Principal- All Souls Catholic School

PRINCIPAL SEARCH PROSPECTUS
Archdiocese of San Francisco
Reports to: Pastor and Superintendent of Schools
Grounded in the Catholic faith and committed to academic excellence, the Catholic schools of the
Archdiocese of San Francisco cultivate the virtuous life, nurture Christian community, and nourish a
Catholic worldview. The call to be a school leader is a call to not only professional, but spiritual
leadership. It is a call to be a visionary and to lead teachers, building a “school of the Lord’s service” that
fully integrates the Catholic faith and academic excellence. It is also a call to live as a witness to the
Gospel of Christ. A principal in a Catholic School is called to be a religious leader, instructional leader,
administrator, communicator, and witness to Christian discipleship. These are important ministries within
the Church, and not everyone has been given the gifts to respond to such a call.
SCHOOL MISSION STATEMENT:
All Souls Catholic School is a diverse community working together to teach and live the Gospel message.
We prepare our students, in a safe and supportive environment, to become active Christians, confident
communicators, and fully integrated individuals. Our students develop the skills needed to move forward
as life long learners and responsible global citizens.
PARISH MISSION STATEMENT:
All Souls Church is a Catholic Community of believers, Diverse in our individual gifts and cultural
backgrounds, United in our one baptism in one Lord, and sharing in one faith. As the early church was
commissioned by Jesus to proclaim the Word of God,
we, too, are called to participate in that mission by endeavoring to be his witnesses.
We witness to the Risen Christ by: celebrating our faith in worship, valuing and empowering our
members, supporting one another through faith sharing, embracing gospel values by the teachings of the
Catholic Church, and serving one another and the wider community.
ARCHDIOCESE OF SAN FRANCISCO EDUCATION MISSION STATEMENT:
Grounded in the Catholic faith and committed to academic excellence, the Catholic schools of the
Archdiocese of San Francisco cultivate the virtuous life, nurture Christian community, and nourish a
Catholic worldview.
ABOUT ALL SOULS CATHOLIC SCHOOL
Founded in 1949 and situated in fast-growing South San Francisco, All Souls Catholic School is a vibrant
parish school serving approximately 200 students. Guided by its mission to teach and live the Gospel
message, the school works in close partnership with All Souls Church to form students who are active in
their Catholic Faith. The school is known for its strong sense of community, dedicated teachers, and
commitment to academic excellence within a safe and supportive environment. This mission is further
enriched by a robust weekend Faith Formation program that serves many parish families and reflects the
parish’s broader commitment to worship, service, and faith sharing across cultures and generations.
Together, the school and parish seek to nurture students who grow in faith, character, and responsibility as
global citizens.
As All Souls looks to its next principal, the community is seeking a leader who will honor the school’s
rich legacy and multi-generational traditions and strengthen its close-knit culture. The community hopes
for a principal who will engage families and staff, with a commitment to building on the school’s strong
foundation of faith, community, and academic excellence, through transparency and clear communication.
Key priorities include supporting teachers and helping the school grow through increased enrollment and
long-term stability.
WHY LEAD A SCHOOL:
The Principal exists to lead a Catholic school as a community of faith, learning, and formation, ordered
toward the truth, goodness, and beauty revealed in Jesus Christ.
This role advances the mission of the Archdiocese of San Francisco by:
● Ensuring the school is unmistakably Catholic in culture and witness
● Forming students intellectually, morally, and spiritually
● Leading adults—faculty, staff, and families—into a shared vision of Catholic education
● Sustaining the long-term vitality of the school through strong leadership, stewardship, and
effective management
The call to be a Catholic school leader is not merely professional, but vocational. It requires spiritual
maturity, intellectual seriousness, and the capacity to lead others with courage, clarity, and charity.
KEY OUTCOMES OF THE PRINCIPAL ROLE:
1. A Coherent and Lived Catholic Identity
The school operates as a visible and credible ministry of the Church, where faith in Jesus Christ is the
animating principle of school life.
2. Strong Instructional and Academic Culture
Teaching and learning are marked by sound pedagogy, intellectual curiosity, joyful inquiry, academic
seriousness, and a Catholic worldview that integrates faith and reason.
3. Healthy Faculty & Staff Culture and Leadership Capacity
Faculty and staff are well-formed, mission-aligned, and supported through clear expectations,
professional growth, and spiritual leadership.
