Nativity Preparatory Academy

Rochester, NY

Job Description – President

Reports to:Chairman, Board of Trustees

Supervises:Faculty, staff and all school personnel

Nativity Preparatory Academy is a Catholic middle school transforming the lives of underserved at-risk students through an education that provides strong academic grounding coupled with a sense of spirituality, morality and personal responsibility. Within a secure and nurturing environment, we deliver this uniquely effective education through an extended school day and school year, dedicated and caring teachers and staff, personal mentoring and continuing support through high school and beyond.

Summary Statement:

The President provides the necessary leadership to sustain the mission, academic success, operational stability, financial sustainability and vitality of the school. Now in its ninth year, Nativity seeks an exceptional individual capable of leading the school to a new phase of growth and enhancing the environment to create even more successful outcomes for our students. He or she will work closely with other school personnel to ensure that the school’s activities remain true to the mission, will be a highly visible leader and accessible to external constituencies to promote the school, and responsive to the values and goals set forth by the Board.

Primary Responsibilities:

Leadership for Mission:

  • Understands, models and embodies the fundamental values and beliefs of the School’s mission, ensures that these characteristics are consistently applied across all school programming, and serves as the educational and spiritual leader for students, faculty, interns and staff.
  • Establishes a culture of excellence in academic achievement, ensuring proper oversight of the academic and co-curricular programs of the school.
  • As a primary “face” of the school, represents and communicates the mission, history, philosophy, and programs of the School to its various constituencies.
  • Serves as the School’s primary liaison to the Nativity Miguel Network of Schools, the Sponsoring Congregation(s), and other appropriate organizations, or delegates responsibility to an appropriate member of the leadership team.
  • Fosters a culture of active communication to staff, students, parents and all other constituencies of the school. Sets a positive tone and is a visible presence throughout the school to ensure a consistent “culture” that reinforces the mission of the school.

Academic, Instruction and Graduate Support:

  • Ensures that the academic, religious and co-curricular programs meet the needs of our students in delivering against the school’s mission as well as established NYS guidelines.
  • Responsible for overseeing the development of the Principal and ensuring that faculty/staff professional development needs are met and regular faculty/staff meetings are held.
  • Responsible for ensuring admissions policies and recruitment efforts are in place.
  • Ensures that the Student, Faculty and Parent handbooks are viewed as “living documents” which are consistently applied across the school.
  • Ensures that student’s needs are understood and programs are put in place to meet those needs.
  • Responsible for the creation and implementation of a high school application and graduate support process including fostering relationshipswith targeted schools and supporting internal staff who are coordinating this activity.

Administration, Finance & Advancement:

  • Serves as the school’s chief fundraiser and public person. Works with the Board to ensure that a sound fundraising, marketing, and communications plan is in place; coordinates strategic and financial planning to assure the long-term sustainability of the School; anticipates changes in funding before needs become critical; generates creative development strategies and ideas for new funding sources; and personally participates in the cultivation and solicitation of prospective donors for major gifts and scholarship sponsors and encourages trustees, volunteers and staff to actively participate in fundraising efforts and activities.
  • Pursuant to the School’s bylaws and directives of the Board, oversees the financial management of the School, including the budgetary process and cash flow; ensures that the School’s internal accounting system is appropriately managed; and gives final approval of the faculty/staff salary scales, stipends and benefit packages, tuition and fee schedules.
  • Presents to Board for review and approval the plans for ensuring the access to and improvement of existing facilities, maintaining relationships with landlords where necessary, re-disposition of physical space, and necessary improvements and upgrades. Ensures that all facilities are well-maintained, operated efficiently and with utmost concern for safety.
  • Ensures that the School complies with all applicable state, federal, and local laws including labor and not-for-profit law; that the School is properly insured; and that protocols are in place to ensure for the safety of the school community.

Board Relationships:

  • Works in partnership with the Board and staff to develop comprehensive strategies to strengthen the school’s capacity to accomplish its mission and respond to the needs of low-income families.
  • Regularly reports on school, staff and student progress (or issues) to the Board and implements decisions made by the Board in concert with the Board Chair.
  • Works with the Board Chair to further assess, develop and grow the Board, recommending new trustees when appropriate and maintaining effective relations with each member and the Board as a whole.
  • Serves as an ex officio member of the Board of Trustees and all committees of the Board of Trustees.

Personnel Administration:

  • Hires, develops, supports, and evaluates the School’s administrators, faculty and staff.
  • Inspires and leads a talented team of professionals and draws out their best ideas and efforts; provides decisive leadership while emphasizing a collaborative relationship with other administrators, faculty and staff; promotes positive relations with families, alumni and community organizations.
  • Ensures that there are professional systems of evaluation and development for faculty and staff.

Desirable Qualifications:

  • A person whose life and values reflect and support the School’s mission and that of the sponsoring organizations.
  • Ability to convincingly articulate the mission of the School to various constituencies.
  • Demonstrated experience in education, non-profit, business, or a related field.
  • Possess a degree ineducation, non-profit, business, or a related field.
  • Experience in development and financial management.
  • Experience in raising funds and the comfort, confidence and experience in personal solicitation of prospective donors.
  • Sensitivity to the ethnic, racial, socio-economic and religious backgrounds of the student body.
  • Experience working with a multicultural population of low-income families.

Interested candidates should submit a statement of interest and resume by mail to:
Mr. William Carpenter

Nativity Preparatory Academy

15 Whalin Street

Rochester, NY 14610

mark “confidential”

or by email to: