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 BenefitsThe 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
Apply / Contact
Emily Delano, Chief of Staff, Catholic Community Schools
320-258-7639 | edelano@catholiccommunityschools.org
ccsprek12.org
