Principal (Elementary)

Job Description

John Paul II Academy is searching for a full-time Principal for the 2026-2027 school year. We are a Pre-K through 8th Catholic elementary school in Louisville, KY with a warm, supportive, and collaborative environment, small class sizes, and an emphasis on arts and culture. We are a small school with the room, and the desire, to grow.

We are seeking a practicing Catholic with excellent communication skills and administrative abilities to be the spiritual and administrative leader of our school, and advance our mission: Proudly embracing the Catholic tradition, and united in our diversity, John Paul II Academy provides students with exceptional opportunities for spiritual, academic, emotional, and social growth. In partnership with parents, we nurture the whole child. We use Christ-centered, academically rigorous, targeted instruction to prepare our youth to be disciples who are lifelong learners that lead holy, honorable lives.

The right leader is firm, friendly, and fair, and desires to be actively present with students, faculty, parents, and stakeholders. The right person will honor a parent's role as the primary educators of their children. They will foster and deepen our excellent school culture which we describe using our core values:

• Dedicated to the mission of John Paul II Academy
• Devoutly embrace the Catholic tradition
• Desire to make disciples by loving and nurturing the whole child
• Constantly strive to give of ourselves
• Family-feel and warm hospitality
• Willing, teachable spirit
• Witnesses to hope

Qualifications:

• An ongoing and transforming relationship with Jesus Christ especially through the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and her saints, especially the Blessed Mother
• A shared dedication to the Catholic identity and mission of John Paul II Academy
• Master's Degree in Education
• Certifications: Valid Kentucky Teaching Certificate (Rank I or II), Kentucky Valid Principal's Statement of Eligibility (Rank I or II), Valid Kentucky Principal's Certificate (Rank I or II), out of state applicants must apply for these.
• Excellent educator with at least four years of classroom experience, and preferably a background in school administration
• Resilient commitment to compassionately serving students from diverse ethnic, socioeconomic, cultural, religious, and academic backgrounds
• Entrepreneurial spirit, and an ability to wear many hats
• Salary and benefits will be commensurate with experience and archdiocesan guidelines.

Contact: Interested candidates should submit a cover letter, resume, and three letters of recommendation by Dec. 31, 2025 to the Principal Search Committee at principalsearch@jp2a.org, or call Elaine Hulsman, Committee Chair, at 502-452-1712

About the Employer

Proudly embracing the Catholic tradition, and united in our diversity, John Paul II Academy provides students with exceptional opportunities for spiritual, academic, emotional, and social growth. In partnership with parents, we nurture the whole child. We use Christ-centered, academically rigorous, targeted instruction to prepare our youth to be disciples who are lifelong learners that lead holy, honorable lives.