Principal

St. Louis University High; St. Louis (MO); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Louis University High is seeking a Principal to lead the school’s academic programs and student formation in partnership with the President. The role advances the Catholic, Jesuit mission through academic excellence and innovative teaching.

The Principal will guide curriculum, assessment, and professional development, while partnering with the Jesuit community, Board, and families to steward resources and campus initiatives. Strong faith, strategic leadership, and collaboration are essential.

Qualifications

• Demonstrated success as an educational leader, with experience guiding curriculum, instruction, assessment, and faculty development.
• Significant secondary-school leadership experience, including responsibility for faculty, academic programs and operations.
• Experience recruiting, supervising, evaluating, and retaining outstanding educational leaders.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and academic excellence.
• Lead ongoing improvement of curriculum and instructional practice; foster educational innovation.
• Foster adoption of emerging technologies in service of the mission.
• Oversee accreditation and institutional improvement.
• Recruit, mentor, supervise, and develop faculty and leaders.
• Partner with the President and senior leadership to steward resources and operations.
• Ensure integration of Catholic/Jesuit mission across school life.
• Support student formation, discipline, wellness, and co-curricular programs.

Skills

Leadership

Curriculum leadership

Communication skills

Financial & administrative leadership

Strategic planning

Team collaboration

Education

Master's degree in Educational Leadership or Education Administration

Doctoral degree (preferred)

Tools

Educational technology initiatives

Job description

The Principal serves as the primary educational leader of St. Louis University High School, working in close partnership with the President to advance the school's Catholic, Jesuit mission through academic excellence, student formation, and exceptional teaching.

The Principal provides strategic leadership for the school's academic, student-life, and formational programs while fostering a culture in which faculty flourish, students are challenged and supported, and the mission of Jesuit education animates every aspect of school life. The Principal partners closely with the President, Jesuit community, Board of Trustees, leadership team, faculty, staff, students, and families to steward one of the nation's oldest and most distinguished Jesuit secondary schools.

Essential Responsibilities

Educational Leadership

• Provide strategic leadership for curriculum, instruction, assessment, and academic excellence.
• Lead ongoing improvement of curriculum, instructional practice, assessment, and educational innovation.
• Foster thoughtful adoption of emerging technologies and new educational approaches in service of the school's mission.
• Ensure continued excellence through accreditation and continuous institutional improvement.

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Recruit, hire, mentor, supervise, evaluate, develop, and retain exceptional faculty and academic leaders.
• Build a professional culture marked by trust, collaboration, accountability, reflection, and continual growth.
• Develop leadership capacity throughout the faculty and administration.
• Coordinate meaningful professional development aligned with the school's strategic priorities and educational mission.
• Foster a community in which teaching is valued as both a profession and a vocation.

Mission and Student Formation

• Ensure that the Catholic, Jesuit mission is integrated into all aspects of the school.
• Partner with Campus Ministry, the Jesuit community, faculty, and staff to ensure that faith formation, intellectual development, and character formation remain fully integrated.
• Support programs that foster discernment, leadership, service, justice, and care for the whole person.
• Promote a school culture rooted in cura personalis, reflection, and the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius.

Student Life and School Culture

• Provide leadership for student life, discipline, wellness, co-curricular programs, athletics, and student support services.
• Ensure that every student is known, challenged, supported, and encouraged to realize his God-given potential.
• Foster a safe, orderly, welcoming, and inclusive school environment.
• Partner with Admissions to recruit and enroll talented young men from throughout the region.

Organizational Leadership

• Lead the daily operation of the school.
• Partner with the President in strategic planning, institutional priorities, budgeting, and long-range planning.
• Ensure effective stewardship of personnel, financial, and physical resources.
• Oversee school safety, emergency planning, and operational effectiveness.
• Maintain all required accreditation, reporting, and sponsorship requirements.

Governance and Institutional Leadership

• Serve as a member of the school's senior leadership team.
• Advise the President and Board of Trustees regarding academic programs, student life, and institutional priorities.
• Serve as an ex officio member of Board committees as assigned.
• Represent the school within the broader Jesuit educational network and the local educational community.
• Build strong relationships with students, parents, alumni, faculty, staff, and community partners.

Qualifications

Required

• Practicing Catholic with a deep personal faith and a demonstrated commitment to advancing the mission of Catholic and Jesuit education.
• Demonstrated success as an educational leader, with experience leading curriculum, instruction, assessment, and faculty development.
• Significant secondary-school leadership experience, including responsibility for faculty, academic programs and school operations.
• Demonstrated success recruiting, supervising, evaluating, developing, and retaining outstanding faculty and educational leaders.
• Experience leading institutional improvement through thoughtful planning, collaborative leadership, and effective implementation.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong financial and administrative leadership skills, including budgeting and personnel management.
• Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Education Administration, or a related field.

Preferred

• Experience in Jesuit or Catholic secondary education.
• Familiarity with the Spiritual Exercises and Ignatian spirituality.
• Experience leading instructional innovation and educational technology initiatives.
• Experience working collaboratively with a President, Board of Trustees, and senior leadership team.
• Doctoral degree

Direct Reports

• Assistant Principal for Academics and Instruction
• Assistant Principal for Wellness and Discipline
• Assistant Principal for Activities and Formation
• Director of Admissions
• Director of Athletics
• Director of Information Technology
• Director of Data

Candidates Should Upload

• Resume or CV
• Cover letter describing your interest in serving as Principal of St. Louis University High and how your experience and leadership approach align with SLUH's mission and priorities