Principal

Job Description

Job DescriptionSalary:

Job Title: Principal

Position Type: Full-time

Reports to: President/CEO

Why Cristo Rey? Cristo Rey Kansas City High School serves a growing student population from 9th-12th grade. We are the only school in the Kansas City Metropolitan area with a Corporate Work-Study Program embedded in our curriculum. In addition, we pride ourselves in providing a private Catholic and Career Preparatory education to all our students. We are one of Missouris top-rated high schools, and we are seeking educators as well as operations staff. We offer an exceptional benefits package and outstanding work/life balance. Join our organization and be a part of something great!

There are many benefits to working at Cristo Rey Kansas City with some of them being:

• Student and Families: CRKC teachers strive to form strong relationships with their students and their families.
• Staff Autonomy: Staff members appreciate having the autonomy to try proven and new approaches in their classroom and are encouraged to innovate. The experience of teachers and staff is valued and they are given space to collaborate and share their best practice with each other.
• Coaching and Development: Staff at CRKC collaborate with their leaders on their growth and development. CRKC teachers set a professional development goal in collaboration with their coaches and colleagues. All staff are aligned on working on their development over the course of the year.

Position Summary:

Cristo Rey Kansas City, a vibrant Catholic high school committed to academic excellence and spiritual formation, is seeking a dedicated and visionary individual to serve as the chief academic, instructional, and formational leader for our learning community. The Principal will provide leadership, guidance, and support in fostering a faith-filled and academically rigorous environment. This individual will report directly to the schools President, and will serve as a critical member of the schools leadership team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Catholic Identity and Cristo Rey Mission
  • Serve as a spiritual leader for the school; promote and sustain the schools Catholic identity; ensure that the schools Christian values and mission drive school decisions, and that liturgical practices, prayer, and Catholic culture are integrated into school life; ensure that time and resources are appropriately allocated to Campus Ministry and Adult Faith Formation.
  • Ensure that all members of the school community are treated fairly, equitably, and with respect and compassion; positively support all stakeholders; actively work to create a loving environment; protect the rights and confidentiality of students and staff.
  • Actively participate in and support the schools leadership team; promote and support the importance of integrating academics with the Corporate Work Study Program as part of a college preparatory experience; ensure clear communication of shared expectations for students.
  • Develop and sustain the schools Catholic identity; lead and participate in prayer, liturgical celebrations, and sacramental activities; and promote a culture of respect, compassion, and justice in alignment with Catholic teachings.
• Teaching and Learning
  • Supervise the development, implementation, and assessment of a rigorous academic curriculum in accordance with diocesan guidelines, and support and evaluate faculty and staff, fostering a culture of continuous professional development.
  • Collaborate with teachers and administrators to maintain a challenging and supportive learning environment.
  • Serve as the lead-learner in the building; stay current with research, best practices, and trends relevant to Catholic, urban education, and issues that may be affecting the schools students.
  • Oversee faculty members; conduct regular classroom observations using a research-based framework; maintain a visible and active leadership presence throughout the building; provide teachers and classroom staff with valuable feedback to further develop their professional skills.
  • Lead the implementation of the common, rigorous, college-ready Cristo Rey Network curriculum; promote and nurture a college-going culture with high student expectations.
  • Lead the implementation of school-wide cycles of formative/interim assessments, analysis of data, and monitoring of student progress; identify and prioritize needs and determine team and individual interventions; communicate academic data to stakeholders.
  • Plan and execute a program of professional development informed by instructional, school culture, and student achievement data. Ensure that professional development is collaborative and aligned with the schools instructional and formational vision.
• Student Development
  • Foster a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes the social, emotional, and spiritual growth of each student.
  • Implement programs that address the needs of diverse learners and encourage extracurricular involvement.
• School Culture and Family Involvement
  • Foster and promote a school culture that values diversity and the unique gifts that all staff, students, and families bring to the school community; foster the creation of an inclusive school environment, and ensure that parents are welcomed and acknowledged as partners with the school; develop and implement strategies for meaningful and reciprocal family and community engagement.
  • Build positive relationships with students, parents, and the broader community; collaborate with local parishes and community organizations to strengthen ties and enhance the school's outreach; and communicate effectively with stakeholders through regular newsletters, meetings, and events.
  • Lead the school community to create a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement, complemented by high levels of support; promote and articulate a vision for continuous improvement that recognizes existing equity gaps and commits to their elimination.
  • Serve as a model of the schools values and mindsets, and hold self and others accountable to maintaining high standards; actively promote the regular exchange of affirming and constructive feedback among members of the schools staff.
  • Ensure an active co-curricular life of the school, which gives students opportunities to develop their non-academic talents and interests (musical, artistic, athletic, etc.).
• Strategic Planning
  • Lead the school community to develop a detailed, concrete, and compelling vision for excellence that encompasses academics, school culture, community engagement, alumni engagement (when applicable), and partnership with the Corporate Work Study Program. This vision must reflect a critical understanding of the students varied cultural identities, along with the schools Catholic identity; consult with the President and other stakeholders to incorporate their understanding of the schools context and to secure their investment in the schools vision for excellence.
  • In consultation with the President and other key stakeholders, develop a multi-year strategic plan that is aligned to the schools shared vision of excellence, that leverages the resources of the Cristo Rey Network, and incorporates knowledge of current realities and progress-to-goals.
  • Predict the needs of staff, students, and families in pursuing the strategic plan, adjusting over time, as necessary; anticipate barriers, and develop measures of effectiveness and plan for contingencies.
  • Design and execute processes and systems for progress-monitoring with goals and metrics across all critical areas of the strategic plan.
  • Establish concrete, ambitious, meaningful medium- and long-term goals that serve as qualitative and quantitative indicators of students college-readiness.
• Allocation of Resources and Supervision of School Personnel
  • Audit time, personnel, and resources to ensure college-readiness for all students and manage day-to-day school operations, including budgeting, scheduling, and facilities.
  • Ensure compliance with diocesan policies and relevant educational regulations and collaborate with leadership on strategic planning and policy development.
  • Set and communicate clear expectations for excellence, and define responsibilities for staff; delegate tasks and responsibilities in ways that are consistent with role definitions; maximize the impact of each team member under your chain of management.
  • Develop and execute strategies to improve performance of staff over time and hold staff members accountable.
  • Monitor progress on multiple work streams and individual expectations. Acknowledge progress, celebrate successes, and intervene in a prompt, direct, and professional way to address gaps when needed.
  • Consistently follow federal and state policy and establish a high bar for professionalism and discretion when handling personnel issues.

