Assistant Principal for Academics - Cristo Rey Jesuit High School

Job Title: Assistant Principal for Academics Department: Academics
Reports to: Principal Classification: Exempt
Schedule: 12 Months Start Date: July 2025

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, a Jesuit, college-preparatory, co-educational school for grades 9-12, is seeking an Assistant Principal for Academics. The ideal candidate will be dedicated to Catholic education and passionate about supporting a diverse community of learners. This leadership role focuses on developing students holistically, encompassing academic achievement, spiritual growth, and a commitment to serving others.

As a key member of the administrative team, the Assistant Principal collaborates with the Principal, faculty, counselors, and parents to uphold and enhance the school’s academic policies, culture, traditions, and Ignatian values. This role supports Cristo Rey Jesuit’s mission to prepare young men and women as leaders and “people for others” through rigorous, Jesuit-based college preparation.

In partnership with the Principal, the Assistant Principal provides strategic leadership, supervision, and evaluations, ensuring that the school fulfills its mission to nurture students’ talents and character. This role is integral to fostering a community where faith, love, service, and leadership thrive through exceptional teaching and formative experiences.

Primary Responsibilities

Curriculum, Planning, and Academic Program
 Collaborate with the Principal in planning and approving curriculum to support academic excellence and alignment with the school’s mission.
 Supervise the Registrar in managing student and faculty schedules, exams, grade reporting, classroom oversight, and the annual production of the course description book; provide additional support as needed.
 Lead updates to the Student Handbook Planner, ensuring current policies and academic guidelines are clearly communicated.
 Oversee the course scheduling process for faculty and students to optimize learning and teaching resources.

Faculty & Staff Development
 Partner with the Principal to support faculty in effective instruction, positive student engagement, and adherence to academic policies.
 Work with the Administrative Team to coordinate teacher evaluations and provide professional development opportunities.
 Organize a series of meetings with first-year faculty to orient them to the school’s Ignatian mission and academic vision.
 Support the Administrative Team with the administration of Title Funding for faculty development and resources.

Data, Grading, and Assessments
 Collaborate with departments to ensure alignment in assessments, scope, and sequence, promoting cohesive educational standards across subjects.
 Assist in gathering and analyzing data to evaluate student progress toward school-wide performance goals, course objectives, and departmental outcomes.
 Oversee electronic grade reporting, honor roll generation, and transcript management to maintain accurate and timely academic records.
 Manage compliance reporting to ensure accreditation standards are met consistently.
 Serve as the Advanced Placement coordinator, supporting AP programming and student success.

School Administration
 Serve as Acting Principal in the Principal’s absence.
 Assist the Principal in recruiting and hiring faculty and staff to maintain a dedicated and skilled team.
 Oversee faculty absences, ensuring classroom coverage and continuity of instruction.
 Lead regular meetings with Department Facilitators to support academic leadership and collaboration.
 Collaborate with the Director for Student Services on key initiatives, including graduation, testing days, and classroom technology integration.
 Partner with the Academic Leadership Team to interpret and uphold academic policies, determine eligibility for athletics and co-curricular activities, and approve course placements for students.
 Address parent and student concerns regarding courses, grades, teachers, and academic policies, and communicate proactively about student performance, summer school, and remediation.
 Advise students facing significant academic challenges, providing guidance and support for improvement.
 Oversee the College Counseling Department and Library to ensure resources align with the school’s academic mission.
 Engage with both internal and external groups, serving on committees to foster a shared purpose, understanding, and teamwork while promoting the school’s mission and vision.
 Collaborate closely with the Admissions team and serve as a member of the admissions committee.
 Maintain communication with the Jesuit Schools Network of assistant principals for academics, Cristo Rey Network colleagues, and Archdiocesan assistant principals to share insights and best practices.
 Perform other duties as assigned to support the school’s mission and administrative needs.

Job Qualifications

The Assistant Principal will be a person who is engaging, organized, well rounded, and who facilitates growth and collaboration inside and outside of the classroom. Additionally, she/he will:
 Provide evidence of an ability and commitment to furthering the Jesuit, Catholic mission and identity of the school.
 Have a minimum of five years of relevant professional experience with an advanced degree in educational administration or a related field.
 Demonstrate a commitment to connect on a deep level with Latino students and their families, leveraging multicultural competencies to effect positive and culturally responsive changes within the academic program.
 Show a demonstrated track record of success in teaching in addition to academic leadership experience in a variety of school settings.
 Possess a Type 75/General Administrative Endorsement or its equivalent (must be earned within three years if not at date of hiring).

Competencies

 Master teacher / Academic leader
 Engaging and approachable
 Practicing Catholic preferred
 Communicator & collaborator
 Conversant in Spanish required
 Understand adolescent development
 Ability to delegate
 Able to balance a variety of competing priorities
 Bold & decisive in decision making – able to take a risk

To Apply:

Please submit a cover letter and resume to: www.cristorey.net/careers

Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
Founded by the Jesuits in 1996, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School provides a Catholic, college preparatory education and professional work experience to students from Spanish-speaking families across the southwest side of Chicago who, because of limited financial means, would otherwise be unable to afford it. To make the school both affordable and sustainable, Cristo Rey pioneered the Corporate Work Study Program (CWSP) model for inner-city education that has inspired a national network of 32 schools serving low-income communities across the country. The CWSP enables all students to earn a majority of their annual tuition by working one school day a week in an entry-level position for a corporation in the Chicago area.

Jesuit Schools Network and Cristo Rey Network
Cristo Rey is sponsored by the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits), the largest religious order in the Roman Catholic Church, and is well known in the United States with over 50 high school and 28 colleges and universities. Cristo Rey is a member of the Jesuit Schools Network, the national association of Jesuit schools in the United States and Canada. Additionally, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School is a member of the Cristo Rey Network, the national association of schools operating on the Cristo Rey model. Currently, there are 32 high schools serving 10,000 students throughout the country that are associated through the Cristo Rey Network and operate using the educational model named for the first school in Chicago.