Principal - Salesianum School

Salesianum School
Wilmington, DE
Catholic School Principal and Administration Jobs

Salesianum School, a premier independent Catholic boys’ school located in Wilmington, Delaware, operates under the President-Principal model. After a long and successful tenure, the current Principal will be stepping down at the end of the academic year, and so the School seeks a mission-driven, visionary, and relational leader to serve as its next Principal beginning July 1, 2026. Rooted in the spirituality of Francis de Sales, the school is renowned for its strong spiritual identity, academic rigor, commitment to the arts and athletics, and especially for its deep sense of community. To quote from a Senior’s speech at last year’s graduation “Salesianum is a place of love. That love flows among our brotherhood. It’s a love that pushes us to be our best selves. The love that brings us closer to God every day is what makes Salesianum so special.”

The Principal will join an incredibly well-resourced institution poised for continued growth, both programmatically and physically.

With applications and enrollment on a steady rise, Salesianum serves 981 students from more than 100 feeder schools across four states. At a tuition of $21,000, it stands not only as the largest private school in Delaware, but also as the state’s most widely recognized educational institution. Uniquely positioned at the crossroads of Delaware’s civic, business, and religious life, Salesianum maintains strong ties with constituents and community leaders alike, making its impact felt far beyond campus. The school boasts an endowment of $40 million, state-of-the-art athletic facilities, a well maintained campus adapted for today’s curriculum, a wellness center for mental health counseling, and very little debt. Furthermore, based on the generous financial support of alumni and friends of the school, Salesianum is committed to remaining accessible to all families. Indeed, more than forty percent of all students receive financial aid.

This is a rare opportunity to lead from a position of strength and to have a lasting impact on an already thriving school community

Key Objectives & Opportunities
The next Principal of Salesianum School will enter a dynamic, mission-rich environment filled with promise. The following are key opportunities and associated leadership challenges:

  • Nurture a Culture of Care and Formation: As a school deeply rooted in the Salesian tradition, Salesianum values strong relationships, the presence of faithful adult role models in the lives of students, and holistic formation of the boys and young men entrusted to their care. The Principal will be expected to continue to champion these values and help faculty and staff deepen their own vocation as educators and mentors.
  • Articulate and Lead a Bold Academic Vision: The school seeks a Principal who will continue the positive evolution of Salesianum’s curriculum, working collaboratively with faculty and the academic team to build a forward-looking, innovative approach to teaching and learning, with a special emphasis on experiential learning models.
  • Support the Arts and Strategic Growth: With major new investment in the arts on the horizon, the Principal will have the opportunity to shape programming, hire talent, and establish new academic and co-curricular pathways in the creative disciplines.
  • Strengthen Collaboration and Culture: Salesianum benefits from a strong spirit of collegiality and a dedicated faculty and staff. The next Principal will have the opportunity to build upon this positive foundation by encouraging even deeper cross-functional collaboration, and empowering others to lead, contribute, and grow.
  • Continue to Support the School’s Historic Mission of Access & Affordability: With a student body that is 80% Catholic and 26% racially and ethnically diverse, the school is committed to forming young men of faith, character, and compassion. The Principal must embrace this mission and join in the work to create an inclusive community.

Qualifications and Personal Attributes

Salesianum seeks a Principal who is spiritually grounded, academically astute, and relationally gifted. The ideal candidate will possess the following qualities and qualifications:

  • Practicing Catholic with a deep personal faith, a lived commitment to the Church, and commitment to Salesian spirituality.
  • Proven leadership experience, with demonstrated success in academic program development, faculty engagement, and community-building.
  • Understanding and appreciation of the unique needs and challenges of educating boys.
  • Master’s degree required.
  • Mission-Driven communicator with exceptional written and oral communication skills, capable of articulating the school’s mission with clarity and inspiration to diverse audiences.
  • Teacher at heart who genuinely enjoys working with young people and understands the classroom experience from a place of personal practice and passion.
  • Collaborative and empathetic leader who listens deeply, values diverse opinions, and empowers others through mentorship and delegation. 
  • Strategic thinker and pragmatic innovator who brings fresh ideas grounded in research and practice, and the ability to implement them within a well-established and tradition-rich institution. 
  • Visible and relational presence, able to be actively engaged in the life of the school.
  • Strong cultural competency, capable of leading a diverse school community on a large stage, with grace, humility, and conviction.

This is an extraordinary moment in Salesianum’s history. The next Principal will inherit an exceptional foundation and be invited to lead boldly into the future, enhancing academic excellence, deepening the school’s Catholic mission, and inspiring a new generation of young men to live lives imbued with gentle strength, confident in being exactly who God has called them to be.

To Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:

  • A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
  • A current résumé;
  • A completed Candidate Questionnaire (to be provided by consultants);
  • A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate’s permission) to:
    • Charlie Britton | Senior Consultant | charles.britton@carneysandoe.com
    • Barbara Daush | Senior Consultant and Catholic Schools Practice Leader | barbara.daush@carneysandoe.com
    • Tom Lengel | Senior Consultant | tom.lengel@carneysandoe.com