Principal

Job Description

PRINCIPAL, St. Mary School
Mt. Sterling, Illinois

ABOUT ST. MARY SCHOOL
For more than 160 years, St. Mary School has formed children in faith and academic excellence in the heart of Brown County, Illinois. As a PreK-8 school of Holy Family Parish, we are guided by our Dominican heritage and our tagline, "Where Everyone Grows." Our 2026-2030 strategic plan, Built in Faith, Growing in Grace, positions the school for meaningful, mission-driven growth. Every child at St. Mary is known by name, in faith, and in community.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR
St. Mary School seeks a faithful, visionary leader to serve as Principal. This is a rare opportunity to shape the life of a school that is deeply rooted in its mission and positioned for meaningful growth. We are not simply looking for a capable administrator. We are looking for someone called to the work of Catholic school leadership - someone who understands that the Principal of a Catholic school is, first and foremost, a leader of Catholic ministry. The Principal will serve in close partnership with the parish Pastor, our dedicated faculty and staff, and our Director of Mission Advancement to strengthen our Catholic identity, advance our strategic plan, and progress our core values: academic excellence, faith, integrity, responsibility, and compassion. At St. Mary, academic excellence is not separate from our mission - it is an expression of it. We are committed to forming the whole child: intellectually, spiritually, and personally. Key responsibilities include:

• Cultivating and protecting a Catholic school culture where faith and learning are one mission
• Providing visionary instructional and academic leadership that raises the bar for student achievement across PreK-8
• Collaborating with the pastoral and advancement teams to advance the strategic plan
• Building trust within a close-knit, faith-centered community
• Supporting enrollment vitality and community outreach efforts

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• A practicing Catholic with a clear vocation to Catholic school leadership
• Master's degree with 20+ semester hours in administration/supervision and state licensure (considering or actively pursuing)
• Strong relational skills with students, families, faculty, and parish
• Humble confidence, collaborative spirit, and capacity to lead in a small rural community

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS
Salary: $50,000-$75,000 commensurate with experience

Benefits include: Health, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) retirement plan, Paid time off, Paid parental leave, Group life insurance and voluntary term life insurance, Access to AFLAC supplemental insurance

HOW TO APPLY
Interested candidates are invited to submit the following to the Principal Search Committee at akuhn@smseagle.org by May 20, 2026:
• Cover letter expressing your vocation to Catholic school leadership
• Current resume

All inquiries are held in strict confidence.
St. Mary School is an Equal Opportunity Employer and a ministry of Holy Family Parish.

About the Employer

At St. Mary School, we provide a well-rounded Catholic education that nurtures the whole child, rooted in faith and excellence in academics. Together with parents, we form responsible, faith-filled Christians whose character and compassion equip them to flourish with confidence and purpose embracing a continuous learning journey in an ever-changing world.