Principal Search

Job Description

PRINCIPAL SEARCH PROSPECTUS
Archdiocese of San Francisco Reports to: Pastor and Superintendent of Schools
Grounded in the Catholic faith and committed to academic excellence, the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco cultivate the virtuous life, nurture Christian community, and nourish a Catholic worldview. The call to be a school leader is a call to not only professional, but spiritual leadership. It is a call to be a visionary and to lead teachers, building a "school of the Lord's service" that fully integrates the Catholic faith and academic excellence. It is also a call to live as a witness to the Gospel of Christ. A principal in a Catholic School is called to be a religious leader, instructional leader, administrator, communicator, and witness to Christian discipleship. These are important ministries within the Church, and not everyone has been given the gifts to respond to such a call.
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT: All Souls Catholic School is a diverse community working together to teach and live the Gospel message. We prepare our students, in a safe and supportive environment, to become active Christians, confident communicators, and fully integrated individuals. Our students develop the skills needed to move forward as life long learners and responsible global citizens.
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT:
All Souls Church is a Catholic Community of believers, Diverse in our individual gifts and cultural backgrounds, United in our one baptism in one Lord, and sharing in one faith. As the early church was commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the Word of God, we, too, are called to participate in that mission by endeavoring to be his witnesses. We witness to the Risen Christ by: celebrating our faith in worship, valuing and empowering our members, supporting one another through faith sharing, embracing gospel values by the teachings of the Catholic Church, and serving one another and the wider community.
ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO EDUCATION MISSION STATEMENT:
Grounded in the Catholic faith and committed to academic excellence, the Catholic schools of the Archdiocese of San Francisco cultivate the virtuous life, nurture Christian community, and nourish a Catholic worldview.
ABOUT ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Founded in 1949 and situated in fast-growing South San Francisco, All Souls Catholic School is a vibrant parish school serving approximately 200 students. Guided by its mission to teach and live the Gospel message, the school works in close partnership with All Souls Church to form students who are active in their Catholic Faith. The school is known for its strong sense of community, dedicated teachers, and commitment to academic excellence within a safe and supportive environment. This mission is further enriched by a robust weekend Faith Formation program that serves many parish families and reflects the parish's broader commitment to worship, service, and faith sharing across cultures and generations. Together, the school and parish seek to nurture students who grow in faith, character, and responsibility as global citizens.
As All Souls looks to its next principal, the community is seeking a leader who will honor the school's rich legacy and multi-generational traditions and strengthen its close-knit culture. The community hopes for a principal who will engage families and staff, with a commitment to building on the school's strong foundation of faith, community, and academic excellence, through transparency and clear communication. Key priorities include supporting teachers and helping the school grow through increased enrollment and long-term stability.
WHY LEAD A SCHOOL:
The Principal exists to lead a Catholic school as a community of faith, learning, and formation, ordered toward the truth, goodness, and beauty revealed in Jesus Christ.
This role advances the mission of the Archdiocese of San Francisco by:
Ensuring the school is unmistakably Catholic in culture and witness
Forming students intellectually, morally, and spiritually
Leading adults-faculty, staff, and families-into a shared vision of Catholic education
Sustaining the long-term vitality of the school through strong leadership, stewardship, and effective management
The call to be a Catholic school leader is not merely professional, but vocational. It requires spiritual maturity, intellectual seriousness, and the capacity to lead others with courage, clarity, and charity.
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE PRINCIPAL ROLE:
1. A Coherent and Lived Catholic Identity
The school operates as a visible and credible ministry of the Church, where faith in Jesus Christ is the animating principle of school life.
2. Strong Instructional and Academic Culture
Teaching and learning are marked by sound pedagogy, intellectual curiosity, joyful inquiry, academic seriousness, and a Catholic worldview that integrates faith and reason.
3. Healthy Faculty & Staff Culture and Leadership Capacity
Faculty and staff are well-formed, mission-aligned, and supported through clear expectations, professional growth, and spiritual leadership.
4. Trusting Partnership with Parents and Parish
Parents are respected as primary educators and engaged in ongoing formation through the school; the school and parish operate in genuine collaboration, with the pastor as the leader of the parish and school community.
5. Operational and Financial Stability
The school is well-managed, compliant, orderly, well-maintained, and positioned for long-term sustainability.
HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED:
Catholic Identity
Consistent and frequent sacraments and communal prayer
Clear articulation of the school's Catholic mission to parents and faculty
Observable alignment between stated mission and daily practice
Academic & Instructional Leadership
High-quality classroom instruction, sound pedagogy rooted in Christian anthropology, and effective supervision
Coherent curriculum informed by the Catholic and Western intellectual tradition
Evidence of student growth and thoughtful use of various forms of assessments
Faculty & Staff Culture
Retention of mission-aligned faculty
Regular supervision, evaluation, and formative feedback
Positive staff morale and shared ownership of the mission
Intellectual and spiritual friendship among the faculty
Community & Governance
Productive working relationship with pastor, advisory bodies, and the Department of Catholic schools
Strong family engagement and confidence in leadership
Effective communication and conflict management
Operational Vitality
Balanced budgets and responsible financial stewardship
Compliance with Archdiocesan policies and legal requirements
Orderly, safe, and well-run school environment
IDEAL CHARACTER TRAITS
Faithful, practicing Catholic with integrity of life
A spirit of adventure and entrepreneurship
Spiritual maturity and humility
Courage to lead and make difficult decisions
Intellectual curiosity and love of learning
Sense of vocation and missionary discipleship
IDEAL COMPETENCIES
Spiritual and instructional leadership
Clear and compelling communication
Faculty supervision, coaching, and evaluation
Strategic and systems-level thinking
Relational leadership and conflict navigation
Organizational and operational management
Ability to lead change while preserving tradition

IDEAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
Catholic doctrine and Christian morality
The mission and history of Catholic education
Sound pedagogy and child development
Curriculum and assessment practices
School finance, budgeting, and governance
Relevant canonical, legal, and Archdiocesan policies

QUALIFICATIONS
Practicing Roman Catholic in full communion with the Church
Minimum three years of teaching and/or administrative experience
Master's degree (completed or in progress), preferably in education or liberal arts
Basic Catechist Certification (or commitment to complete)

SALARY & BENEFITS
Pay Range: $121,761-$234,431 annual base pay range. Credit for credentials, advanced degrees, and certifications are in addition to base salary.
Competitive salary aligned with Archdiocesan guidelines
Comprehensive healthcare coverage
Archdiocesan pension plan and optional 403(b)
Paid time off
Ongoing professional and spiritual formation
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application materials:
Completed application
Resume
Official transcripts
Proof of Catechist Certification (if obtained)
Three letters of reference
Written statement of philosophy of Catholic education (250-500 words) Physical requirements for the position of school principal include: Frequent computer use of keyboard and mouse (if applicable). Sometimes sitting at a computer for long periods of time. Frequent bending, reaching, stretching.

Qualified candidates will be invited to an initial interview with the Superintendent and HR Director prior to consideration by the School Search Committee.
Completed application packets should be send to Christine Escobar escobarc@sfarch.org

NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, all employees of the Archdiocese of San Francisco shall be employed without regard to race, color, sex, ethnic or national origin and will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories

About the Employer

The Department of Catholic Schools (DCS) provides support to over 24,200 students and 2,287 teachers, principals, and school staff who are on their faith and education journey. Our purpose is to promote and serve our Community of Catholic Schools and the Archdiocese of San Francisco by communicating, assessing and reporting on matters of faith, Catholic Identity, policy and academic achievement between the Archdiocese, DCS, and the schools.

Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, in collaboration with parents, pastors, parish leadership, and the faith community, teach and model Gospel values and the faith of the Catholic Church thereby forming witnesses of Jesus Christ through comprehensive religious, academic, co-curricular and service programs.