High School Principal - Academy of the Holy Names

The Catholic Diocese of St. Petersburg•Tampa, FL

20d

About The Position

The High School Principal works in close collaboration with the President to develop and support the Academy of the Holy Names’ policies, direction, and vision. The Principal has primary responsibility for the High School’s day-to-day operation and serves as its key instructional leader. The role builds on recent programmatic growth and oversees the development of a curriculum relevant to today’s young women and consistent with the school’s SNJM core values and mission. The Principal supervises and works closely with faculty and staff to implement programs across the High School, and leads efforts to support departmental leaders in admissions, advancement, campus ministry, and athletics. The role calls for a practicing Catholic servant leader who champions Catholic education, learns and promotes the charism and core values of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary, and supports students’ academic, personal, and faith development. The successful candidate will sustain high academic standards, promote coherent curriculum and engaging instruction, and use evidence of student learning to guide improvement. They will foster belonging, student voice, confidence, and resilience; build strong relationships across the school and broader Tampa community; guide strategic change; support faculty recruitment and retention; and coordinate academic and co-curricular demands with attention to student workload and well-being. The Principal should also bring professional learning, applied experience, or understanding related to AI and thoughtful technology use in education. Candidates must pass a Level II background screening. Application materials requested are a cover letter, current résumé, and a list of five professional references. References will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission.

Requirements

Enthusiastic practicing Catholic who is a Christ-centered servant leader and embraces, models, and champions Catholic education.
Willingness to provide witness to how they live and grow in their own faith.
Eagerness to learn, embody, and promote the charism and core values of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
Advanced degree in an education-related field.
At least five years of instructional experience at the high school level.
At least three years of administrative leadership experience in a private and/or Catholic school.
Strong academic leadership, including sustaining high academic standards, supporting diverse learners, and advancing curriculum coherence and vertical alignment.
Understanding of adolescent girls and commitment to their flourishing, including awareness of their developmental needs, strengths, and pressures.
Servant leadership, humility, self-awareness, openness to feedback, integrity, emotional maturity, and professionalism.
Exceptional relational and communication skills, including the ability to collaborate effectively and build authentic relationships.
Demonstrated experience developing and implementing change-management strategies.
Sound judgment, discretion, confidentiality, and the ability to communicate difficult decisions with care.
Ability to recruit, hire, develop, and retain excellent teachers and support faculty and staff.
Ability to manage students’ academic and co-curricular experiences with attention to workload, scheduling, and well-being.
Must pass a Level II background screening.

Nice To Haves

Relevant professional development, applied experience, or demonstrated understanding of artificial intelligence’s implications for teaching, learning, assessment, academic integrity, and student privacy.
Informed judgment about responsible AI use and reducing unnecessary student screen time, with attention to independent thinking, face-to-face relationships, attention, and adolescent mental health.

Responsibilities

Collaborate with the President to develop and support school policies, direction, and vision.
Oversee the High School’s day-to-day operations and serve as its key instructional leader.
Develop and further a curriculum relevant to today’s young women and consistent with the school’s SNJM core values and mission.
Supervise and work closely with faculty and staff in implementing High School programs.
Support departmental leaders across admissions, advancement, campus ministry, and athletics.
Sustain high academic standards, support diverse learners, and advance curriculum coherence and vertical alignment.
Use evidence of student learning to guide improvement and promote engaging instruction, sound assessment, and independent, critical thinking.
Strengthen belonging and student voice, and support students’ confidence, resilience, and development in partnership with counseling and student support professionals.
Build authentic relationships and communicate proactively with students, faculty, families, and colleagues; collaborate across divisions and departments.
Honor the school’s Catholic identity, traditions, and strengths while developing and implementing change-management strategies.
Engage stakeholders, set priorities, communicate the rationale for change, sequence implementation, support employees through transitions, and assess progress using feedback and evidence.
Seek input and collaborate with the President and leadership team on institutional priorities; exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and establish clear boundaries.
Attract, hire, develop, and retain excellent teachers through recruitment, mentoring, and opportunities for growth; anticipate staffing needs and support a collegial culture.
Coordinate academic and co-curricular demands with attention to student workload, scheduling, and well-being.
Support students’ engagement in faith life, arts, athletics, and community while helping them maintain healthy priorities.
Apply informed judgment to responsible AI and technology use, including implications for teaching, learning, assessment, academic integrity, student privacy, screen time, attention, and adolescent mental health.