High School Principal

NCEA Google Educator Group; City of Rochester (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

McQuaid Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY seeks an inspirational High School Principal to lead our Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory program. The principal ensures academic excellence, student formation, and a thriving school community aligned with the mission and values of the school.

Reporting to the President, the principal guides academics, operations, faculty development, student well-being, and strategic planning, collaborating with the Executive Council, Board of Trustees, and key

Qualifications

• Master’s degree required; advanced degree preferred in educational leadership, administration, curriculum, or related field.
• Significant experience in secondary education, preferably in a Catholic or Jesuit school community.
• Proven track record in educational leadership, administration, and faculty development.

Responsibilities

• Provide vision and leadership for all aspects of the academic program.
• Collaborate with DOA, chairs, and faculty to strengthen teaching and learning.
• Oversee curriculum evaluation, development, and academic policies.
• Support student formation, well-being, and college counseling.
• Lead strategic planning, budgeting, and institutional priorities.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, students, parents, alumni, and trustees.
• Ensure operations align with Jesuit mission and values.
• Foster professional culture, accountability, and continuous growth.
• Represent the school with Board committees and external partners.

Skills

Student formation

Educational leadership

Curriculum oversight

Strategic planning

Faculty development

Communication

Budgeting

Education

Master’s degree in educational leadership or related field

Job description

Job Summary

McQuaid Jesuit, a Catholic school in Rochester, NY, teaching boys’ grades 6-12, is seeking a High School Principal. The High School (HS) Principal serves as the chief academic and educational leader of the high school and is responsible for ensuring that the school’s academic program, student experience, faculty, and daily operations reflect the mission and values of a Jesuit, Catholic, college-preparatory high school.

Working in close collaboration with the President, the HS Principal provides strategic and operational leadership for the high school, supports and evaluates its faculty and staff, advances academic excellence, promotes student formation and well-being, and helps foster a vibrant school community rooted in the Jesuit tradition of educating men for and with others.

The HS principal is an active member of the school’s senior leadership structure and works closely with the Executive Council, Academic Council, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and the Board of Trustees to advance the mission and strategic priorities of McQuaid Jesuit.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

1. Academic Leadership

• Provide vision, leadership, and oversight for all aspects of the academic program.
• Ensure that the curriculum reflects McQuaid Jesuit’s mission, academic standards, Jesuit identity, and commitment to developing the whole person.
• Work collaboratively with the Dean of Academics (DOA), department chairs, academic specialists, counselors, and faculty to strengthen teaching and learning.
• Promote academic rigor, innovation, and continuous improvement while maintaining appropriate support for students with diverse learning needs.
• Work with the DOA to oversee the evaluation and development of curriculum, courses, programs, and academic policies.
• Encourage thoughtful and intentional use of educational technology, including evaluating effective emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.
• Monitor academic achievement and use relevant data to identify areas for improvement and opportunities for growth.
• Support college counseling and ensure that the academic program appropriately prepares students for success beyond McQuaid Jesuit.

2. Executive and Institutional Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the school’s senior administrative leadership team.
• Work closely with the Executive Council to establish priorities, address institutional challenges, develop policies, and ensure effective communication and collaboration across the school.
• Partner closely with the President in advancing the strategic vision and priorities of McQuaid Jesuit.
• Collaborate with the President and administrative team on budgeting, staffing, enrollment, facilities, technology, and other institutional priorities.
• Help ensure alignment among academic, student-life, athletic, advancement, admissions, and operational programs.
• Communicate effectively with faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and other constituents regarding important school initiatives and decisions.

3. Faculty and Staff Leadership

• Recruit, hire, supervise, support, and evaluate HS faculty and designated staff.
• Develop a culture of professional excellence, collaboration, accountability, and continuous growth.
• Support the DOA, department leaders and appropriate administrators to establish meaningful professional development opportunities for faculty and staff.
• Promote faculty morale, collegiality, and a strong sense of community.
• Recognize and celebrate faculty and staff contributions to the mission and life of the school.
• Address personnel concerns in a timely, thoughtful, and professional manner.

4. Student Experience, Formation, and Well-Being

• Ensure that student experience and well-being remain central to the school’s educational mission.
• Support programs that promote student formation, character development, leadership, service, and the Jesuit ideal of being men for others.
• Work closely with the Deans, Counseling Department, Mission and Ministry, and other student-support personnel.
• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of student-support systems and interventions.
• Promote a school culture characterized by respect, inclusion, belonging, responsibility, and high expectations.
• Support appropriate disciplinary policies and practices that are consistent, restorative, educational, and aligned with the school’s mission.
• Remain visible and engaged in the daily life of the school and regularly interact with students.

5. Board of Trustees Engagement

• Serve as a key administrative liaison to the Board of Trustees.
• Participate on appropriate Board of Trustees committees and sub‑committees, providing academic, operational, and educational expertise.
• Prepare reports and presentations for Board meetings and committee meetings as requested, with relevant information regarding academic performance, student experience, faculty and staff, enrollment, educational trends, and institutional priorities.
• Work collaboratively with Board members while maintaining appropriate distinctions between governance and school administration.
• Assist the President and Board in developing and implementing strategic initiatives.

