Reports to: Directly to the President and collaborates closely with the Chief of Staff
Type: Full-time, 12-month | Start: July 1, 2026 (or earlier, if available)
About Verbum Dei Jesuit
Verbum Dei Jesuit High School (VDJHS) is a Jesuit, Catholic, Cristo Rey Network school serving young men from families of limited economic means through a rigorous college-prep curriculum, integrated Corporate Work Study Program, and faith formation.
VDJHS seeks a mission-driven Principal who can translate bold vision into actionable systems, ensuring every young man thrives academically, socially, and spiritually. The Principal will oversee instruction, student life, and staff development while partnering closely with the President to advance the school’s Jesuit and Cristo Rey mission.
This leader will champion excellence in teaching and learning while strengthening student support systems to ensure every young man thrives. They will harness data for early interventions, enliven student life and athletics, and serve as a visible, galvanizing presence across campus. The ideal candidate brings both instructional leadership and operational focus to drive holistic student success.
Leadership Responsibilities
Lead a culture of coaching, feedback, and professional growth—ensuring every adult on campus receives regular, actionable support to improve practice.
Supervise and support all instructional staff, ensuring alignment with school mission and academic goals.
Lead the implementation of schoolwide systems for student support.
Oversee student life, athletics, extracurricular programing, and campus ministry, ensuring safety, engagement, and mission alignment.
Collaborate with the President and leadership team on strategic planning, budgeting, and operational execution.
Ensure compliance with Cristo Rey Network standards and accreditation requirements.
Foster a culture of high expectations and continuous improvement.
Partner with families, alumni, and community stakeholders to build trust and engagement.
Integrate Catholic identity and Jesuit values into all aspects of school life, in collaboration with Campus Ministry.
Use data to inform decisions, monitor progress, and drive instructional and operational excellence.
Leadership Profile
Academic Support & Retention
Spirit-Led Stewardship: Deeply committed to the Jesuit, Catholic mission; leads with a bold, long-term vision for holistic student formation.
Courage & Conviction: Champions mission-aligned directions and respectfully challenges the status quo to ensure the school’s future.
Student-Centric & Inclusive Culture
Holistic Support: Prioritizes student needs and family trust; fosters a safe, inclusive, and joyful environment where all feel a sense of belonging.
Humble Engagement: Leads with empathy, listens deeply, and operates with the highest levels of integrity and self-awareness.
Operational Excellence & Strategic Agility
Data-Informed Decisiveness: Combines high standards with rigorous system audits; makes timely, informed decisions and adapts quickly to change.
Resourceful Stewardship: Maximizes impact through efficiency and simplicity, solving problems at the root to ensure sustainable results.
Talent Development & Collaborative Growth
Cultivating Excellence: Identifies and nurtures top talent, fostering a culture of coaching, continuous improvement, and shared leadership.
Collective Ownership: Takes initiative for the entire school community, modeling accountability that extends beyond formal roles.
Innovation & Intellectual Curiosity
Lifelong Learning: Models a "growth mindset" by exploring new educational possibilities and welcoming creative ideas from all sources.
Agile Improvement: Encourages a culture of innovation, simplifying complex challenges to better serve the evolving needs of the community.
First-Year Leadership Priorities
Academic Support & Retention
Design and implement a Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) that integrates academic, behavioral, and social-emotional interventions across Tier 1–3, with regular progress-monitoring cycles.
Publish clear intervention strategies by tier, ensuring transparency and consistency.
Maintain an Early Warning “ABCs+” dashboard—tracking Attendance, Behavior, Course Performance, and Corporate Work Study—with short feedback loops to trigger small-group reteaching, tutoring, family engagement, and safety, discipline and respect.
STEM Expansion
Develop a strong, comprehensive STEM course sequence, including teacher training/certification and a sustainable budget.
Build strategic relationships with corporate and university STEM-aligned partners to connect classroom learning with real-world careers.
Data, Technology & AI Integration
Research and deploy diagnostic tools and an Early Warning System (ABCs+) enhanced by AI-assisted analytics for targeted student support.
Provide professional development on data literacy and the ethical, effective use of AI in education.
Student Life, Clubs & Athletics
Oversee student activities, clubs, and athletics with a focus on eligibility, retention, safety, and compliance aligned to CIF standards.
Publish clear handbooks and participation policies and strengthen academic-athletic support systems.
Excellence, Execution & Mission Integration
Lead observation and feedback cycles; recruit and manage performance of mission-aligned, data-driven educators.
Provide clear evaluations with support and accountability and develop professional development plans tied to student data.
Set quarterly OKRs/KPIs and facilitate weekly data meetings to drive execution.
Collaborate with the Director of Campus Ministry to integrate prayer, liturgy, retreats, and Catholic social teaching into all aspects of school life—for the formation of both students and adults.
Qualifications
Demonstrated commitment to Catholic education and the Jesuit tradition.
Proven experience in instructional leadership, school administration, or related educational leadership roles.
Strong operational and organizational skills, with the ability to manage complex systems and teams.
Deep understanding of student development, academic interventions, and faith formation.
Ability to build trust, inspire excellence, and lead with integrity and compassion.
Master’s degree in education or related field.
Experience in urban education or mission-driven school models.
