regular faculty meetings and establishes vehicles of communication with the faculty
- Personnel
- Hires, supervises, evaluates and develops competent faculty and staff in accordance with Diocesan, WCEA and NCA standards.
- Works in collaboration with the chaplain to hire, supervise and evaluate a competent faculty in theology and campus ministry that are faithful to the Catholic Church teachings.
- Establishes and maintains open communication with the faculty and staff
- Maintains complete and accurate personnel records according to diocesan guidelines
- Provides in-service and professional growth opportunities for faculty and staff that are aligned with continuous school improvement
- Provides training and documentation of policies and procedures as directed by the diocese and the state
- Facilitates faculty meetings on a regular basis
- Encourages the creativity and uniqueness of each faculty and staff member
- Develops a comprehensive faculty handbook
- Students
- Develop and implement a comprehensive parent/student handbook which reflects Gospel values
- Provides for the safety, welfare and care of the students including a school-wide crisis plan
- Oversees all school activities and after school programs
- Ensures that the rights and needs of the individual student are respected as stated in the parent/student handbook
- Ensures academic and health records are maintained according to Diocesan and AZ State Health Department regulations
- Conduct conferences with individual students as necessary
- Follows diocesan protocol in cases of suspected child abuse
- School Advisory Board
- Works cooperatively with the chaplain and school advisory board to communicate the school’s mission
- Develops meeting agenda with the board president
- Updates the board on school operations, Catholic identity, new church documents, diocesan policies, current educational trends, issues, laws, financial status of the school, and other appropriate topics
- Encourages participation in the Diocesan School Board In-Services
- Parents/Guardians
- Recognizes and respects that the parents are the primary educators of their children
- Facilitates appropriate parent involvement in the school
- Provides adequate training for parents/guardians who serve as volunteers
- Ensures communication of student progress on a regular basis
- Finance
- Follows all diocesan financial policies and procedures
- Prepares the annual school budget in conjunction with the school finance committee, the recommendation of the school advisory board, and approval of the superintendent
- Monitors budget and reviews finances in a timely manner
- Provides a system of accurate and timely collection and disbursement of school monies
- Oversees tuition assistance allocations
- Initiates, coordinates, and oversees fundraising activities as needed to supplement the budget
- Professional Growth
- Directs and provides for professional growth of the staff to ensure effective teaching methodologies
- Provides orientation for teachers new to the school
- Provides yearly faculty orientation to diocesan and school policies and procedures
- Provides training on the “Safe Environment” and “Policy on Sexual Misconduct by Diocesan Personnel” & “Harassment Policy and Procedures” for all staff
- Plans in-service sessions according to faculty needs
- Marketing and Development
- Promotes the positive image of the school by establishing positive public relations within and outside the school community
- Oversees programs for the effective recruiting and retention of students
- Initiates and directs both short and long-range planning for the school
- Oversees the promotion of the Catholic Education Arizona program
- Records
- Manages an effective and efficient office and record-keeping system
- Maintains complete, accurate, up-to-date personnel and student records according to diocesan guidelines
- Prepares reports as required
- Supervises correspondence and publications
- Physical Plant
- Ensures a clean, secure, and orderly campus
- Monitors a schedule for the upkeep and preventive maintenance of the buildings and grounds
Additional job functions:
- Serves as an ex officio member of the school advisory board, strategic planning committee, and finance committee within the school
- Serves as the president of the school corporation
- Maintains professional development through reading, coursework, conference attendance, professional committee work, visiting other schools, and meeting with other administrators
- Acquaints himself/herself with local enrichment opportunities, referral agencies, fire and police department and social services available to the school
Performs any other job-related tasks deemed necessary and/or assigned by the President or the Superintendent
QUALIFICATIONS:
Candidate must be an active, practicing Catholic, faithful to the Church’s magisterium, have successful professional experience in school administration, possess a Master’s degree in Educational Administration or related field, and able to be certified by the State of Arizona as a principal. The successful candidate will be a strong spiritual and educational leader with excellent communication and public relation skills who is able to build morale around philosophy and mission of the school. Candidates should possess a vision of education for the 21st century that includes a focus on Catholic identity, academics, curriculum and instruction, special education programs, instructional technology, as well as knowledge of financial and human resource management. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively with a variety of publics: students, teachers and staff, parents, alumni, community supporters, local pastors and elementary school principals. Candidate must understand Catholic high school students and be committed to assisting students in the pursuit of academic excellence, strong moral formation, and intentional discipleship. The Principal works in conjunction with and reports to the school President.
SALARY AND BENEFITS:
Salary negotiable based on experience, education, and credentials. Benefits include employee health insurance, retirement, sick leave, vacation, short-term disability, and social security.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE:
Candidates must complete an online application and provide all required documents.
For questions, please contact the Diocese of Phoenix Catholic Schools Office
dsalce@dphx.org
602-354-2340