President of Saint John Paul II High School

St. John Paul II High School, in Windsor, CO, is hiring a President beginning with the 2024-2025 school year. The mission of St. John Paul II High School is to offer an integrated classical curriculum, robust spiritual formation in the Catholic faith, and virtue based human formation that comes through the study of the liberal arts. The academic program helps students to learn the skills of logical thought in both the arts and sciences, critical analysis of great works of literature, a deeper knowledge of faith, and clear and creative expression in writing. Reporting to the governing Board of Trustees, the President is responsible for the overall vision, strategy, and management of the organization and ensuring they are aligned with the vision for Catholic Education of St. John Paul II High School.

Mission Statement

The mission of St. John Paul II High School is to advance the intellectual, spiritual, and human formation within Catholic Tradition by boldly leading all students toward “knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Eph 4:13)

History and Purpose

In 2019, Archbishop Samuel J. Aquila declared his desire for the first Catholic high school to be formed in Northern Colorado. After years of prayer and work, the St. John Paul II High School, the first and only Catholic high school in Northern Colorado, opened its doors in Windsor, CO on August 17, 2020.  The purpose of establishing JPIIHS was to ensure that the minds and souls of students might be formed as disciples through an integrated, and Catholic education.

We believe that all truths are related to the central truth of the Incarnation, Crucifixion, and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Faith and Reason do not contradict one another, nor are they to be segregated from one another. Through the study of art, music, literature, language, history, mathematics, science, philosophy, and theology, we want to prepare our students to think rationally and creatively, to defend their faith, to contribute positively to society, and to promote a culture of life.

While we cannot make students into disciples of Christ, we hope by their attending JPIIHS that they will be well prepared for both a temporal and eternal life—that they might choose to be good citizens and saints.

School Vision

The vision for the school is predicated upon the following: Intellectual formation, Catholic spiritual formation, and Human Formation. The school’s curriculum is designed to provide rigorous academic material and pedagogical sequencing sufficient to form men and woman who, upon their graduation, have mastered essential college-preparatory academic content, and are capable of profound rational thought. The school guides its students to full maturity in their personal relationship to Christ, living as a disciple and fulfilling their vocation. The school assists students in becoming psychologically and morally mature men and women who live virtuous lives and who are prepared to function productively within the secular world.

The Position

The President will first and foremost, have a deep commitment to following Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, and possess a deep love for the Catholic Church and her teachings, expressed through their credible and joyful witness and desire to make Jesus known, loved, and served. Their love for Christ and the Church will be integrated and evident in all areas of their life, as a Catholic in good standing with the Church. The President works in collaboration with the school Headmaster, the faculty, staff, and the Board of Trustees to guide the work of the organization. The President works with their team to create the strategic direction for the school’s growth and success, while ensuring adequate resources and supporting strategic management positions. With nearly $25 million dollars already raised, the President will also provide the bold and visionary leadership necessary to complete the fundraising for and oversee the completion of a new campus for St. John Paul II High School. While the ideal candidate will possess the aptitude and skills for the above priorities, he or she must have a passion for Catholic education and hold deeply the belief that a Catholic education, “is an engine of evangelization for the Church and the culture.” (ICLE)

Essential Duties

The School President’s duties, responsibilities, obligations, and expectations are proper to the ecclesiastical office they assume as a minister of the Catholic Church. Duties, responsibilities, obligations, and expectations shall include, without limitation:

·       Serve as the chief communicator in advancing the mission of the school promoting the school’s educational culture and partnering with the Headmaster and School Board to enhance excellence committed to virtue, discipleship, fidelity to the Catholic Church, and joyful witness to the Catholic faith;

·       Provide leadership and support to the Headmaster to drive excellence in the school’s academic and intellectual formation program centered on the Catholic liberal arts;

·       Determine and oversee the school’s organizational structure to ensure long-term operational vitality;

·       Build upon current strategic efforts, establish strategic planning processes, and provide a structure to ensure that strategic priorities are well developed, attainable, accomplished, and support future vitality;

·       Secure and protect the School’s ties with the Catholic community through cooperation and communion with the Church, Church hierarchy, and the leadership of the Archdiocese of Denver;

·       Optimize the School’s resources and assets to position the School to effectively anticipate and otherwise respond to changing trends, emerging risks, and opportunities and ensuring the School’s financial stability and plan for growth in coming years;

·       Provide leadership and support to achieve fundraising and enrollment goals and objectives;

·       Administer, oversee, and manage the financial affairs of the John Paul II High School assuring that school is fiscally responsible pursuant to best practices in non-profit accounting and connected to the transcendentals of truth, goodness, and beauty;

·       Provide leadership for oversight and soliciting of financial support for the major building campaign managing relationships with local donors, the project manager, architect, and Headmaster to ensure the key milestones are accomplished and the facilities best support the needs of Saint John Paul II High School to carry out its mission;

·       Formulate with the Board of Trustees, review, and intervene when necessary in policy creation and compliance

Minimum Requirements

The following are considered minimum requirements the position:

·       Must be fully initiated Catholic in the communion of the Catholic Church and intentionally living out the five precepts of the Church (CCC 2041-2043);

·       Assent to the Church’s teachings on all matters, with particular care for those concerning the nature of the human person, sexual ethics, and sexual morality;

·       Refrain from the public promotion or approval of, or the living out of, any conduct or lifestyle that would reflect, discredit or disgrace on, or cause scandal in relationship to, the school, or considered to be in contradiction with Catholic doctrine or morals;

·       Have a strong commitment to the importance of the Catholic school ministry to the mission of the Church;

·       Possess graduate-level academic credentials and/or professional background in education, non-profit management, business, leadership, or related field;

·       Be committed to the Saint John Paul II’s vision and philosophy for Catholic education;

·       Be committed to a Catholic educational program rooted in the liberal arts, the foundations of Western civilization, an understanding of history that highlights the essential contributions of Christianity to the development of Western culture, and literature that enables young men and women to grapple with big questions of life in pursuit of what is true, good, and beautiful;

·       Be an exceptional communicator- competent speaker and writer

·       Convey exceptional executive presence, communication, and relationship-building skills across a broad range of constituents

·       Possess a strong, positive, can-do attitude, with a strong bias for action based on realistic, specific, and attainable goals;

·       Demonstrate good judgment, discretion, and confidentiality;

·       Know how to complement and cultivate the skill set and leadership styles of the Headmaster, and other staff at the school

If interested, please email your cover letter and resume to Annette Leazer, Treasurer of JPII Board of Trustees at annette@leazerconsulting.com.