Principal - Founding

The Saint Croix Valley Catholic Education Foundation is seeking a mission-driven, entrepreneurial Catholic educational leader to serve as the founding Principal of Solanus Catholic High School, a new Catholic high school planned for the Saint Croix River Valley under the Diocese of Superior, Wisconsin. The school is expected to launch with a 9th grade class in Fall 2027 at Saint Patrick Catholic School in Hudson, Wisconsin, with additional grade levels added in subsequent years. This is a rare opportunity to help form a new Catholic high school from its earliest stages-shaping its culture, academic program, faculty, enrollment strategy, advancement efforts, and Catholic identity while leveraging existing facilities and operational infrastructure. Position Summary The Principal will serve as the chief executive, spiritual, educational, and operational leader of Solanus Catholic High School. Rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the mission of Catholic education, the Principal will provide visionary leadership that advances academic excellence, faith formation, student development, institutional sustainability, and a vibrant school culture. The Principal will collaborate closely with the Supervising Pastor, Board of Directors, diocesan leadership, faculty, staff, parents, benefactors, and the broader community to ensure that the school remains faithful to its Catholic identity while preparing students for lives of faith, leadership, service, and intellectual growth. Key Responsibilities Faith Leadership and Catholic Formation Advance and safeguard the school's Catholic mission, identity, traditions, and values. Promote liturgical life, retreats, service learning, campus ministry, and spiritual growth for students, faculty, staff, and families. Ensure that religious instruction, faith formation, and school culture are consistent with Catholic teaching and diocesan expectations. Serve as a visible witness to the Gospel through personal integrity, prayerful leadership, pastoral presence, and commitment to the dignity of every person. Founding, Strategic, and Organizational Leadership Lead the development, implementation, and ongoing assessment of the school's strategic plan. Establish annual goals, metrics, and priorities in consultation with the Board of Directors, Supervising Pastor, and diocesan authority. Build the systems, culture, policies, and practices needed for a successful Catholic high school launch. Anticipate emerging educational, demographic, cultural, technological, and financial trends that may affect the school's future. Academic Excellence and Student Formation Ensure a rigorous, mission-aligned academic program that prepares students for college, career, discipleship, and responsible citizenship. Support curriculum development, instructional excellence, assessment practices, accreditation requirements, and continuous improvement. Promote the formation of the whole person-spiritual, intellectual, moral, social, emotional, and physical. Maintain a safe, orderly, inclusive, and respectful learning environment grounded in Catholic teaching and high expectations. Enrollment, Advancement, and Community Engagement Lead student recruitment, retention, admissions, and marketing efforts, with enrollment growth as a top founding priority. Build relationships with Catholic and public elementary schools, pastors, parish leaders, parents, alumni, benefactors, civic leaders, and community partners. Serve as the chief ambassador and spokesperson for the school, communicating its mission, value, achievements, and needs with clarity and conviction. Support fundraising, annual giving, major gifts, capital initiatives, grants, and donor stewardship in collaboration with advancement staff and board leadership. Faculty, Staff, Finance, and Operations Recruit, hire, form, supervise, evaluate, and retain highly qualified faculty, staff, and administrators. Foster a professional culture marked by collaboration, accountability, instructional growth, spiritual formation, and mutual respect. Prepare and manage the annual budget, monitor financial sustainability, and ensure responsible stewardship of school resources. Maintain policies, systems, and procedures that support operational excellence, risk management, safety, safeguarding requirements, diocesan policies, and legal compliance. #J-18808-Ljbffr Archspm