About the School:
ICA Cristo Rey is an all-girls Catholic high school that educates young women of all faiths and
of limited economic means to become women of faith, purpose, and service. Through a rigorous
college preparatory curriculum, integrated with a professional work study experience, students
graduate ready to succeed in college, career, and life. ICA Cristo Rey is a part of the largest
network of high schools in the country that exclusively serve underserved youth.
Principal Roles and Responsibilities:
Catholic Identity and Cristo Rey Mission
● Serve as a spiritual leader for the school; promote and sustain the school’s Catholic
charism; ensure that the school’s mission drives school decisions, and that faith practice
and formation are integrated into school life; ensure that time and resources are
appropriately allocated to Campus Ministry and Adult Faith Formation.
● Ensure that all members of the school community are treated fairly, equitably, and with
respect and compassion; positively support all stakeholders; actively work to create a
supportive environment; protect the rights and confidentiality of students and staff.
● Actively participate in and support the school’s leadership team; promote and support the
importance of integrating academics with the Corporate Work Study Program as part of a
college preparatory experience; ensure clear communication of shared expectations for
students.
● Actively participate in CRN professional development and take advantage of CRN
coaching and support; actively participate in faith formation programs aimed at
deepening and nurturing your capacity as a spiritual and mission-driven Catholic school
leader.
● Work with the Dominican Sisters of Mission San Jose, the school’s sponsor, to develop
and sustain the school’s Catholic identity.
Teaching and Learning
● Serve as the lead-learner in the building; stay current with research, best practices, and
trends relevant to urban education, and issues that may be affecting the school’s students.
● Oversee faculty members; conduct regular classroom observations using a research-based
framework; maintain a visible and active leadership presence throughout the building;
provide teachers and classroom staff with valuable feedback to further develop their
professional skills.
● Lead the implementation of a rigorous, college-ready curriculum; promote and nurture a
college-going culture with high student expectations.
● Lead the implementation of school-wide cycles of formative/interim assessments,
analysis of data, and monitoring of student progress; identify and prioritize needs and
determine team and individual interventions; communicate academic data to
stakeholders.
● Plan and execute a program of professional development informed by instructional,
school culture, and student achievement data. Ensure that professional development is
collaborative and aligned with the school’s instructional and formational vision.
School Culture and Family Involvement
● Foster and promote a school culture that values diversity and the unique gifts that all
staff, students, and families bring to the school community; foster the creation of an
inclusive school environment, and ensure that parents are welcomed and acknowledged
as partners with the school; develop and implement strategies for meaningful and
reciprocal family and community engagement.
● Lead the school community to create a culture of high expectations and continuous
improvement, complemented by high levels of support; promote and articulate a vision
for continuous improvement that recognizes existing equity gaps and commits to their
elimination.
● Serve as a model of the school’s values and mindsets, and hold self and others
accountable to maintaining high standards; actively promote the regular exchange of
affirming and constructive feedback among members of the school’s staff.
● Ensure an active co-curricular life of the school, which gives students opportunities to
develop their non-academic talents and interests (musical, artistic, athletic, etc.).
Strategic Planning
● Lead the school community to develop a detailed, concrete, and compelling vision for
excellence that encompasses academics, school culture, community engagement,
alumnae engagement, and partnership with the Corporate Work Study Program. This
vision must reflect a critical understanding of the students’ varied cultural identities,
along with the school’s Catholic identity; consult with the President and other
stakeholders to incorporate their understanding of the school’s context and to secure their
investment in the school’s vision for excellence.
● In consultation with the President and other key stakeholders, develop a multi-year
strategic plan that is aligned to the school’s shared vision of excellence, that leverages the
resources of the Cristo Rey Network, and incorporates knowledge of current realities and
progress-to-goals.
● Predict the needs of staff, students, and families in pursuing the strategic plan, adjusting
over time, as necessary; anticipate barriers, develop measures of effectiveness, and plan
for contingencies.
● Design and execute processes and systems for progress-monitoring with goals and
metrics across all critical areas of the strategic plan.
● Establish concrete, ambitious, meaningful medium- and long-term goals that serve as
qualitative and quantitative indicators of students’ college-readiness.
Allocation of Resources and Supervision of School Personnel
● Audit time, personnel, and resources to ensure college-readiness for all students.
● Set and communicate clear expectations for excellence, and define responsibilities for
staff; delegate tasks and responsibilities in ways that are consistent with role definitions;
maximize the impact of each team member under your chain of management.
● Develop and execute strategies to improve performance of staff over time and hold staff
members accountable.
● Monitor progress on multiple work streams and individual expectations. Acknowledge
progress, celebrate successes, and intervene in a prompt, direct, and professional way to
address gaps when needed.
● Consistently follow federal and state policy and establish a high bar for professionalism
and discretion when handling personnel issues.
Additional Skills
● Deep commitment to low-income, urban youth
● Flexibility, energy, stamina, and foresight to be an effective school leader
● Ability to build a shared vision and inspire commitment to a mission
● Ability to build relationships with a diverse staff and parent community
● Ability to plan in a manner that anticipates barriers and recognizes needs school-wide
● Strong collaboration with others and the willingness to solicit input prior to developing
strategies and solutions
● Ability to motivate and influence others to achieve excellence in the workplace
● Openness to feedback
● Ability to think critically and reflectively, and to prioritize effectively
● Openness to growth and a commitment to continuous learning
● Strong written and oral communication skills
● Ability to develop and execute an effective school budget
Qualifications
● Master’s Degree in an educational field, or commensurate experience
● Minimum five years’ experience in school leadership
● A commitment to Catholic education
● Demonstrated ability to connect with low-income, urban students and families
● Demonstrated ability to serve as the faith leader of the school
● Proven background in curriculum design, teacher supervision, and data analysis
● Demonstrated understanding of the college qualification and acceptance process
● Background in designing and executing school improvement plans
● A commitment to personal and professional integrity and moral character
● Fluency in Spanish preferred
All interested and qualified applicants with a passion for Cristo Rey’s mission are invited to
apply. The application close date is October 15. Please include the following:
● Resume
● Cover Letter (not longer than one page).
Email your completed application as an attached PDF to Tina Sprouse, Executive Assistant to
the President, at
Equal Opportunity Employer:
ICA Cristo Rey Academy is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions, policies, and practices are made in accordance with applicable federal, state and local anti-discrimination laws. ICA Cristo Rey Academy will not engage or tolerate unlawful discrimination on the basis of actual or perceived race, creed, color, religion, alienage or national origin, ancestry, age, disability or handicap, sex, marital status, citizenship, veteran status, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws.