Principal, Cathedral Middle & High School

Principal, Cathedral Middle & High School (Grades 6-12)
Catholic Community Schools (CCS) | St. Cloud, Minnesota
 

Anticipated Start Date: July 2026 | Priority Deadline: March 20, 2026
 

The Opportunity
Cathedral is seeking a principal to lead one of Minnesota’s most enduring and mission-driven Catholic schools, serving middle school and high school students in a comprehensive, faith-based, academically vibrant educational experience. This is a moment of renewal and opportunity. The next principal will renew and strengthen Cathedral’s academic program: building greater coherence, elevating student outcomes, and strengthening student support and readiness for life beyond graduation. The principal will build a team-based leadership culture and engage families and community partners in advancing the vitality of Cathedral.
 

What You Will Lead

• A coherent, distinctive, and future-ready academic program with clear priorities, strong course design, and consistent instructional practice.
• A coordinated student support and readiness model integrating academic guidance, advising, and postsecondary planning so every student is known, guided, and well-prepared.
• A strong Catholic mission expressed through prayer, liturgy, retreats, service, and a culture where high expectations and strong care coexist.
• A holistic student experience including athletics, activities, and the arts as essential elements of formation and belonging.
• System-aligned leadership in partnership with CCS, while maintaining a visible, school-centered presence and strong day-to-day execution.
• A disciplined continuous improvement and accreditation cycle that strengthens quality and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Mission and Culture

• Foster a joyful, Christ-centered school culture where faith formation is visible and integrated into student life.
• Strengthen community culture through presence, consistency, relationships, and clear expectations.
• Support a learning environment where students are known, guided, and treated with dignity.

Academic Leadership

• Set a clear academic direction focused on renewal, coherence, and rigor—the goal is not “more initiatives,” but a more distinctive and future-ready program.
• Strengthen instructional consistency through classroom presence, feedback, and faculty development.
• Use assessment and data to guide learning growth and continuous improvement.
• Align academic offerings and pathways (including recognized distinctions where appropriate) with Cathedral’s mission, student needs, and organizational capacity.

Student Support and Readiness

• Build and sustain a cohesive approach to academic support, advising, and college/career readiness across grades 6-12.
• Ensure proactive, clear communication with families regarding student progress, planning, and next steps.

Leadership and Operations

• Recruit, support, and retain outstanding faculty and staff; build a team-based leadership culture.
• Oversee effective school operations, safety, and student life in coordination with key program leaders and CCS support teams.
• Lead the school’s accreditation and continuous improvement cycle in collaboration with CCS.
• Engage confidently with parents and community stakeholders; partner with CCS colleagues on enrollment, advancement, and communications.

Qualifications

• Practicing Catholic preferred; committed to advancing Catholic mission in education.
• Demonstrated leadership experience in secondary education with evidence of successful instructional improvement and culture-building.
• Master’s degree in Education (or related field).
• Appropriate licensure/credentials for school leadership in Minnesota (or ability to obtain).
• Strong communication, leadership, and relationship-building skills.

Application Process
To apply, candidates should submit the following:

• Cover letter that aligns your experiences and skill sets with the current needs of the described principal role, as you understand them.
• Current up to date resume.
• Statement of Catholic educational leadership, leadership style, and philosophy, and an example of how you have implemented change within an organization.
• List of three references to include names, relationships, phone numbers, and email addresses (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s knowledge and approval).

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range is $108,000-$120,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications.

• Full-time position benefits:
• Medical, Dental, and vision benefits
• Life insurance and Long-term disability
• 403(b) retirement fund
• 13 paid holidays and PTO