High School Principal

ADP, Inc.; Matthews (NC); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Day School seeks a high school principal to lead our 9th–12th grade community with a biblically integrated, excellence-driven mission. The principal will guide over 40 faculty and staff and about 350 students, translating the school’s vision into actionable goals and sustaining a cohesive, vibrant community across students, parents, and teachers.

The role reports to the associate head of school, begins Summer 2026, and emphasizes collaboration, data-informed decision making, and

Qualifications

• Committed follower of Jesus Christ and dedicated to Christian education.
• Experience leading a school or large department with strong administrative ability.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with a track record of collaboration.

Responsibilities

• Communicate the school’s strategic plan and mission to the high school and integrate innovative ideas.
• Lead the high school leadership team and supervise faculty and staff to ensure excellence.
• Oversee curriculum, scheduling, budgeting, and accreditation processes.
• Foster a biblically integrated program and implement Vision/Mission in daily operations.
• Ensure student safety, discipline, and a positive school culture.
• Collaborate with parents, administrators, and community partners to support student growth.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Educational leadership

Policy implementation

Education

Advanced degree in education or relevant field

Job description

The high school principal is a committed and passionate Christian leader with enthusiasm for biblically integrated academic excellence. He or she understands and enthusiastically supports the school’s mission, vision, and strategy and demonstrates the ability to translate them into actionable goals for the high school. The principal maintains a cohesive team and sense of community among students, parents, faculty, and staff; inspires and leads the high school faculty and staff; and works to ensure outstanding results are achieved. He or she serves as the spiritual leader of the high school and has high expectations for the faculty, staff, and students, with a vision to help every student reach his/her potential and maintain the high school program as a standard of Christian school excellence. The high school principal maintains a balance between effective daily operations and critical long-term planning. He or she is a dynamic, creative professional, highly motivated and committed, with a good sense of humor and the ability to cope with the unexpected.

Reporting to the associate head of school and serving as part of the school’s leadership team, the principal leads over 40 faculty and staff and approximately 350 students in 9th through 12th grades. Leadership involvement includes participation in the school's educational and senior advisory leadership teams, and the principal is expected to be a collaborative team leader with other leaders and faculty/staff. The full time position is salaried (exempt) and is anticipated to begin in summer 2026 in preparation for the 2026-2027 school year.

At Covenant Day School, our vision is to transform hearts and minds for the glory of Jesus Christ. We desire to carry out this vision as a unified and diverse covenant school community that seeks to love the Lord with heart, soul, and mind, love our neighbor as ourselves, and demonstrate the “more excellent way” that only comes through the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are committed to welcoming one another, to striving to honor each other consistently, to walking in humility toward one another, and to examining the Scriptures with one another.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Communicate the school’s strategic plan and mission to the high school and integrate innovative ideas to forward the school’s mission
• Work collaboratively with staff and administration to maintain and assess curriculum, course offerings, and instructional needs
• Passion for and ability to engage students through active listening to perceive what is important to them and apply ideas to help translate Jesus Christ of the Bible into modern-day applications for our students
• Communicate regularly with students and parents regarding curriculum, instruction, divisional procedures, and special events, and engage in outreach and programming to increase parent involvement and participation
• Management of scheduling, report cards, budgeting, oversight of ordering of curriculum and supplies, and other student administrative processes
• Maintain, evaluate, and improve operating systems and processes
• Ensure enforcement of policies and regulations related to student attendance, welfare, conduct, and security,
• including annual student handbook updates
• Supervise and inspire all high school faculty and staff, partner with human resources for recruiting and mentoring new faculty and staff
• Set divisional and professional goals, follow an annual process for staff goal setting, and monitor progress towards achievement; regularly observe teachers to provide feedback and to ensure continuous improvement and use of best practices; aid in implementation and evaluation of professional development opportunities
• Be present and visible in high school classrooms and at events and activities such as high school prom and dances, athletic and fine arts events, Restoration and Sustainability efforts, campus-wide community meetings/events, etc.
• Lead and supervise the High School Guidance Department and the high school media center
• Supervise, partner with, and develop assistant principal and other high school staff; partner closely with colleagues and provide support for needs for spiritual formation, Restoration and Sustainability, academic resources, fine arts, athletic, and international programs
• Work closely with administrative staff on various school operational activities such as security, building maintenance, business administration, human resources, development, communications and marketing, food services, and campus operations
• Partner closely with the Parent Association for student life development opportunities
• General oversight of accreditation, normative testing (PSAT, SAT/ACT, AP exams, etc.), chapel, class trips, retreats, social activities, and graduation events
• Oversee high school technology and AI philosophies/ethics, partner with campus technology team on school laptop program, and integration of technology into the classroom
• Promote data analysis and use of data for decision-making about instruction and assessment
• Perform other administrative duties as necessary and take on projects as assigned by the associate head of school or the head of school

Qualifications

• Committed follower of Jesus Christ reflecting a desire to serve Him and others in work and life
• Christ Covenant Church membership preferred after position begins; all faculty and staff employed by Covenant Day School must subscribe to the reformed faith and that doctrine as set forth in the Westminster Confession of Faith
• Advanced degree in education or relevant field
• 3-5 years’ experience as principal or school leader strongly preferred; Christian education experience ideal
• Strong team building skills, and capacity to bring a school together as a community, with spirit and commitment to biblically integrated high academic standards
• Demonstrated supervisory experience, including teacher recruitment, evaluation, development, and retention
• Experience with curriculum development, alignment, and continuous revision, including integrating auxiliary programs such as fine arts and athletics
• Experience in budgeting processes
• Familiarity with accreditation and class scheduling processes
• Excellent interpersonal, oral, and written communication skills; demonstrated abilities in problem solving and conflict resolution, with emotional maturity in dealing with challenges
• Strong technology skills for administrative work and for educational leadership of faculty and students1
• Follow-through, efficiency, attention to detail, and consistency in approaches