Pastor
The pastor is ex officio the chief administrative officer of the parish school. He implements the policies of the
Department of Catholic Schools
in the parish school. On matters not covered by the Administrative
Handbook, the pastor determines policies consistent with archdiocesan
policy and appropriate to the school's needs. Relying on the expertise
of the Department of Catholic Schools, the pastor is ultimately
responsible for the spiritual, administrative/financial,
and personnel aspects of the school. However, he delegates the immediate
direction and supervision of the school program to the principal.
1
Spiritual Responsibilities
The pastor:
2
Administrative/Financial Responsibilities
The pastor:
3 Personnel Responsibilities
The pastor:
Principal
The
Department of Catholic Schools
has a standard process for recruiting, selecting, developing, and
retaining effective school principals. Elementary school principals are
selected and evaluated by the
pastor, in collaboration with the Department of Catholic Schools and in accord with its process.
With
limited exceptions, employment of principals is for one year only with
the possibility of rehire. Any exceptions must be approved by the
superintendent of Catholic schools. Pastors shall inform principals if
employment will be offered for the following year by March 1 of each
year. The deadline for principals to accept the invitation for
employment is March 15 of each year.
The
Archdiocese of Los Angeles seeks leaders who:
Promote development in the faith by implementing, coordinating, and overseeing the
religious education program of the school
Ensure
the growth of every student by advocating, nurturing, and sustaining a
school culture and holistic instructional program that is based on
Gospel values
Establish high expectations for staff professional development
- Ensure the success of the school through appropriate financial and personnel management, fund-raising and development,
marketing and enrollment, plant management, and collaboration among all stakeholders.
Expectations for Candidates and Principals
Principals
and candidates for principal must demonstrate the capacity and
openness to growth in order to effectively lead a Catholic elementary
school in the following areas:
Faith
Principals will:
Implement and update catechetical materials and religious instruction resources used in the school
Promote ongoing formation of staff through systematic planning of
spiritual growth opportunities throughout the year
Lead meaningful and varied forms of daily prayer and at special times throughout the year for the school community
Model Catholic values and promote them throughout the school community
Emphasize Christian service learning that is carefully planned, age appropriate, and woven through the curriculum
Promote
the success of all students by acting with integrity, fairness, and in
an ethical manner consistent with Catholic social teaching
Ensure that the Catholic culture permeates all aspects of school life
Develop and maintain a collaborative culture with the pastor and parish
Excellence
Principals will:
Develop and maintain a collaborative staff culture to promote academic excellence for all
Direct a clearly articulated, rigorous
curriculum
aligned with relevant standards, 21st-century skills, and Gospel
values, implemented through effective, data-informed instruction that
incorporates research-based methodologies
Ensure the
implementation of schoolwide assessment methods and practices to
communicate student progress and direct the continuous review of
curriculum and improvement of instructional practices
Provide
and direct programs and services aligned with the mission to enrich the
academic program and support the holistic development of student and
family life
Lead the development and integration of technology to support the school
Stewardship
Principals will:
Understand
and manage school finances, including budget development, ongoing
oversight and projections, and tuition and fund-raising management
Hire, train, and supervise faculty and staff in accordance with archdiocesan guidelines, including the
Principal's Transition Inventory
Optimize and maintain student enrollment in order to ensure school sustainability
Promote a safe, secure, and welcoming learning environment
Communicate effectively with stakeholders