Principal

Job Description

Building upon the innovative and data-driven successes as the pilot school for the Diocese of Rockville Centre's Morning Star Initiative (MSI) with remarkable accomplishments in providing an extended day of dual-language education as a member of Boston College's Two-Way Immersion Network for Catholic Schools (TWIN-CS), Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic School (OLG) seeks its next Principal for the 2024-25 school year.

OLG joyfully invites all families on an educational journey focused on rigorous academics, a safe and supportive community, and a robust Catholic culture infused with the Gospel imperatives of faith, hope, and charity. Its mission is one of welcome, calling all children to encounter Jesus in their daily lives through meaningful acts of service to those most in need within our local communities.

The next Principal will inherit a beautifully diverse school community unified by cultural pride and the desire for an educational experience that leads their children on a pathway to becoming fully bilingual, bi-literate, and bi-cultural by graduation in 8th grade. OLG currently serves 470 students in Nursery through Grade 8, 62% of whom identify as Hispanic, from 27 districts across Long Island.

A strong candidate will be an active, practicing Catholic who possesses demonstrated leadership experience in education, exemplary communication and relationship-building skills, and the ability to engage and inspire a broad range of stakeholders. The ability to possess and articulate a vision of sincere, integral, Catholic education in today's world will be key. Fluency in English and Spanish is highly desirable. Experience with dual language education is valuable.

Rooted in the revitalization efforts of the Morning Star Initiative, the Principal will lead the OLG school community in support of the the following four pillars:

1. Pillar I - Robustly Catholic. Our Catholic schools will cultivate a robustly Catholic culture centered on the spiritual, intellectual, sacramental, and liturgical life of the Church.

The Principal will inspire and support a robustly Catholic culture through active engagement in weekly school Liturgies, Word of Life and Chosen religion curriculums, STORM (St. Oscar Romero Mission) service initiatives, and the continued cultivation of a fruitful relationship with Ss. Cyril & Methodius Parish.

The Principal must be an enthusiastic Catholic, on fire with the Holy Spirit, who embraces the Sunday Eucharist as the inspiration and guiding force in this vocation of evangelization.

2. Pillar Two - Safe and Supportive Community. Our Catholic schools provide a Safe and Supportive Community that recognizes the dignity of every person and promotes human flourishing in a familial atmosphere.

The Principal will ensure a safe and supportive environment through careful coordination of security, supervisory, and support personnel from 7:00 am through 5:30 pm each day. With special attention focused on the After School Program, the Principal will coordinate a wealth of vibrant activities, clubs, and CMSAA (Catholic Middle School Athletic Association) sports for students to enjoy at no cost to the families. The Principal will also serve as a role model for faculty and staff by actively engaging in after-school activities with all students thus cultivating a warm and welcoming familial atmosphere for all.
3. Pillar III: Academic Excellence. Our Catholic Schools will offer academic excellence, which fosters individual growth and development according to time tested, Catholic faith-based models of teaching and learning.
The Principal will oversee and support faculty and staff in providing a challenging curriculum that drives student success and achievement. The school's curriculum in Grades 1-8 features Art, English Language Arts, Mathematics, Physical Education, Religion, Science, Social Studies, Spanish language, and STEAM. Students in Grade 8 are eligible for Regents Algebra and Earth Science electives.
Dual language curriculum, currently in Pre-K through Grade 1, follows a 50/50 model of language allocation in which students learn half the day in English and half the day in Spanish. Boston College TWIN-CS oversees the dual language curriculum that is created and supervised by OLG's Director of Dual Language.

The Principal will work closely with the Director of Dual Language in support and expansion of the dual language program into the second grade for the 2024-25 school year. The Principal will represent OLG as a member of the Boston College TWIN-CS (Two-Way Immersion Network of Catholic Schools), attend monthly TWIN-CS PLC (professional learning community) meetings, and attend the annual TWIN-CS Summer Academy leadership conference.

Through continuous evaluation and professional development, the Principal will ensure that faculty and staff are meeting the requirements of NYS's Next Generation Standards in providing students with the tools needed to meet with success and surpass expectations in high school, college, and beyond.

4. Pillar IV: Our Catholic Schools are Here to Stay

The Principal will work closely with the Tomorrow's Hope Foundation (THF) in securing financial aid for OLG families. With the assistance of the Director of Recruitment, the Principal will supervise and monitor the application process which starts in January of each year and maintain close contact with the THF to maximize tuition support for the school. The Principal will also support THF events and cultivate relationships between THF Star Students and donors.

With the support of Smith House, LLC, the Principal will maintain a well-rounded marketing presence via social media, the web, and print materials to boost recruitment and retention efforts throughout the year.

The Principal will work with Perrotta Consulting, LLC, to locate, apply for, and secure all federal and state grants available to OLG including but not limited to Mandated Services, NPSE (Non-Public Safety & Equipment), Securing Communities Against Hate Crimes, AIS (Academic Intervention Services), MST (Math, Science, Technology), and more. The Principal will also seek grants and donations from private foundations and donors as additional means in building sustainability.

The Principal will work with Deer Park School District in support of transportation and textbooks, pupil personnel services, and Title funding.

The Principal position is available for July 1, 2024.
Salary Range: $100,000 - $118,000

Qualified candidates should send a Letter of Interest and Resume:
Mrs. Pamela Sanders
Superintendent of Schools
Department of Education
128 Cherry Lane
Hicksville, NY 11801
Or
Email to: jobs@drvcschools.org

About the Employer

The Mission of the Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Rockville Centre is to foster an environment of spiritual and intellectual growth by integrating Catholic tradition and faith throughout the educational process. This is accomplished by the promotion of Gospel values, lifelong service, global awareness, and academic excellence that prepares our students to be compassionate, as well as critical and creative thinkers, in an ever changing society.