Principal, Holy Family School, 2025 – 2026 School Year

Holy Family School is a Preschool–8th grade school located in San Jose, California. Holy Family School is a Catholic Community that is committed to faith development and active engagement in learning. We provide intentional academic and co-curricular programs, building foundational skills for ongoing success in high school and beyond. Through our shared values and beliefs, we partner with families to create an atmosphere of support and acceptance for all students to flourish.

The Diocese of San Jose, comprising some 525,000 Catholics across 54 parishes and missions, maintains a vibrant presence in Catholic education. There are 34 vibrant, faith-filled learning communities serving more than 14,000 students across 28 elementary schools and six high schools.
Under the general supervision of the Pastor and/or Associate Superintendent of Catholic Schools, the Principal, as a practicing Catholic, serves as the spiritual and educational leader of the school ministry, planning, implementing, coordinating, and overseeing all activities, programs, policies, regulations, and procedures.

The Principal works collaboratively to lead and nurture members of the school faculty, staff, and students, and to communicate effectively with families and members of the wider community. Key responsibilities of the role include spiritual formation, instructional leadership, curriculum implementation, program evaluation, faculty and staff supervision, student discipline, strategic planning, and all school operations.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING (and other duties as assigned):

Catholic Identity

• Exemplify Catholic values and actively foster and support Catholic beliefs, traditions, and practices throughout the entire school community including, but not limited to, faculty and staff, students, families, volunteers, and visitors.
• Support a strong, healthy culture tied to the school’s mission, root beliefs, and core values.
• Assist in the orientation, integration, and coaching of all faculty and staff in the culture, community, mission, and Catholic identity of the school.

Academic Excellence

• Lead, mentor, guide, support, and encourage teachers and instructional staff.
• Observe and monitor student learning.
• Ensure instructional planning and implementation integrate evidence-based practices to promote student-learning.
• Plan and implement professional learning and collaboration that is relevant to student learning and achievement.
• Assist teachers with identifying, developing, and implementing whole-child supports that address spiritual, academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and physical needs.
• Evaluate and select appropriate curriculum and other instructional resources.
• Demonstrate positivity and exhibit effective interpersonal skills with students, faculty, staff, parish and diocesan leadership, families, and the wider community.
• Approach situations with a problem-solving mindset.
• Build and foster partnerships with and among faculty, staff, and families.
• Establish and promote high expectations for all students, faculty, and staff.

Operational Vitality

• Maintain a safe and welcoming learning environment that respects the human dignity of students and the school’s faculty and staff.
• Develop, implement, and manage all school systems, procedures, and programs.
• Prepare and submit the school’s annual budget adhering to deadlines; adhere and assess performance to budget and stewardship metrics.
• Communicate openly and transparently with the Pastor, Department of Catholic Schools, and advisory group(s) to support the decision-making process.
• Provide leadership to advisory group(s) in support of the school’s mission.
• Partner with the Pastor on school operations.
• Create and execute the school’s strategic plan
• Actively plan, participate, and facilitate school and extra-curricular activities, including events outside school hours.
• Actively participate in the planning and execution of the school’s recruitment and retention program.

Other Duties & Responsibilities:

• Act as the spiritual leader of the school community.
• Act as a role model of professionalism in a Catholic environment.
• Support the mission, philosophy, policies, and goals of the school, as well as the decisions made by the Pastor and Department of Catholic Schools.
• Promote the health and ensure the safety, and welfare of all students, faculty, and staff.
• Adhere to all policies and procedures as outlined in the school and diocesan handbooks.
• Promote and model teamwork.
• Lead faculty collaborations; actively participate in diocesan collaborations.
• Work non-standard hours, including weekends and evenings, with flexible availability.

Vision, Strategy and Leadership:

• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Excellent time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Strong supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to prioritize tasks and to delegate them when appropriate.

Finances and Operations:

• See Operational Vitality above.

Collaboration and Communication:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent presentation skills.

REQUIRED SKILLS/ABILITIES:

• Ability to gather and analyze data.
• Ability to project manage, organize, delegate, and prioritize in an atmosphere in which time-sensitive deadlines and interruptions are the norm.
• Ability to create long range plans and manage the daily details of implementation.
• Ability to work independently.
• Ability to lead a team.
• Ability to be flexible and dependable in a dynamic environment.
• Ability to present to a variety of audiences including, but not limited to, students, teachers, and family members.
• Outstanding interpersonal skills with a strong customer service focus (internal and external).
• Ability to act ethically and discreetly.
• Ability to establish and maintain positive, effective working relationships with students, parents, staff, diocesan departments, and the general public.

THIS POSITION SUPERVISES:

• Faculty, staff, and students.

THIS POSITION SUPERVISES (OTHERS):

• Volunteers, including but not limited to, school family members and parishioners.
• Vendors.

QUALIFICATIONS TO PERFORM THE JOB SUCCESSFULLY:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, ability, or physical demands required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the position.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree, required.
• Master’s degree in an educational field, preferred.
• California Credential, preferred.
• Five years of teaching experience, preferred.
• Three years of school leadership experience, preferred.
• Experience in Catholic education, preferred.

Leadership Skills:

• Coaching/Mentoring

Language Skills:

• Excellent written and oral communication skills with an ability to effectively communicate with all stakeholders of the school.
• English, required.
• Bilingual, preferred.

Technical Skills:

• Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Google applications.
• Experience with SIS platforms, required.
• Experience with VenturED, Clever, ParentSquare, Renaissance STAR, EM2, Magnetic, preferred.

Physical Demands:

• Ability to perform tasks involving sitting, standing, walking, reaching, lifting, repetitive motion, bending, stooping, crouching, climbing, stretching, twisting.
• Capability to operate standard office equipment such as copiers, personal computer, smart cell phone, and alarm system.
• Can lift 25 lbs. in compliance with safety standards.
• Level of vision, hearing, speaking required.

Other Requirements:

• Practicing Catholic.
• Able to work evenings and weekends.
• Must have an understanding and acceptance for the mission of the Catholic Church.
• Must support the teachings and values of the Catholic Church and its mission and act as a Minister of the Faith.

Salary Range:$151,410 – $158,620 per year. Principal salary is based on the DSJ Elementary Principal Guidelines. Compensation for the role will depend on the number of factors, including the candidate’s qualifications, skills, competency, and experience.