Founding Principal-Don Bosco Trade High School

Job Description

Don Bosco Trade High School
Founding Principal
South Weymouth, Massachusetts
July 2026

Don Bosco Trade High School (DBTHS) is preparing to open in Fall 2027 as a bold, faith-centered model of Catholic Career and Trade Education in Massachusetts. Located in South Weymouth, just south of Boston, DBTHS will serve as a co-educational Catholic high school that integrates rigorous academics, hands-on trade training, and opportunities for entrepreneurship. The school is designed to prepare students for skilled work, leadership, and lives of purpose, forming young people in faith, character, and competence.

Don Bosco Trade High School complements, rather than competes with, existing Catholic schools in the region. While neighboring schools have long provided strong academic and college-preparatory pathways, DBTHS expands the mission of Catholic education by serving students whose talents, interests, and callings align with applied learning and workforce preparation. This model opens pathways rather than limiting them. Graduates may pursue four-year colleges and universities, advanced technical education, or immediate entry into the workforce fully licensed, credentialed, and confident in their craft. Whatever path they choose, students will be equipped with the knowledge, faith, and character to thrive.

This is not a redistribution of students or donors, but a renewal of the Catholic mission to serve every learner. Don Bosco Trade High School's commitment to affordability, inclusion, and faith formation ensures that young people from diverse backgrounds have access to a Catholic education that meets them where they are and helps them become who God created them to be.

Don Bosco Trade High School seeks its inaugural Principal to serve as the founding academic and community leader of this pioneering Catholic school. Working in close partnership with the President and the Board of Directors, the Principal will oversee the design, implementation, and daily operation of the school's academic, technical, and faith formation programs. This role is ideal for an educator who believes deeply in the dignity of work, the power of formation through doing, and the integration of faith, learning, and craftsmanship.

Beginning in July 2026, the Founding Principal will have the rare opportunity to help build a Catholic school from the ground up. This early start allows the Principal to play a central role in recruiting and forming the founding faculty and staff, shaping curriculum and instructional models, establishing academic and technical programs, and putting in place the systems and culture essential to a successful school launch. This role is especially well suited for an educator who brings a deep passion for Career and Trade Education and who believes in the dignity of skilled work as a pathway to purpose, contribution, and lifelong formation. The Founding Principal will help translate vision into daily practice, ensuring that academic excellence, technical mastery, and faith formation are fully integrated from the very beginning.

Catholic education continues to evolve to meet the needs of students who learn best through creating, building, and applying their knowledge in real-world contexts. The Founding Principal will lead a team of pioneering educators in building a school culture where rigorous academics, technical excellence, and Salesian spirituality intersect. The Principal will be a visible, approachable, and faith-filled presence, fostering a joyful, disciplined, and mission-centered environment for students, families, and faculty.

The Principal serves as the chief academic and operational leader of Don Bosco Trade High School, responsible for curriculum design, instruction, assessment, and student formation across both academic and trade programs. The role includes recruiting, developing, and supporting the founding faculty and staff; integrating Catholic identity and Salesian spirituality throughout all aspects of school life; overseeing student life, discipline, and extracurricular programming; and ensuring compliance with accreditation standards and state educational requirements. The Principal will collaborate closely with the President to align academic priorities with operational planning, advancement efforts, and external partnerships.

The ideal candidate is an experienced educational leader with a passion for Catholic education, student formation, and workforce-aligned learning. Candidates should be practicing Catholics who are committed to living and leading through Gospel values and who bring a deep appreciation for the Salesian charism of reason, religion, and loving-kindness. Successful candidates will demonstrate strong academic leadership, curriculum development experience, faculty supervision and mentoring skills, and the ability to lead effectively in a dynamic, start-up school environment.

A master's degree in Educational Leadership or a related field is required, and state licensure or eligibility is preferred. Experience in secondary education, Career and Trade Education, technical programs, or workforce development is strongly valued, as is familiarity with accreditation and state compliance processes. The successful candidate will bring a relational leadership style rooted in humility, joy, collaboration, and hope.

The anticipated start date for the Founding Principal is July 2026, allowing time to work alongside the President in preparing for the school's opening in August or September 2027. ACELA Solutions is honored to partner with Don Bosco Trade High School in this national search. Nominations, inquiries, and expressions of interest will be treated confidentially, and candidate review will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

To learn more about this opportunity, including the full search overview, leadership profile, and application guidance, interested candidates are encouraged to visit the current searches page at www.acelasolutions.com.

Candidates may submit a letter of interest and resume through the ACELA Solutions website. Nominations, inquiries, and confidential conversations are also welcome. For additional information or to begin a conversation, candidates may contact Michael Furey, Founder, CEO, and Mission Steward at ACELA Solutions.

All inquiries and expressions of interest will be treated with the highest level of confidentiality.

About the Employer

ACELA Solutions is a trusted national partner serving Catholic foundations, schools, dioceses, religious communities, and ministries through mission-driven leadership solutions. We advance Catholic education, leadership, and philanthropy through actionable, accessible support rooted in discernment, strategy, and stewardship.

Our leadership partners have served more than 6,000 Catholic institutions nationwide, worked in over 90% of U.S. dioceses, raised more than $2 billion in philanthropic support, secured nearly 600 leaders, and completed over 500 strategic engagements.

ACELA provides executive search, leadership and team development, strategic planning and assessments, system design, partnered counsel, board development, and workshops-guided by a philosophy of mission over margin.