Principal

School Name: Stella Maris Academy
Location: 7654 Herschel Ave, La Jolla, CA 92037
Employment Type: Full Time
FLSA Status: Exempt
Salary Description: $90-$105K, commensurate with experience
Start Date:  July 1, 2027, 2027-28 School Year

The Diocese of San Diego is seeking a qualified, experienced, and transformational educational leader who is deeply committed to furthering the development of the faith life and academic excellence of Stella Maris Academy Catholic School, a single-classroom Transitional Kindergarten through 8th-grade parish school located in La Jolla, California. The school currently has an enrollment of approximately 110 students, Transitional Kindergarten through 8th grade. To learn more about Stella Maris Academy Catholic School, visit: https://stellamarisacademy.org/

Stella Maris Academy Catholic School’s mission is grounded in Catholic principles and tradition that provides a rigorous, differentiated, and faith-based education that promotes the development of the whole child and empowers all students to live in the image of Christ by being active members of the church, lifelong learners, and stewards of our local and global communities. 

The principal, as a delegate of the Pastor and the Diocese, under the immediate supervision of the pastor, has immediate responsibility for implementing the school's philosophy and vision in its regular operations. A school principal has the responsibility to:

•  Implement the Mission, Vision, and Philosophy of the school in its regular operations
• Administer the total school program 
• Supervise and evaluate: a) Professional personnel; b) Auxiliary support staff; c) Students 
• Provide instructional leadership in accordance with the Office for School's Academic Excellence initiatives 
• Monitor the financial operations of the school (in conjunction with the school bookkeeper) and report to the Pastor, Office for Schools, Parish Finance Council, and Diocesan Finance Office  
• Other school-specific responsibilities will include attending parish staff meetings, quarterly finance council meetings, monthly parent-teacher group meetings (PTG), and bi-monthly advisory council meetings throughout the year
• Oversee the social media and school-wide fundraiser events

Religious:  

• Be a practicing Roman Catholic with a strong understanding of the Catholic faith 
• Be a leader/facilitator of the school faith community 
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to the development of his/her own faith and that of the parents, teachers, and students 
• Demonstrate an understanding and dedication to the ministry of Catholic education 
• Be a spiritual leader for the school

Professional:

• Have a minimum of three years successful administrative experience in Catholic Schools
• Have a Master’s Degree in Educational Administration and/or California Administrative Credential or a Master’s Degree in the area of Education and a Catholic Leadership Certificate.
• Have the ability to verbalize and clarify the philosophy and vision of Catholic School Education based upon church documents relevant to Catholic education
• Demonstrate leadership ability in past or present educational experiences  

Deadline for Resume and Cover Letter

Thursday, December 31, 2026 or until the position is filled. 

Physical Demands:

While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to remain in an office at a computer workstation and access information from a computer and use a telephone. The employee is required to be mobile to, from, and within the school, as well as maneuver throughout the parish/school facility to attend meetings, briefings, and other work-related events. The employee may be required to conduct trips to, from, and within various city and county-wide locations to attend meetings or events. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15 pounds.

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Please note this position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

The Catholic Diocese of San Diego is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, gender, national origin, genetics, disability, age or veteran status.

Notice of AI Use in Job Application Review

As part of our commitment in creating a fair, efficient, and consistent hiring process we may use artificial intelligence (AI) to help our recruiting teams organize, summarize, and analyze information provided by candidates, including resumes, application responses, and other materials submitted during the application process.AI may be used to identify patterns, highlight relevant skills, and experience, and assist in comparing a candidate’s qualifications with the requirement of a specific role. These tools are to improve efficiency and consistency while supporting more informed hiring decisions, which will ultimately be made by the hiring team.