What are the responsibilities and job description for the Founding Principal position at Cristo Rey Network?
About the School
Cristo Rey Charleston High School is a college preparatory, Catholic school for students of all faiths, that will educate young people of limited resources to become persons of faith, purpose, and service. Cristo Rey Charleston is the 42nd Cristo Rey model school in the United States and will welcome the founding class of students in August of 2026. The school will be located in North Charleston, SC and will serve approximately 400 students in grades 9-12 from across the greater Charleston area. Each student participates in the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP), an integral part of the Cristo Rey model in which every student works one day a week throughout their four years at the school. The one day per week students are at work, teachers have extended planning and collaboration opportunities.
Mission : Cristo Rey Charleston High School, a Catholic college preparatory school open to students
of all faiths, delivers rigorous academics and real-world work experience to students from families
with limited resources. Our goal is clear : to ensure every student is accepted into college and
supported through graduation and beyond.
Vision : Cristo Rey Charleston strives for a world where our students, guided by God’s love and
grace, use their talents to create positive change and serve others.
Responsibilities
Cristo Rey Charleston High School Ideal Job Candidate
Cristo Rey Charleston attracts and hires capable individuals of character who are called to cultivate
the God-given talents within each student. We've chosen to answer the call because we are
committed to helping develop students who will impact the world through showcasing their
excellence.
An ideal candidate should have an appreciation of the school’s mission, a commitment to the values of Catholic education, and be comfortable modeling an active and inspiring faith life for all in the community.
Founding Principal
Position Summary
Cristo Rey Charleston High School seeks a Catholic, mission-driven, innovative, collaborative,
student focused, and community-centered Principal to serve as the academic and educational leader.
The Founding Principal reports directly to the school’s President and serves as a critical member of
the school’s senior leadership team. As the Founding Principal, you will have an opportunity to build and develop one of Charleston’s most unique educational institutions and shape the future leaders of our community.
Primary Responsibilities
Catholic Identity and Cristo Rey Mission
- Responsible for fostering a culture of academic excellence and Gospel values. Advances a
spirit conducive to prayer and study across the school community.
Ensure that all members of the school community are treated fairly, equitably, and with respect
and compassion; positively support all stakeholders.
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.
school's identity as a Catholic School for students of all faiths.
Instructional Leadership
members of the learning community and seek continuous improvement in a student-centric
environment.
systems of curriculum, instruction, and assessment to promote each student’s academic
success and well-being. This includes curriculum alignment to academic standards; regular
cycles of observation and feedback for individual coaching; professional learning, aligned to
the school’s Academic Vision, for all faculty.
effective team practices, observe and coach teams, and distribute leadership to teams.
and monitoring of student progress; identify and prioritize needs and determine team and
individual interventions; communicate academic data to stakeholders.
School Culture and Family Involvement
unique gifts that all staff, students and families bring to the school community.
and implement strategies for meaningful and reciprocal family and community engagement.
professionalism, and accountability to ensure the success and well-being of each student.
maintaining high standards and high support; actively promote the regular exchange of
affirming and constructive feedback among members of the school’s staff.
ensure a safe and productive environment and that support the ongoing achievement of
School and Network improvement priorities.
Strategic Planning
excellence that encompasses academics, school culture, community engagement, alumni
engagement (when applicable), 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.
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.
time, as necessary; anticipate barriers, and develop measures of effectiveness and plan for
contingencies.
across all critical areas of the strategic plan.
qualitative and quantitative indicators of students’ college-readiness.
Developing Professional Capacity of Instructional and Student Support Personnel
instructional and extracurricular staff who are best fitted to the mission of the school.
academic success and well-being.
Qualifications
Master’s Degree or higher
observation and coaching; Minimum 3 years of high school teaching experience
working with individuals and families from limited resource communities
How to Apply
All interested and qualified applicants with a passion for Cristo Rey’s mission are invited to apply by
March 1, 2025. Please include the following :
Equal Opportunity Employer :
Cristo Rey Charleston High School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All employment decisions,
policies, and practices are made in accordance with applicable federal, state and local anti-
discrimination laws. Cristo Rey Charleston 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 characteristics.
