Position: School Principal
The principal acts as the chief operating and educational officer for St. Mary’s School with the guidance of the parish pastor and school board in the implementation of goals and policies consistent with the mission of the Catholic Church. The principal bears ultimate responsibility for the integration of faith and learning within the school, for successful academic and student programs, and for effective management of the business and development affairs of the school. The principal acts as the primary liaison between the school and the school board, the Diocese of Grand Rapids and the broader community. The principal works closely with the pastor and the pastoral team for coordination of school and parish functions. The principal is ultimately responsible for the successful overall operation of the school as accomplished through effective delegation of responsibilities to faculty, staff and volunteers.
Job Begins: Immediate Opening
Enrollment: 204 students
Grade Levels: Preschool-Eighth Grade
Demographics and Culture:
St Mary’s School, located in the Village of Spring Lake, Michigan, has been faithfully educating the families of West Michigan lakeshore parishes since 1954. In the fall of 2016, St. Mary’s completed construction of its beautiful new school building. The new state-of-the-art instructional spaces are designed for the very best in Catholic educational practice and feature instructional workspaces that connect partnering classrooms, large group gathering spaces for collaborative work and project-based learning, a STEM lab, music and art spaces, and a welcoming gathering space upon entry. This growing and inclusive school community and its highly-qualified faculty work faithfully to educate the whole child, this year implementing a biblically-based social-emotional learning curriculum for all students. St. Mary’s School is devoted to our 2022-23 school year theme inspired by St. Teresa of Calcutta, that we can change the world doing small things with great love and always guided by the following mission:
Inspired by Saint Mary and rooted in our Catholic faith, St. Mary’s School fosters spiritual development, academic excellence, responsibility to self, and service to others in order that the Gospel of Christ may be known in the world.
Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in educational leadership or administration with state of Michigan administrator certification or a master’s degree in education with a willingness to obtain administrator certification in the state of Michigan within three years.
- The candidate must have a current Continuing, Life, Permanent, Professional, Provisional, or Standard Teaching Certificate for the State of Michigan at the level of administration for which the candidate is applying.
- A practicing Roman Catholic in good standing
- Understands the structures, tenets and institutions of the Catholic Church
- Willingness to obtain Advanced Catechist certification within five years
Skills:
- Desire to foster the faith life of the community and advance the mission of the Catholic Church.
- Welcoming and personable
- Strategic vision and planning
- Ability to engage the community in vision
- Collaborative team builder
- Excellent communication
- Curricular and co-curricular leadership
- Operational, organization and problem solving
- Responsive decision making
Responsibilities:
- School faith community leadership
- Instructional leadership
- Student affairs
- Personnel leadership
- Business affairs
- Development/Institutional Advancement
- Board Relations
- External affairs
Accountability: Hired by the pastor in consideration of the board’s recommendation and with the approval of the superintendent of Catholic schools; reports to the pastor and is evaluated by the pastor or his designee (board chair) according to the process established by the superintendent of Catholic schools. Accountable to the superintendent of Catholic schools in certain matters where diocesan policy and direction are concerned.
Salary: Competitive within the Catholic school market in West Michigan
Interested candidates should send a letter of interest, resume, and references, along with THIS EMPLOYMENT APPLICATION to:
St. Mary’s Catholic School
Attention: Father Bill Vander Werff
430 E. Savidge Street
Spring Lake, MI 49456
schooloffice@slstm.org
Applications will continue to be accepted until the position is filled.