School Principal K-8

Diocese of Lansing; Grand Ledge (MI); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Diocese of Lansing is seeking a full-time Principal for St. Michael Catholic School in Grand Ledge. The successful candidate will be a servant leader, promoting a learning environment grounded in Catholic faith while overseeing academic and administrative duties.

The Principal will collaborate with the community to shape students who fulfill their potential, create positive relationships with families, and uphold the school’s mission and values.

The role demands strong leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with a Master's in education administration preferred.

Qualifications

• Minimum five years of teaching experience.
• Certified to teach in Michigan.
• Ability to engage in community and school activities.

Responsibilities

• Develop and foster a supportive learning environment.
• Facilitate community prayer and liturgy.
• Oversee all school operations and compliance.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Master’s degree in education administration

Job description

St. Michael Parish , Grand Ledge is seeking a full-time principal as a servant leader. The Principal will enthusiastically share a zeal for learning and a passion for the Gospel, while embodying the school's mission, values, and vision within the lens of the Catholic faith. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Principal will develop relationships of sincere care, trust, and leadership, supporting staff, parents, families, and students. Above all, the Principal will demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ in teaching, serving, and living a sacramental life. The Principal will shepherd students by helping them to live in the light of our school mission, by partnering with parents to root students in the Gospel teachings of Jesus Christ, modeled by Mary our mother, encouraging a virtuous life following the Catholic faith and pursuing academic excellence. The principal will exhibit administrative competence and efficiency in ensuring that the school's finances and records are maintained in good order, budgets are met, and timely and accurate communication is maintained. The principal will carry out the mission of the school: to shape each individual to be in union with Jesus Christ by creating a learning community built upon a foundation of Catholic faith.

St. Michael Catholic School exists to serve parents in their duty as primary educators to form young people in knowledge, wisdom, and virtue so that they develop into happy, holy adults who fulfill their God-given potential in this world and become saints in the next. The school is to be a prayerful community of witness, evangelization, and discipleship, where the distinctively Christian way of life is modeled, taught, and lived. In every respect the school is to be grounded in truth and Christ who is the Truth.

Parish Mission Statement

We, the members of St. Michael Parish, are disciples of Jesus Christ. We are a welcoming community in the greater Grand Ledge area, belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lansing. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we nurture our faith and life-long formation through Word and Sacrament. We grow in holiness by faith-sharing, prayer, worship, stewardship, and service. We live by the Gospel, sharing our faith through witness and compassion. We resolve to reach beyond ourselves, dedicated to the spiritual enrichment and needs of each other, our neighbors, and the world.

School Mission Statement

Our mission at St. Michael Catholic School is to shape each individual to be in union with Jesus Christ by creating a learning community built upon a foundation of Catholic faith.

School Vision Statement

• Provide for each student’s spiritual, intellectual, emotional, and physical growth.
• Demonstrate a personal commitment to the academic success of each student and the continued education of staff.
• Foster a supportive, safe, and loving environment based on mutual respect for all of God’s creations.
• Create opportunities for serving the greater community.

General Summary

The mission of the schools of the Catholic Diocese of Lansing is the mission of Christ and of his Church – to educate and form young people as disciples who reach their full spiritual, academic, emotional, and physical potential. The schools are to be prayerful communities of witness, evangelization, and discipleship, where the distinctively Christian way of life is modeled, taught, and lived. In every aspect the schools are to be grounded in truth and Christ who is the Truth.

The principal is the leader of a community of administrators, faculty, staff, volunteers, parents, students, benefactors, and friends. The principal is the close collaborator of the pastor or, if a regional school, with the pastors of the region.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities

Facilitator of the school community of faith

• Involves members of the community in regular prayer and liturgy.
• Gives priority to distinguish the Catholic identity of the school.
• Fosters quality interpersonal relationships in an atmosphere of Christian love.
• Establishes a service-oriented culture for students and teachers.

Director of professional growth and development of teachers

• Represents school staff within parish leadership.
• Communicates regularly with faculty.
• Recruits, interviews, and contracts with staff persons, teaching and non‑teaching positions.
• Provides for growth and development of staff through regular observation and evaluation.

Educational Leader

• Facilitates development/review of total curriculum that integrates the students' intellectual, religious, social, emotional, and physical growth in light of the Gospel.
• Encourages partnerships between parents, students, and teachers toward the holistic education of the student.
• Displays experience and enthusiasm for the teaching profession.

Administrator

• Supervises daily operation and maintenance of the school.
• Ensures compliance with the state requirements and those of the Diocese of Lansing.
• Provides a safe learning environment for the teachers and children.
• Initiates and/or actively participates in the long‑range planning for the school and/or parish.
• Actively participates on all required local education and/or parish committees.
• Effectively and openly communicates the school's values, needs, efforts, and accomplishments to the community.

Diocese

• Work in harmony with the superintendent and his/her staff at the Department of Education and Catechesis for the Diocese of Lansing.
• Ensure that all Diocesan regulations are observed, and curriculum guidelines are followed including Virtus for all staff and volunteers.
• Attend area meetings and in‑service programs sponsored by the Department of Education and Catechesis.
• Complete promptly and accurately any reports requested by the Diocese.
• Follow all procedures as outlined in the Educational Policy Handbook.