Required Skills & Abilities:

• Deep commitment to low-income, urban youth
• Flexibility, energy, stamina, and foresight to be an effective leader of a start-up school
• Ability to build a shared vision and inspire commitment to a mission
• Ability to build relationships with a diverse staff and parent community
• Ability to plan in a manner that anticipates barriers and recognizes needs school-wide
• Strong collaboration with others and the willingness to solicit input prior to developing strategies and solutions
• Ability to motivate and influence others to achieve excellence in the workplace
• Openness to feedback
• Ability to think critically and reflectively, and to prioritize effectively
• Openness to growth and a commitment to continuous learning
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Ability to develop and execute an effective school budget

Education and Experience:

• Masters Degree in an educational field with School Administrator K-12 Certification, Education Specialist preferred
• Preferred three to five years experience in school leadership
• A commitment to Catholic education
• Demonstrated ability to connect with low-income, urban students and families
• Demonstrated ability to serve as the faith leader of the school
• Proven background in curriculum design, teacher supervision, and data analysis
• Demonstrated understanding of the college qualification and acceptance process
• Background in designing and executing school improvement plans
• A commitment to personal and professional integrity and moral character
• Fluency in Spanish preferred but not required

Cristo Rey Kansas City is an equal opportunity employer, and we encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply. We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students, faculty, and staff.