Principal

Erie Preparatory Academy is seeking a mission-driven Principal who is passionate about Christian education, academic excellence, student formation, and building a strong school culture for a diverse student body. The ideal candidate is a visible, relational, and highly capable educational leader who can support faculty, engage families, and help lead a growing college-preparatory school serving both domestic and international students.
Erie Preparatory Academy is a private, faith-based preparatory school in Erie, Pennsylvania, committed to truth-centered education, strong character formation, academic rigor, and meaningful student support. As a growing institution, Erie Prep values leaders who are adaptable, organized, spiritually grounded, and willing to contribute across multiple areas of school life.
Position OverviewThe Principal serves as the senior academic and instructional leader of Erie Preparatory Academy and reports to the Executive Director. The Principal provides leadership in academics, school culture, faculty supervision, student support, and day-to-day school operations. This role is responsible for helping ensure that Erie Prep delivers a Christ-centered, college-preparatory educational experience marked by high expectations, strong relationships, and a safe, orderly, and mission-aligned learning environment.Primary Duties and Responsibilities
Academic Leadership

• Lead the academic program of the school, including curriculum oversight, instructional quality, academic planning, and continuous improvement across grade levels and subject areas.
• Ensure the school maintains a rigorous college-preparatory environment that supports a range of learners, including students in regular, advanced, and ESL coursework.
• Support teachers in effective lesson design, classroom management, assessment practices, and student engagement.
• Promote consistent academic expectations, data-informed decision-making, and accountability for student growth and achievement.
• Collaborate with faculty and school leadership to strengthen course offerings, dual-enrollment or college-credit opportunities, and pathways that prepare students for college and life.
• Oversee academic policies, grading practices, progress monitoring, and intervention systems for students who need additional support.

Faculty Leadership and Development

• Supervise, support, and evaluate teachers and academic staff in a manner that promotes growth, accountability, and instructional excellence.
• Lead faculty meetings, instructional planning processes, and professional development efforts aligned with Erie Prep’s mission, academic goals, and student needs. 
• Partner with senior leadership in the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of strong mission-aligned faculty and staff.  
• Foster a professional culture marked by collaboration, ownership, flexibility, respectful communication, and commitment to the school’s Christian values. 
• Provide coaching and feedback to teachers while helping develop future instructional and school leaders from within the organization.  

Student Life and Family Partnership

• Help cultivate a Christ-centered student culture that supports spiritual growth, academic responsibility, personal maturity, and respectful conduct. 
• Work closely with students and families to address academic concerns, behavioral matters, attendance issues, and student support needs.  
• Build strong, transparent, and responsive relationships with families while reinforcing the school’s standards and expectations.  
• Participate in parent–teacher conferences, family meetings, orientation programming, and other key touchpoints that strengthen school-home partnership. 
• Support student placement, scheduling, discipline processes, and intervention planning as needed.  

Mission, Culture, and Community Leadership

• Model and champion Erie Preparatory Academy’s Christian mission, values, and commitment to truth-centered education in all aspects of leadership. 
• Serve as a visible presence in the daily life of the school, building trust with students, faculty, staff, and families.  
• Contribute to the overall spiritual, academic, and cultural climate of the academy by reinforcing high standards, servant leadership, and Christ-like conduct. 
• Represent the school professionally in meetings, partnerships, recruitment conversations, and public-facing events as assigned.  
• Support the development of a school culture that is welcoming, structured, and responsive to the needs of both domestic and international students.  

School Operations and Administration

• Partner with the Executive Director and administrative team to support the effective day-to-day operation of the school.  
• Help oversee student schedules, faculty coverage, academic calendars, handbooks, and other school systems and documents.  
• Ensure compliance with school policies, academic requirements, and applicable reporting or documentation processes.  
• Assist in planning and executing major school events, including orientation, academic ceremonies, graduation, student activities, and other required functions.  
• Demonstrate comfort working in a growing school environment where priorities may shift and leaders must respond with flexibility, sound judgment, and initiative.  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree required; PhD preferred.  
• Demonstrated successful experience in school leadership, academic administration, or instructional supervision.  
• Strong background in teaching and learning, curriculum oversight, faculty coaching, and student support.  
• Commitment to Christian education and ability to actively support the mission, values, and spiritual life of Erie Preparatory Academy. 
• Experience working effectively with diverse learners and, preferably, international students and families.  
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. 
• Ability to lead with both conviction and flexibility in a dynamic, entrepreneurial school setting.  
• Proficiency with common office and school-based technology platforms.  

Core CharacteristicsThe ideal candidate will be:

• A committed Christian educational leader who models integrity, maturity, and servant leadership. 
• A strong instructional leader who can develop teachers and maintain academic excellence.  
• Highly organized, responsive, and able to manage multiple priorities effectively.  
• Comfortable working with international students and families in a culturally diverse school environment.  
• Relational, steady, and confident in leading through growth, change, and ambiguity.  
• Willing to be fully engaged in the broader life of the school community beyond the classroom or office. 

Employment DetailsReports To: Executive Director  Schedule: Full-time, regular school-year presence required, with additional evening or weekend responsibilities for designated school events, meetings, family engagement, student programs, and other academy needs
Application DetailsApplicants must submit a cover letter, statement of faith, and resume to be considered. Successful completion of a background check upon offer. Completion of a drug test upon offer. Visa sponsor (CPT, OPT, H1B) available for qualified candidates.