Parish

• Work in harmony with the pastor of the parish.
• Participate as a member of the parish pastoral staff.
• Report regularly to the Education Commission the implementation of educational goals and objectives.
• Enforce formulated educational policies.
• Participate in parish‑sponsored activities and encourage the faculty’s participation.

Faculty

• Be responsible for the hiring, supervision, and evaluation of teachers as established by the Diocese.
  • Insure proper credentialing of teaching staff.
  • Assist, direct and support the faculty in the performance of their duties.
  • Review the philosophy and mission statement of the school annually with faculty.
  • Provide the faculty with necessary materials, equipment, and technology.
  • Plan and coordinate faculty meetings.
• Be a liaison to ensure that diocesan releases, communications, reports and educational news are communicated to the faculty.
• Encourage teachers to continue to update themselves professionally.
• Encourage teachers to grow in their faith.
• Select administrative staff to assist in the school, namely, the assistant principal and curriculum coordinators.
• Supervise the cleaning and upkeep of the building and adjacent grounds to provide a clean, safe facility.
• Comply with safety guidelines established by the Michigan Catholic Conference.

Parents and Students

• Communicate with parents, keeping them well-informed about school activities and educational trends.
• Provide guidance to the Parent‑Teacher Organization.
• Provide an atmosphere for learning that is faith‑based, positive, and nurturing.
• Establish and implement the discipline policies in consultation with the faculty.
• Be interested in the welfare and activities of the students and be available for guidance.
• Supervise the maintenance of accurate attendance records by each classroom teacher.
• Evaluate the curriculum in cooperation with teaching staff.
• Provide for consistent implementation of curriculum.
• Select with faculty consultation, the basic and supplementary instructional materials for the school, including textbooks, curriculum materials, computer programs, and iPad apps.
• Order and supervise distribution of books, supplies, and materials.
• Expose the faculty to alternative teaching strategies and resources.
• Schedule classes and instructional programs in accordance with diocesan guidelines.
• Coordinate the school’s remedial and enrichment programs.
• Formulate a school calendar that meets Diocesan and state guidelines for instruction.
• Ensure that all school records are properly filled out and filed.
• Create a specials schedule that complies with Diocesan guidelines.

Finance

• Cooperate with the Finance Council and Business Manager in the formulation of the school budget.
• Provide appropriate salary recommendations for staff.
• Supervise the collection of tuition and fees.
• Supervise the administration of the Tuition Reduction Incentive Program.
• Supervise the accurate maintenance of records for accounts receivable and accounts payable.

Public Relations

Parents

• Maintain a friendly and cooperative rapport with the parents.
• Establish various ways to communicate with the parents: conferences, bi‑weekly Messenger, PTO, parent education programs
• Involve the parents in the activities and programs of the school.
• Participate in school‑sponsored parent activities and encourage the faculty’s participation.
• Support fundraising activities for the school.

Local Community

• Relate the school program to the total parish community, offering and receiving service.
• Establish formal and informal articulation with the parochial and public high schools for purposes of improving the middle school curricular offerings as well as informing the high schools of the programs and methods utilized in the middle school.
• Establish a cooperative and friendly relationship with other Catholic schools in our region and local public schools by sharing information, materials, and in‑service programs.
• Communicate our needs for resource services, Title funds, Shard Time services with our local public school and Intermediate School District.
• Maintain an interest in the local civic community as an extension of the school’s religion program.
• Inform the faculty of local referral agencies for psychological and learning disabilities.
• Be acquainted with local enrichment opportunities and explore their advantages.
• Be aware of the local county health facilities and programs as well as personnel available to the school and pursue such involvement where appropriate.
• Be aware of local fire, police, and recreation services available to the school and inform them of the needs and interests of the school.
• Complete and forward to the State Department of Education any reports requiring completion annually.
• Hire, supervise, and evaluate the secretarial staff, specials teachers, aides, guidance counselor, and librarian of the school.
• Assume responsibility for the varied programs sponsored by the school, e.g. athletics, child care, pre‑school.
• Assume responsibility for the various fundraisers for the school.
• Assume responsibility for marketing following the marketing plan.
• Oversee the administration of the school Face Book page.
• Oversee the performance of volunteers.
• Maintain student records and transcripts in an organized manner.
• Supervise incoming and outgoing correspondence.
• Assume responsibility for other programs as deemed necessary by administration.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

Education

Master’s degree in education administration or equivalent.

Experience

Minimum five years of teaching experience.

Requirements

Certified to teach in Michigan. Attend after‑school functions as necessary.

Physical Demands

While performing duties, employee has to sit for long periods of time, use hands in repetitive motion tasks. This position also requires some standing, stooping, bending and lifting while working with children. Employee may be required to go outside during inclement weather.

The above statements describe the general nature and level of work for the position. They are not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills.

To Apply, please submit a cover letter and resume to the online application.

Governing employment with the Diocese or with parishes, schools, and agencies of the Diocese