4. Trusting Partnership with Parents and Parish
Parents are respected as primary educators and engaged in ongoing formation through the school; the
school and parish operate in genuine collaboration, with the pastor as the leader of the parish and school
community.
5. Operational and Financial Stability
The school is well-managed, compliant, orderly, well-maintained, and positioned for long-term
sustainability.
HOW SUCCESS IS MEASURED:
Catholic Identity
● Consistent and frequent sacraments and communal prayer
● Clear articulation of the school’s Catholic mission to parents and faculty
● Observable alignment between stated mission and daily practice
Academic & Instructional Leadership
● High-quality classroom instruction, sound pedagogy rooted in Christian anthropology, and
effective supervision
● Coherent curriculum informed by the Catholic and Western intellectual tradition
● Evidence of student growth and thoughtful use of various forms of assessments
Faculty & Staff Culture
● Retention of mission-aligned faculty
● Regular supervision, evaluation, and formative feedback
● Positive staff morale and shared ownership of the mission
● Intellectual and spiritual friendship among the faculty
Community & Governance
● Productive working relationship with pastor, advisory bodies, and the Department of Catholic
schools
● Strong family engagement and confidence in leadership
● Effective communication and conflict management
Operational Vitality
● Balanced budgets and responsible financial stewardship
● Compliance with Archdiocesan policies and legal requirements
● Orderly, safe, and well-run school environment
IDEAL CHARACTER TRAITS
● Faithful, practicing Catholic with integrity of life
● A spirit of adventure and entrepreneurship
● Spiritual maturity and humility
● Courage to lead and make difficult decisions
● Intellectual curiosity and love of learning
● Sense of vocation and missionary discipleship
IDEAL COMPETENCIES
● Spiritual and instructional leadership
● Clear and compelling communication
● Faculty supervision, coaching, and evaluation
● Strategic and systems-level thinking
● Relational leadership and conflict navigation
● Organizational and operational management
● Ability to lead change while preserving tradition
IDEAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE
● Catholic doctrine and Christian morality
● The mission and history of Catholic education
● Sound pedagogy and child development
● Curriculum and assessment practices
● School finance, budgeting, and governance
● Relevant canonical, legal, and Archdiocesan policies
QUALIFICATIONS
● Practicing Roman Catholic in full communion with the Church
● Minimum three years of teaching and/or administrative experience
● Master’s degree (completed or in progress), preferably in education or liberal arts
● Basic Catechist Certification (or commitment to complete)
SALARY & BENEFITS
● Pay Range: $121,761-$234,431 annual base pay range. Credit for credentials, advanced degrees,
and certifications are in addition to base salary.
● Competitive salary aligned with Archdiocesan guidelines
● Comprehensive healthcare coverage
● Archdiocesan pension plan and optional 403(b)
● Paid time off
● Ongoing professional and spiritual formation
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application materials:
● Completed application
● Resume
● Official transcripts
● Proof of Catechist Certification (if obtained)
● Three letters of reference
● Written statement of philosophy of Catholic education (250–500 words)
Physical requirements for the position of school principal include:
Frequent computer use of keyboard and mouse (if applicable).
Sometimes sitting at a computer for long periods of time.
Frequent bending, reaching, stretching.
Qualified candidates will be invited to an initial interview with the Superintendent and HR Director prior
to consideration by the School Search Committee.
APPLYING FOR A PRINCIPALSHIP:
To apply:
1. Completed Application
2. Resume
3. Official transcript(s) of college and university work. If transcripts are from foreign
colleges or universities they must be reviewed by the Credentials Evaluation Service
(a form will be mailed to you)
4. Copy of Basic Catechist Certification*
5. Two current professional reference letters and one personal character reference letter
6. A brief written statement on your philosophy of Catholic education (250-500 words)
Application materials may be downloaded from the official DCS website by clicking on the following
link: www.sfarchdiocese.org/employment
The requested material plus a letter of interest should be submitted to C/o Christine
Escobar, escobarc@sfarch.org.
Once the completed application is received, qualified applicants will be invited to screening interview with
the Archdiocesan Superintendent and HR Director prior to submission to the School Search Committee.
Completing the application process does not guarantee an interview for a principal position, nor does it
assure hiring as a principal in the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
NOTICE OF NON-DISCRIMINATION
Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, all employees of the Archdiocese of San Francisco shall be employed without regard to race, color, sex, ethnic or
national origin and will consider for employment, qualified applicants with criminal histories