Principal

Diocese of Gaylord; Traverse City (MI); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Traverse City, MI seeks a Middle School Principal to serve as the spiritual, instructional, and administrative leader, guiding students toward academic excellence, faith formation, and personal growth.

The principal will foster Catholic identity, lead curriculum aligned to diocesan/state standards, coach teachers, ensure safe school culture, and collaborate with families, parish, and community to advance mission and mission-driven operations.

Qualifications

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, committed to Catholic education.
• Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Administration, or a related field.
• Valid teaching and administrator certification (or ability to obtain).
• Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience.
• Prior school leadership experience preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
• Foster a vibrant Catholic culture through prayer, liturgy, service, and faith formation.
• Support students and staff in their spiritual development.
• Collaborate with pastors, chaplains, and diocesan leadership.
• Lead curriculum development aligned with diocesan and state standards.
• Observe, coach, and evaluate teachers to promote instructional excellence.
• Analyze student achievement data to improve academic outcomes.
• Support innovative teaching practices and professional growth.
• Cultivate a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment.
• Promote positive student behavior and restorative discipline practices.
• Build strong relationships with students and families.
• Encourage leadership, service, and extracurricular involvement.
• Recruit, hire, mentor, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and professional development.
• Build a culture of trust, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee daily school operations, scheduling, and facilities.
• Ensure compliance with diocesan policies, accreditation standards, and state regulations.
• Collaborate with the Director of Finance & Administration in developing and managing the annual school budget.
• Maintain emergency preparedness and school safety procedures.
• Maintain open, transparent communication with parents and stakeholders.
• Promote strong partnerships between school, parish, and community.
• Represent the school at diocesan and community events.
• Support enrollment, marketing, and student retention initiatives.

Job description

St. Elizabeth Ann Seton is seeking a Middle School Principal. This person would serve as the spiritual, instructional, and administrative leader of the school, fostering an environment where students grow academically, spiritually, socially, and emotionally. The Principal embraces and promotes the mission of Catholic education, partnering with families, faculty, parish, and the broader community to form students in faith, excellence, and service.

Catholic Leadership

• Demonstrate a strong commitment to the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church.
• Foster a vibrant Catholic culture through prayer, liturgy, service, and faith formation.
• Support students and staff in their spiritual development.
• Collaborate with pastors, chaplains, and diocesan leadership.

Instructional Leadership

• Lead curriculum development aligned with diocesan and state standards.
• Observe, coach, and evaluate teachers to promote instructional excellence.
• Analyze student achievement data to improve academic outcomes.
• Support innovative teaching practices and professional growth.

School Culture

• Cultivate a safe, welcoming, and inclusive learning environment.
• Promote positive student behavior and restorative discipline practices.
• Build strong relationships with students and families.
• Encourage leadership, service, and extracurricular involvement.
• Recruit, hire, mentor, supervise, and evaluate faculty and staff.
• Foster collaboration, accountability, and professional development.
• Build a culture of trust, teamwork, and continuous improvement.

Operations & Administration

• Oversee daily school operations, scheduling, and facilities.
• Ensure compliance with diocesan policies, accreditation standards, and state regulations.

Collaborate with the Director of Finance & Administration in developing and managing the annual school budget.

• Maintain emergency preparedness and school safety procedures.

Family & Community Engagement

• Maintain open, transparent communication with parents and stakeholders.
• Promote strong partnerships between school, parish, and community.
• Represent the school at diocesan and community events.
• Support enrollment, marketing, and student retention initiatives.

Qualifications

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Church, committed to Catholic education.
• Master's degree in Educational Leadership, Administration, or a related field.
• Valid teaching and administrator certification (or ability to obtain).
• Minimum of five years of successful teaching experience.
• Prior school leadership experience preferred.
• Strong organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.