Full Time

Diocese of Cleveland: Office of Catholic Education - NDAA Regional Director

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland

NDAA Regional Director

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland was founded on April 23, 1847. Under the Leadership of the Most Reverend Edward C. Malesic, Bishop of Cleveland, it is the twenty-third largest diocese in the United States. With 106 Catholic schools serving over 40,000 students, it is the sixth largest Catholic school system in the nation.  There are 185 parishes, 1 pastoral center and 1 mission office within the Diocese. There are just under 700,000 Catholics in the Diocese’s eight counties, and Catholic Charities-Diocese of Cleveland is one of the largest diocesan systems of social services in the world.

Beginning in 2021, the Diocese of Cleveland entered into an agreement with the University of Notre Dame’s Alliance for Catholic Education (ACE) to support Catholic elementary schools through a partnership among the parishes who operate the schools, the university, and the diocese, making the schools Notre Dame ACE Academies (NDAA). Currently two schools in Greater Akron, the initiative will expand to include multiple Catholic elementary schools in Greater Cleveland.

The Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is seeking passionate, committed, experienced candidates for the role of Regional Director of Notre Dame ACE Academies. While a member of the Secretariat for Catholic Education who reports to the Superintendent’s Office, the Regional Director is primarily engaged in the field, serving the Notre Dame ACE Academy schools and supporting the school leaders in delivery of the NDAA model in each setting.

The Notre Dame ACE Academies (NDAA) formation program provides a Catholic education of the highest quality to as many children as possible in under-served communities. The Regional Director emphasizes continuous improvement in all aspects of schooling, including Catholic identity, operational vitality, and teaching and learning. The NDAA Regional Director provides leadership and supports the revitalization of schools and school communities. The NDAA Regional Director is a change agent who works collaboratively with principals and the diocese and responsively with the Notre Dame ACE Academy national team to create the necessary environment that results in strong character formation and dramatic and accelerated student achievement to form scholars and saints. In partnership with school leaders, the NDAA Regional Director serves as a catalyst to close the achievement gap, increase enrollment, improve overall school performance, and transform the life trajectories of the children and families they serve.

Primary duties and responsibilities:

• Develop and maintain a culture of care within and among the nested school communities: students, teachers, staff, families, and community.
• Build shared understanding of collective and individual goals and assess current reality in relation to those goals.
• Build and implement systems for goal development, enactment, and measurement.
• Participate in monthly learning triads (NDAA, Regional Director, Principals) focused on responsive support for teaching and learning goals.
• Design and lead effective adult learning, including delivering school professional development to facilitate grade-level collaboration, content, and pedagogy training.
• Facilitate Principal Professional Learning Communities to problem-solve challenges and ensure enactment of key change levers.
• Analyze student assessment data for action planning.
• Travel to the University of Notre Dame, participate in school visits, and attend professional development opportunities.
• Build and execute the NDAA Instructional and Coaching Framework, to drive excellence in teaching and learning.
• Actively seek ways to nurture his/her personal faith and can share faith with others in the community.
• Provide coaching for leadership teams, school leaders, and identified teachers.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Practicing Catholic in good standing with a Catholic parish/faith community, committed to the mission and teachings of the Church.
• Master’s degree in education, Educational Leadership, Educational Administration, Curriculum & Instruction, or a closely related field.
• At least three (3) years of successful experience as principal of a Catholic elementary school (OR five years of combined Catholic school administrative leadership).
• Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to interpret and analyze local, state and federal laws relative to Diocesan policies and procedures.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Catholic school identity, governance models, parish leadership structures, and canonical considerations affecting Catholic schools.
• Ability to motivate diverse groups of people and the ability to work effectively with and lead committees.
• Ability to think strategically, anticipate future consequences and trends, and incorporate them into the organizational plan, in collaboration with the school principals, diocesan superintendent (or designee), and related boards or councils
• Excellent organizational and communication skills, both verbal and written, including the ability to conduct training programs and presentations.
• Excellent interpersonal and public relations skills.
• Working knowledge of the budgeting process.
• Proficiency with technology and basic office software and willingness to learn school technology systems used by the diocese, its schools, and the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce.
• Requires understanding of general principles of office operations and Microsoft Office 365, particularly how to use Microsoft Excel and CSV files. Must be proficient in both written and verbal communication. Must have the ability to effectively communicate with individuals whose technical capabilities may vary broadly from one to another, both in-person and through email, chat, MS Teams and various other virtual services.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Ohio State Principal or Superintendent Licensure (or eligibility).
• Five or more years of administrative leadership experience in Catholic education.
• Experience in strategic planning, change management, or school system-level leadership.
• Experience supervising professional staff or leading multi-site teams.
• Experience with school accreditation, curriculum review, or quality-assurance processes.
• Experience facilitating conflict resolution or stakeholder engagement in a parish/school environment.

Working Conditions:

The work of the position is generally performed in an office setting, in person

This position may require an occasional evening or weekend meeting.

A successful candidate should expect to do extensive close computer work.

Frequent travel to schools and parishes within the eight-county Diocese.

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described above are representative of the physical capabilities that must be met by an employee and the working conditions that an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

To Apply:

Please submit cover letter, resume, and a completed Diocese of Cleveland Employment application, including contact information for three (3) professional references.

Position will remain open until it is filled.

Salary Range:

$75,000 - $95,000 annually

Range

Employment Application PDF