Principal, Northern Deanery High School, Bellingham

Appointed by the Archbishop of Seattle in consultation with the Board of Directors. Reports to the Superintendent of Catholic Schools and the Board of Directors. Full-time, exempt, twelve-month administrator.

About the role

The Principal is the chief administrative and chief academic officer of the Northern Deanery Regional Catholic High School (NDRCHS). The Principal is appointed, in consultation with the Board of Directors, by the Archbishop of Seattle ("Member"), serves on the Board of Directors as an ex-officio (non-voting) member, and is accountable to the Member and to the Board on matters delegated by the Member and the Board as provided in the school's bylaws. The Principal reports to the Superintendent of Catholic Schools and the Board of Directors. The Principal, or his/her delegate, shall be an ex-officio member of all standing committees, and shall be a practicing Catholic as defined in the school's bylaws. The Principal bears overall accountability for the spiritual, academic, financial, and operational well-being of NDRCHS, and ensures that the school's identity as a Catholic secondary school is protected and advanced in every facet of school life, always in keeping with the vision and values of the Archdiocese of Seattle. The Principal holds ultimate authority over the hiring, evaluation, and (when necessary) termination of all school employees, and gives clear educational, faith, and moral leadership to the school community. As the school's chief instructional leader, the Principal ensures rigorous and well-supported academic programming and is a visible, present leader in the daily experience of students and faculty. As the school's public face and chief ambassador, the Principal represents NDRCHS to the Archdiocese of Seattle, donors, alumni, civic and business leaders, and the broader community.

Responsibilities

Mission & Catholic Identity

• Serves as the chief steward of the school's Catholic identity and mission, ensuring that Gospel values permeate the academic, spiritual, and co-curricular life of the school.
• Models a lived commitment to the school's mission and educational tradition, fostering a culture of prayer, faith development, service, and Gospel values in daily school life.
• Ensures the continuing Catholic faith formation of both students and faculty.
• Ensures the school's policies, programs, and culture remain in keeping with the vision and values of the Archdiocese of Seattle.
• Maintains the school's relationships with the Archdiocese of Seattle and, where applicable, its sponsoring religious community or order, representing the school at appropriate diocesan and network gatherings.

Governance & Board Relations

• Serves as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Board of Directors, and serves, or designates a delegate to serve, as an ex-officio member of all standing committees of the Board.
• Is accountable to the Superintendent of Catholic Schools, the Member, and the Board on matters delegated under the school's bylaws.
• Assists the Board in policy development, brings recommendations forward for Board action, and ensures Board-approved policy is implemented faithfully across the school.
• Leads the development, communication, and execution of the school's long-range strategic plan, in partnership with the Board and the senior leadership team.
• Acts as final internal recourse for matters and disputes that cannot be resolved at the staff or administrative level, in keeping with established school policy.

Instructional & Academic Leadership

• Serves as the chief instructional leader of the school, ensuring a rigorous, college-preparatory, and inclusive program aligned with the school's mission and the standards of relevant accreditation bodies.
• Leads ongoing curriculum development, instructional improvement, and the use of data and research-based best practices to drive student achievement.
• Ensures that academic programs welcome and support the full range of learners, including students with diverse learning needs who graduate from the Archdiocese's Catholic elementary schools, with learning support, accommodations, and differentiated instruction integrated into the fabric of the school rather than treated as supplemental.
• Approves the master schedule, academic calendar, and daily schedule, and coordinates the scheduling of school-related activities.
• Oversees academic advising, college and post-secondary counseling, and student academic progress monitoring, and addresses academic emergencies as they arise.
• Plans for the development of academic and co-curricular programs in support of the school's long-term educational objectives.

Faculty, Staff & Organizational Leadership

• Holds ultimate hiring and termination authority for all school employees, and recruits, hires, evaluates, and (when necessary) dismisses faculty and staff.
• Assigns administrative and teaching duties, and establishes supervision, job descriptions, and annual evaluation procedures for all direct reports.
• Builds and leads a cohesive senior leadership team with clearly defined roles and shared accountability to the school's mission and strategic plan.
• Provides for the ongoing professional development and formation of faculty and staff, including formation in the school's Catholic identity and mission.
• Holds regular faculty meetings to communicate the mission, values, culture, goals, and expectations of the school.
• Fosters a positive, mission-aligned employee culture and ensures fair, consistent personnel policy and practice across the school.

Student Life & Community Presence

• Is a visible, accessible presence throughout the school — in classrooms, hallways, athletic and co-curricular events — known by and knowing the students.
• Maintains a sound, fair disciplinary system that supports a safe, orderly, and positive school climate.
• Makes decisions on student admission and dismissal in accordance with school policy, in coordination with admissions leadership where applicable.
• Serves as liaison between faculty and families on academic programming and day-to-day school matters.

Financial & Operational Stewardship

• Holds overall fiscal responsibility for the school, directing