Reporting Functions: Reports to the Vicar General and the Board of Directors of Catholic Education
Job Function: The Superintendent for Catholic Education provides educational direction to the Board and serves as the link between the Board, schools, and school administrators. The Superintendent for Catholic Education shall be the chief operating officer of the Secretariat for Evangelization, Education and Formation.
Duties and Responsibilities:
The Superintendent for Catholic Education's duties shall include the following:
(a) The Superintendent shall have authority over the following:
1. Hiring of high school principals recommended by the local high school Board of Directors, which hiring must be subject to the prior written approval of the Bishop through issuance of an episcopal appointment letter. The Board is to be informed of any candidates recommended to the Bishop by the Superintendent.
2. Termination of high school principals with or without cause, which termination must be subject to Diocesan policies and prior consultation with the Diocesan Office of Human Resources. The Board and Bishop are to be timely informed before any such action is taken.
3. Participation in a cooperative manner in searches for the selection of elementary school principals, with elementary school Boards and Pastors (or may delegate such authority). The Superintendent is to timely inform the Board and the Bishop of such activity.
4. Development of a secular curriculum (or may delegate such responsibility to the Superintendent of Catholic Education), and development of a Catholic/religious studies curriculum. The Board is to be timely informed of all activity concerning development of a secular curriculum, and the Bishop is to be timely informed concerning all activity involving development of a Catholic/religious studies curriculum, the latter of which is subject to the Bishop's approval.
5. Administrative, operational and personnel management decisions within the Secretariat for Education. The Superintendent shall be responsible and answerable to the Board for non-secular administrative, operational and personnel management decisions (which responsibility may be delegated). The Board is to be timely informed of such activity.
6. Formulating recommendations to the Bishop concerning administrative decisions that impact Diocesan schools and the schools' Catholicity. The Board is to be informed and consulted concerning such activity, and the approval of the Bishop is required for all recommendations with Catholicity implications.
(b) The Superintendent shall be responsible for the following:
1. The Catholic identity of schools. The Superintendent shall consult with the Bishop and Board concerning the same, and shall be answerable to the Bishop concerning the same.
2. Matters involving the faith, morals and teachings of the Roman Catholic Church in all schools consistent with the leadership of the Bishop. The Superintendent shall consult with the Bishop and be answerable to the Bishop concerning the same.
3. Proposing changes, when needed, in the operating principles for elementary schools, Bylaws for special learning centers and Bylaws for high schools, and shall consult with the Board concerning the same.
4. Diocesan-wide school strategic planning. All such plans shall require approval by the Board and approval by the Bishop.
5. Diocesan-wide school policies. All such policies shall require approval by the Board, and approval by the Bishop.
6. Diocesan-wide comprehensive Catholic schools enrollment, marketing, finance, budget, fundraising and development, and to propose to the Board plans for the same, which are subject to the approval by the Board. The Bishop is to be notified of such activity.
7. Management of the budget of the Secretariat for Evangelization Education and Formation, which budget is subject to the approval of and ongoing oversight by the Board. Any proposed budget must also receive approval by the Bishop.
8. To report to and be subject to the directives issued and policies established by the Bishop and the Board.
9. Implementation of the Strategic Plan approved by the Board.
10. To be sensitive to and cooperative with the strategic priorities and the prioritized and integrated financial strategy of the Diocese of Allentown.
11. To attend the regularly scheduled Diocesan Secretaries meetings with the Bishop and Vicar General.
12. Developing a cooperative relationship with and between Catholic schools.
13. Proper and sound fiscal management of the Secretariat for Evangelization, Education, and Formation.
14. Reporting to the Board and serving as an ex officio non-voting member of the Board.
15. Identifying any proposed participation in any government programs, all of which must be brought to the prior attention of the Board, and all of which must receive the prior approval of the Bishop before any government contracts, government funding or government programs may be agreed to and/or entered into.
16. Engaging the local community, undertaking analysis and making recommendations to the Board concerning school consolidations, closures and mergers, subject to standards established by the Board in such matters, and to receive the approval or disapproval of all such recommendations from the Board. Any such recommendations must also receive approval from the Bishop.
17. Ensuring excellence and competitiveness in all Catholic schools concerning curriculum matters, and evaluating the performance of all Catholic schools against any matrix established by the Board for this purpose.
18. Development and implementation of a plan for expansion of Catholic educational opportunities among minorities and the disadvantaged.
(c) The Superintendent shall be consulted for input about the following:
1. School strategic planning and decision making concerning all Catholic schools. The Board is also to be consulted and offer input. The Bishop is to be timely informed of such activity.
2. School personnel management. The Board and the Bishop are to be timely informed of such activity.
3. School tuition levels and amounts, and to consult the Board concerning the same.
4. Termination of elementary school principals, which must be subject to the prior consultation of the Diocesan Office of Human Resources. The Board and the Bishop of Allentown are to be timely informed of such activity.
5. Parish religious education programming. The Board and the Bishop are to be timely informed of such activity.
6. Building projects involving Catholic schools. The Board and the Bishop are to be timely informed of such activity.
Educational Requirements:
Master’s degree in Education, Education Administration or related field required; Doctorate degree highly preferred.
Other Requirements:
1) Must be of the Roman Catholic faith, shall give witness (both in words and in actions) to the Roman Catholic Church's teachings and moral truths and values, both in his/her personal life and in his/her professional life.
2) Must be a Roman Catholic, in communion with the Church according to the provisions of Canon 149, as revised in 1983.
3) Prior to appointment as Superintendent of Catholic Education, the candidate must provide a letter from his or her Pastor attesting to the active participation of such person in the life of the parish.
6) Must possess a willingness to work within an atmosphere of Christian principles.
7) Knowledge of and familiarity with Diocesan structure is recommended.
8) High level communication and interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate clearly and effectively with all levels of staff, clergy, external board members, donors and the media.
9) High energy level, flexible personality and ability to work well with a wide range of styles and personalities, both internally and externally
10) Must have the ability to work collaboratively with initiative and flexibility. A strong sense of confidentiality and integrity is required.
11) Team-oriented, proactive and collaborative business partner with outstanding leadership skills and the ability to manage both professional and support staff.
12) Valid driver’s license.
Physical Demands: The employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, talk, and hear both in person and by telephone; frequent use of equipment that includes repetitive motions and computer eye fatigue. Occasionally required to reach and lift with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, lift and/or move up to 10 pounds. Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word; hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels; visual acuity is required for preparing and analyzing written or computer data, determining the accuracy and thoroughness of work, and observing general surroundings and activities.
Working Conditions: Normal office environment. FT 35 hours/week, Monday – Friday 8:30am to 4:30 pm. Some evening and weekend work is required.
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and requirements.
Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to:
The Diocese of Allentown comprises five counties in Pennsylvania, including Lehigh, Berks, Carbon, Northampton and Schuylkill. Catholic population is 252,088. Please visit our website at www.allentowndiocese.org
