President

Job Description

PRESIDENT
INCARNATE WORD ACADEMY
CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

THE OPPORTUNITY
Incarnate Word Academy seeks a mission-driven, relational, and strategic President to lead the Academy into its next chapter beginning in July 2027. Founded in 1871 and sponsored by the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, IWA is a private Catholic college preparatory school in Corpus Christi serving students from age 3 through grade 12 across elementary Montessori and traditional programs, middle school, and high school. The next President will inherit a school with a long tradition of Catholic formation, academic excellence, whole-child development, and deep community affection.

IWA's mission is to reflect Jesus the Teacher by forming students in a loving and challenging Catholic environment where the individual gifts of every student are recognized, celebrated, and developed as a reflection of Christ. The President will serve as the chief executive leader of the Academy, advancing this mission in partnership with the Sisters, Board of Directors, administrative team, faculty and staff, families, alumni, donors, and the wider Corpus Christi community.

SCHOOL BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT
Incarnate Word Academy combines tradition, faith, and an eye to the future. Motivated by a philosophy of Catholic education and the charism of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, the Academy seeks to create a climate for learning with God as the highest value and to integrate faith with high academic standards. Its vision calls the community "to become an Image of Christ," and its core values include faith, dignity, compassion, integrity, dedication, gratitude, and service.

The Academy serves approximately 500 students each year across three school levels and is supported by more than 135 teachers, coaches, and staff members. Its programs emphasize strong academics, faith formation, ministry and service, athletics, extracurricular involvement, college readiness, and a supportive community. The President will be expected to honor and strengthen this comprehensive Catholic educational experience while ensuring the school's long-term vitality, visibility, and sustainability.

KEY LEADERSHIP RESPONSIBILITIES
• Mission and Catholic Identity: Serve as a visible faith leader who advances the Catholic identity of IWA, honors the heritage and charism of the Sisters, and fosters a community rooted in prayer, service, dignity, and love of Christ.
• Strategic and Executive Leadership: Work collaboratively with the Sisters, Board, and administrative team to implement strategic priorities, sustain institutional excellence, and guide the Academy through a healthy leadership transition.
• Academic and Student Formation: Support high academic standards, whole-child formation, strong college readiness, and a continuum of programs from early childhood through high school.
• Advancement and Enrollment: Strengthen mission advancement through enrollment, marketing, fundraising, alumni engagement, donor relationships, and community partnerships that support the Academy's mission and financial future.
• Operations and Stewardship: Provide executive oversight for finances, facilities, risk management, personnel, and policies in alignment with Board direction, civil requirements, and sponsorship obligations.
• Community Presence: Build trust through transparent communication, consistent presence, and authentic relationships with students, parents, faculty, staff, alumni, benefactors, the Diocese of Corpus Christi, and the broader community.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS
The successful candidate will meet all required qualifications and most of the preferred qualifications, if not all.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• A practicing Catholic who can give visible witness to the mission, values, and teachings of the Catholic Church.
• Senior leadership experience in a school, nonprofit, advancement, mission-driven, or related executive setting.
• Strong ability to lead adults, build teams, communicate effectively, and cultivate trust across diverse constituencies.
• Effective oral, written, and listening skills to communicate clearly, consistently, and effectively in individual and group settings.
• Experience with strategic planning, financial stewardship, enrollment and advancement, board relations, and/or organizational leadership.
• A graduate degree in education, administration, business, nonprofit leadership, theology, or a related field, or equivalent senior-level experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Demonstrated commitment to Catholic education, ongoing curriculum development, and to the spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, physical, and creative formation of students.
• Prior experience as a Catholic school president, principal, head of school, advancement leader, or senior administrator.
• Experience or familiarity working in a Catholic school environment shaped by the charism of a religious congregation.
• Proven success in building relationships in fundraising, major gift cultivation, capital campaign work, alumni relations, or donor stewardship.
• Knowledge of governance best practices and experience working effectively with a board of trustees and sponsoring religious community.
• Strong public presence and the ability to represent IWA compellingly in Church, civic, educational, philanthropic, and community settings.
• A collaborative leadership style that demonstrates confidence and executive maturity to connect with and inspire others.

OTHER INFORMATION
• Position is full-time with some evening and weekend commitments
• Salary commensurate with experience. Comprehensive benefits package included.
• The successful candidate must clear a criminal background check (fingerprinting required), drug screen, and the Texas Education Agency's "Do Not Hire" registry
• Position start date is July 2027

APPLICATION PROCEDURE
Please submit all required materials in one email to robin.slinkard@cbservices.org Write in the subject field "Incarnate Word Academy-President" Your submission will be acknowledged and further information will be sent to you as your application materials are evaluated. No consideration of a candidate's application will be undertaken until all materials are received.

• A cover letter of interest explaining the candidate's desire to serve as President of Incarnate Word Academy and alignment with its Catholic identity and mission of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament.
• A current resume or curriculum vitae.
• A list of five professional references, including each person's name, professional relationship, phone number, and email address. References will not be contacted without the candidate's knowledge.
• Letter of reference from your Pastor.
• Respond to this prompt (up to 500 words).
Mission-Centered Leadership and the First Year: As Incarnate Word Academy welcomes its next President after the tenure of a long-serving leader, describe how you would ground your leadership in Catholic identity and the charism of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament. How would you listen, build relationships, establish trust, and lead the school forward with confidence during your first year?

About the Employer

Incarnate Word Academy (IWA) of Corpus Christi is a private, Catholic college preparatory school educating all grade levels: Elementary Level-Montessori (Age 3-Grade 5), Elementary Level-Traditional (Age 3-Grade 5), Middle Level (Grades 6-8), and High School Level (Grades 9-12).

IWA has contracted Catholic School Consulting, a division of Christian Brothers Services, to help guide the search for the next President of Incarnate Word Academy.