Principal, Christian ​/ Catholic School

Overview

Principal (2026–2027 School Year) – St. Joseph Catholic School, Erie, Michigan. Full-Time | Salaried | Reports to Pastor.

Are you a faithful Catholic leader and accomplished educator called to form both minds and souls? St. Joseph Catholic School seeks a mission-driven, faith-filled PreK–8 Principal to lead for the 2026–2027 school year. This is an opportunity for an experienced educational leader deeply committed to academic excellence, Catholic formation, and the cultivation of virtue through education rooted in truth, beauty, and goodness.

St. Joseph Catholic School is a Catholic elementary school serving Pre-K through Grade 8. Our school integrates rigorous academics with faithful Catholic formation to cultivate wisdom, virtue, and holiness. With small class sizes, strong family partnerships, integration of the Catholic faith into daily life, and a supportive parish community, students demonstrate academic growth while being formed as disciples of Jesus Christ.

Catholic identity is the foundation of our work.

The Principal serves as the academic, instructional, operational, and spiritual leader of the school. The leader must be committed to the mission of Catholic education and possess a strong understanding of classical pedagogy, child development, faculty leadership, and faith formation. The ideal candidate embraces the Church’s teachings, inspires excellence in teachers and students, and leads with wisdom, humility, and conviction. This position is hired by and directly accountable to the Pastor.

• Lead the school in faithful alignment with the mission of St. Joseph Catholic School and the Archdiocese of Detroit
• Serve as the spiritual and instructional leader of the school community
• Model and uphold the doctrinal and moral teachings of the Catholic Church
• Foster a culture of prayer, virtue, reverence, and Catholic identity throughout school life
• Promote a school culture rooted in the Catholic pursuit of truth, beauty, and goodness
• Support frequent school liturgies, prayer, sacramental preparation, and service opportunities

• Lead and oversee all PreK–8 instructional programs
• Ensure curriculum implementation in accordance with school and Archdiocesan standards
• Support teachers in lesson planning, instructional preparation, assessment, and classroom management
• Champion the educational path of the school, including strong literacy, humanities, and virtue-based formation
• Monitor academic performance and student growth
• Facilitate enrichment and extended learning opportunities
• Conduct annual faculty evaluations and instructional coaching

• Hire, mentor, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff
• Lead all faculty and staff meetings
• Build a collaborative, mission-centered faculty culture
• Communicate regularly with teachers, families, parish staff, and the Pastor
• Partner closely with parish leadership and stakeholders on school initiatives
• Support professional development and ongoing formation of staff

• Maintain a safe, orderly, and secure learning environment
• Oversee student attendance and academic records
• Ensure compliance with school, diocesan, and state policies
• Implement and maintain safety and emergency procedures
• Maintain confidentiality and professional discretion in all school matters

Required

• Bachelor’s degree required (Master’s degree preferred)
• Valid Michigan teaching and administrative certification, or eligibility to obtain
• Demonstrated experience in educational leadership or school administration
• Knowledge of elementary instructional methods and child development
• Strong communication, leadership, and decision-making skills
• Successful completion of criminal background check
• Compliance with Safe Environment requirements
• Completion of Protecting God’s Children training through the Archdiocese of Detroit
• Must maintain all state licensure and professional development requirements

Preferred

• Practicing, fully initiated Catholic in communion with the Church
• Intentionally living the sacramental life and the five precepts…