Duties
St. Michael School is seeking an honest, faith-filled, student-centered, and collaborative educational leader to serve as Principal beginning with the 2027–2028 school year.
Rooted in the Catholic faith and supported by dedicated faculty and staff, committed families, St. Michael Parish, and a strong surrounding community, St. Michael School has a proud tradition of educating and forming the whole child academically, spiritually, socially, and personally.
As part of the Principal search process, the St. Michael community was invited to identify the priorities and leadership qualities most important in its next Principal. The community's message was clear: St. Michael School seeks a Principal who will put students first, lead with integrity and faith, build trusting relationships, communicate openly, support faculty and staff, and become an active and visible member of the school and parish community.
OUR NEXT PRINCIPAL WILL:
- Place students and their academic, spiritual, social, emotional, and developmental needs at the center of decisions.
- Provide strong leadership that promotes academic excellence, student achievement, character development, and high expectations.
- Strengthen the Catholic identity and mission of St. Michael through prayer, worship, service, faith formation, and Gospel-centered leadership.
- Be visible, approachable, compassionate, honest, and actively engaged with students, faculty, staff, families, parishioners, and the community.
- Communicate openly, clearly, consistently, and transparently while listening to the perspectives of others.
- Build a positive school culture grounded in trust, respect, collaboration, consistency, fairness, and accountability.
- Support, develop, recognize, and retain outstanding teachers and staff while establishing clear expectations for excellence.
- Work collaboratively with the Pastor, parish, faculty and staff, families, School Board, and community to advance the mission of St. Michael.
- Provide responsible leadership for financial sustainability, enrollment and retention, school safety, and the long-term future of the school.
- Respect the traditions and culture that make St. Michael special while providing the vision necessary to help the school grow and thrive for future generations.
Qualifications
The successful candidate will demonstrate integrity, strong educational leadership, effective communication, sound decision-making, instructional knowledge, relationship-building skills, and a practicing Catholic that actively supports the teachings and mission of the Catholic Church.
Most importantly, St. Michael School seeks a Principal who desires to become part of our school, parish, and community, a leader who will know our students, support our teachers, engage our families, respect our traditions, and work collaboratively to build an even stronger future for St. Michael School.
Candidates must meet applicable requirements for Catholic school leadership established by St. Michael Parish and the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois.
Salary/Benefits
Salary and Benefits are regionally competitive and commensurate with experience and education.
Additional Notes
If you are a faith-filled educational leader who believes that Catholic education is a ministry of faith, learning, relationships, service, and formation, we invite you to consider becoming the next Principal of St. Michael School.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: Friday, November 13, 2026
Anticipated Start Date: July 1, 2027
Application Materials: Letter of interest, résumé/CV, professional references
Contact: David R. Skocy, Ph.D.
Interim Principal - St. Michael School; and/or
Father Hyland Smith
Pastor - Saint Michael Parish
Email/Application Information: d.skocy@stmichaelsharpshooters.com ; and
hsmith@dio.org