St. Michael School Principal

Posted: August 6, 2026 • Expires: October 5, 2026 • Full-Time

About the Role

St. Michael School in Fall River, MA is seeking a principal with visionary leadership, passion, commitment, and effective educational skills to lead this vibrant Catholic school. The principal will be accountable for spiritual, instructional, and managerial leadership, working in collaboration with the Pastor and the Catholic Schools Office (CSO).

Responsibilities

Spiritual Leader

• Contribute to the spiritual and sacramental life of the school.
• Coordinate sacramental preparation and ensure a rich liturgical and devotional life that is comprehensive and age-appropriate.
• Coordinate prayer, worship, and service opportunities for students, faculty, and staff.
• Coordinate adult faith formation and service opportunities for the spiritual and professional growth of faculty and staff.
• Ensure the school is an integral part of the parish mission and assist with integrating the school’s mission into academic, student, and extracurricular programs.
• Ensure discipline rationale aligns with the school’s mission and Catholic identity.

Instructional Leader

• Gather and submit academic data to the CSO for continuous improvement.
• Oversee the planning, development, implementation, and evaluation of the curriculum against Diocesan standards.
• Assess how the school meets the needs of diverse learners and propose plans to address them.
• Assess professional development needs and propose strategies to meet them.
• Oversee and coordinate instructional supervision and evaluation of teachers using a diocesan-wide observation and coaching protocol.
• Conduct programmatic and curricular reviews and enhance the curriculum based on community engagement.
• Hire, supervise, and evaluate all school professional staff with input from the school’s pastor.

Faculty and Staff

• Coordinate the recruitment of new faculty and staff, including organizing application materials and making final hiring recommendations to the CSO.
• Provide recommendations, strategies, and interventions for faculty requiring assistance with classroom management.
• Prepare and update the faculty handbook to ensure consistency with Diocesan policies.
• Coordinate and preside at faculty meetings and provide opportunities for faculty morale-building.
• Approve all requests for personal and/or vacation days for faculty and staff.

Managerial Leader

• Oversee the preparation of the student handbook, ensuring consistency with Diocesan policies.
• Enforce all school policies, rules, and procedures regarding student life.
• Preside over all school gatherings and maintain a visible presence during the school day.
• Coordinate necessary training sessions for volunteers and host families (e.g., Safe Environment Training, CORI compliance).
• Provide regular communication with the school community through School Messenger, RenWeb, newsletters, and parent/teacher conferences.
• Determine the daily school schedule and adjust for assemblies, liturgies, and presentations.
• Coordinate and oversee required evaluations and reporting by outside agencies (NEASC, Diocese of Fall River, NCEA, etc.).
• Oversee the school’s master calendar and be present at all major school functions outside of school hours.
• Prepare an annual operating budget in consultation with the Pastor, CSO, and Diocesan Finance Office, including a 3-year business plan and capital budget addressing key Operational Vitality Criteria.
• Manage the annual operating budget and oversee daily internal operations in accord with published human resource and personnel policies.
• Provide clarity for responsibilities, expectations, and accountability to faculty, staff, and parents.
• Oversee general maintenance and cleanliness of facilities and report major concerns to the Pastor.
• Direct family and community engagement efforts and collaborate with the parent organization when appropriate.
• Participate in strategies to increase enrollment and recruit a diverse teaching corps.
• Provide professional development to teachers responsive to the needs of the local parish community.
• Prepare school updates for advisory board meetings.

Requirements

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with the Catholic Church.
• Three to five years of successful teaching experience at the elementary school level.
• State-approved teaching licensure.
• Possesses a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership or related area OR willing to obtain a Master’s Degree in the near future.

About the Employer

The mission of St. Michael School, under the Diocese of Fall River, is to provide a vibrant Catholic education that integrates faith and learning. We are committed to fostering spiritual growth, academic excellence, and a strong sense of community. Our goal is to nurture students in a faith-filled environment, preparing them to be responsible, compassionate, and engaged members of society.