Alliance for Catholic Education
Marist High School is seeking a faith-filled, visionary leader to fulfill the role of Director of Mission Engagement and Religious Studies for the 2025-26 school year. Marist High School is a Catholic co-ed school located on the southside of Chicago. The mission of Marist High School is to make Jesus Christ known and loved in the Marist Brothers’ tradition, while preparing students for higher education and life. To learn more about Marist High School, visit our website: https://www.marist.net/
Position Title: Director of Mission Engagement and Religious Studies
Start Date: August 2025
Contact: Elaine Gaffney, Director of Teaching and Learning, gaffney.elaine@marist.net ; Interested candidates should apply by April 23, 2025.
Minimum Requirements
Commitment to the Marist Brothers’ principles as set forth in Marist’s mission statement
Illinois Professional Educator's Licence Preferred
Bachelor's degree in Theology, Religious Studies, Education, or related field Required.
Masters Degree Preferred
A strong personal faith commitment and active involvement in the Catholic Church.
Prior teaching experience in religious education, campus ministry, or a related field.
Demonstrated leadership experience, including the ability to mentor and guide both students and faculty.
Strong communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
Minimum Competencies
Strong and experienced collaborator
Engaging and approachable
Clear and consistent communicator able to build common ground in a diverse setting
Advocate for students and teachers
Highly organized and capable of multitasking
Ability to engage others in difficult conversations and manage conflict
Effective communication skills both in the verbal and written form
Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a variety of stakeholders
Ability to exercise initiative and good judgment
Essential Responsibilities
Mission Engagement and Faith Formation Responsibilities
Prioritize faith formation, through a Marist lens
Co-create a clear vision for the path between formation and information
Increase meaningful service opportunities for students
Create and sustain adult faith formation opportunities for faculty and staff
Liturgical season offerings for Lent and Advent
Coordinate an annual faculty/staff retreat
Collaborate with the Director of Campus Ministry on liturgy preparation, sacramental opportunities and prayer services
Collaborate with the Director of Teaching and Learning to create and facilitate new teacher orientation/mission development program
Participate in Sharing our Call and Sharing our Mission
Works directly with other members of the school leadership team on mission-driven initiatives as they related to the culture of the school, including but not limited to the development of a sports and spirituality program, plans for the annual faculty retreat, and a review of student activities
Curriculum, Instruction and Leadership Responsibilities
As an instructional leader, this person is the facilitator, supervisor, and evaluator of the curriculum and instruction within the Religion department. They are responsible for ensuring that the mission and vision of the school are evident and executed in the Religion department. Working as a consensus builder, the individual will coordinate collaborative communication between school leadership and the members of their department.
Teach a course(s) in the department.
Advise the Administrative Team and members of the department on issues of curriculum and instruction.
Evaluate and oversee the updating of scope and sequence, software and application usage, GVC, course syllabi, textbook lists, gradebook audits, Canvas course pages, formative and summative assessments, and assessment data on a continuous basis.
Communicate and consult with the Administrative Team about concerns regarding individual teachers.
Actively contribute to department chair team meetings.
Collaborate in the scheduling of teacher assignments.
Assist in facilitating and conducting interviews with prospective teachers.
Facilitate and lead department meetings, create functional teams, maintain agendas and the department budget and materials, maintain and regularly update the department’s Google folder, lead the creation of the department’s Open House display, work with development to market the department to prospective families, and work with the department on new course proposals.
Oversee team meetings, agendas, interaction and progress as well as provide regular feedback to teams and respond to team minutes.
Develop a plan and process for continuous growth and improvement in the department’s curriculum and overall effectiveness in the implementation of the academic vision and mission of the school.
Facilitate the book and materials ordering process for the department.
Communicate and address concerns as teachers, student or parent issues arise.
Build collaborative working relationships with the teachers regarding their teaching practice through the Marist Evaluation Model including:
a. Observing and providing formative and summative evaluations in the 4 Domains of Teaching: Planning and Preparation, Classroom Environment, Instruction, and Professional Responsibilities
b. Conferencing with teachers
c. Providing helpful resources as needed
d. Making recommendations for continuing growth and improvement, including professional development opportunities and/or remediation plans as necessary
e. Working with the teacher, Dean of Student Success and Director of Teaching and Learning to address teaching and learning concerns as needed
Willingness to meet before and/or after the school year and during the summer prior to teacher arrival