6. Jesuit and Catholic Mission

• Demonstrate a deep commitment to the Catholic and Jesuit identity of McQuaid Jesuit High School.
• Support the school’s mission of educating the whole person—cura personalis—through academic excellence, spiritual formation, character development, service, and leadership.
• Collaborate with Mission and Ministry to strengthen the Jesuit character of the educational experience.
• Ensure that academic and student‑life decisions are consistent with the school’s mission and Jesuit values.
• Support opportunities for students and faculty to engage in reflection, service, faith formation, and experiences that deepen their understanding of what it means to be men for and with others.
• Understands and is committed to the Mission of Jesuit Education and Formation includes a requirement for guided individual Ignatian formation.

7. Parent and Community Relations

• Maintain positive and productive relationships with parents and families.
• Communicate clearly and consistently regarding academic programs, school policies, student expectations, and major initiatives.
• Represent McQuaid Jesuit at school, community, educational, and Jesuit events.
• Develop strong relationships with other Jesuit schools, Catholic educational organizations, colleges and universities, and community partners.
• Serve as an ambassador for the school and its mission.

8. School Operations and Student Safety

• Provide leadership and oversight for the effective day-to-day operation of the school.
• Work with administrative colleagues to ensure that school policies and procedures are implemented effectively and consistently.
• Support initiatives related to student safety, security, emergency preparedness, and crisis response.
• Ensure that school policies comply with applicable Jesuit School Network, USAE, state, and federal requirements.

9. Strategic Planning and Continuous Improvement

• Help develop, implement, and evaluate the school’s strategic plan.
• Establish measurable goals for academic excellence, student experience, faculty development, and institutional growth.
• Encourage innovation while thoughtfully evaluating new educational practices and technologies.
• In collaboration with the DOA and the Director of Counseling, regularly assess the effectiveness of academic programs and student‑support initiatives.
• Use data, research, faculty input, student feedback, and parent perspectives to inform decision‑making.
• Lead changes thoughtfully, communicating the rationale, goals, and expected outcomes of significant initiatives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Other duties as assigned.

Leadership Characteristics

• A deep commitment to the Catholic and Jesuit mission of McQuaid Jesuit.
• Exceptional educational and academic leadership skills.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• The ability to build trust and foster collaboration.
• A visible commitment to students and student well‑being.
• High levels of integrity, judgment, professionalism, and discretion.
• The ability to make and execute difficult decisions while maintaining strong relationships.
• A commitment to faculty and staff development and morale.
• Strategic thinking combined with strong organizational and operational skills.
• A willingness to listen, seek input, and build consensus while providing decisive leadership.
• An appreciation for tradition while embracing thoughtful innovation.
• The ability to work effectively with the President, Executive Council, Academic Council, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni, and community partners.

Core Leadership Priorities

• Strengthening the academic excellence and rigor of McQuaid Jesuit.
• Enhancing the student experience and promoting student well‑being.
• Strengthening faculty and staff morale, professional growth, and collaboration.
• Advancing the Jesuit and Catholic identity of the school.
• Supporting thoughtful and intentional use of technology in teaching and learning.
• Building strong relationships with students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, and the broader McQuaid Jesuit community.
• Working collaboratively with the President, Executive Council, Academic Council, and Board of Trustees to advance the long‑term mission and strategic priorities of the school.

Education and Experience Requirements

• Master’s degree required, advanced degree in educational leadership, administration, curriculum, or a related field preferred.
• Significant experience in secondary education, preferably in a Catholic or Jesuit school environment.
• Demonstrated success as an educational leader, administrator, department chair, principal, assistant principal, dean, or comparable position.
• Strong understanding of curriculum, instruction, assessment, faculty development, and student support.
• Experience leading collaborative teams and managing complex organizational initiatives.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional growth and lifelong learning.
• Familiarity with Jesuit education and the mission of Catholic secondary education strongly preferred.

Physical Demands

• Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
• While performing the duties of this job, the position involves walking, standing, lifting, and bending. The person is also required to talk and hear. The position is required to frequently stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. Part of the duties may include lifting and carrying boxes as needed. Frequent and regular repetitive movements required using the wrists, hands, and/or fingers. The employee will occasionally lift and/or move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

Fast-paced school environment working in a school and/or office setting.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a 12-month, full-time position. 40 hours per week – exempt level position. Salary range: $120,000.00 to $160,000.00

Accountability

The principal reports directly to the President of McQuaid Jesuit High School and works within the governance structure established by the Board of Trustees. The principal is accountable for the academic and educational leadership of the school and for ensuring that the daily educational experience of students reflect the mission, values, and strategic priorities of McQuaid Jesuit High School.

Equal Opportunity Employment Policy

It is McQuaid Jesuit’s policy to provide equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment, consistent with federal, state, and local laws. Accordingly, all applicants for employment are to be treated without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or citizen status, qualified handicap, sexual orientation, marital or veteran’s status, or inconsequential handicaps. This policy pertains to every aspect of an individual’s relationship with the school, including but not limited to, recruitment, selection, compensation, benefits training, promotion, transfer, discipline, or termination.