Principal - Catholic Special Schools

Are you passionate about providing students with disabilities opportunity to reach their unique potential within a context focused on their wellbeing with a variety of ways to access their learning? Catholic Education South Australia seeks an exceptional Principal to lead the newly formed Catholic Special Schools. 

We are committed to providing families the opportunity to choose evidence-based and contemporary education with fit for purpose facilities and curriculum differentiation for students with complex intellectual and/or developmental disabilities, underpinned by the Catholic faith. 

The Principal of Catholic Special Schools will ultimately lead a co-educational school with three sites.  Each site will have a designated site leader supported by a leader responsible for Catholic Identity and Mission. The role requires the unification of two discrete sites, Our Lady of La Vang and St Patrick’s Special School, and the design and development of a new site. Collaboration with staff and communities to create a vision, align learning frameworks, organisational policies and cultural integration into the one school model will be key to success in the initial phase of the role.

The Role

The role requires a commitment to embedding Catholic Identity into every facet of leadership and a highly developed knowledge of evidence-based education models, inclusion and community integration opportunities for all students. 

• Visionary Educational Leadership: Develop and articulate a compelling one school vision for teaching and learning that aligns with our Catholic values, across all three sites. Integrate strengths of current sites to develop a common Early Years, Middle Years and Senior Years curriculum focusing on post-school transition. 
• Students with Disability: Demonstrate a strong understanding of current and emerging evidence-based education for students with complex disabilities. Apply innovation and entrepreneurial practice to position Catholic Special Schools as an educator of choice in the field. In building relationships with other schools and community connections, provide access and progression opportunities through individualised learning plans.
• Collaborative Leadership & Change Management: Inspire and lead a dynamic team of educators through collaborative strategies that provide agency during organisational change. Cultivate a positive and inclusive one-school culture that values teamwork, diversity, and continuous improvement. Manage change effectively, fostering adaptability and resilience within the school community.
• Strategic Leadership: Provide stakeholders with opportunity to contribute to a clearly articulated strategic plan. Demonstrate a strong commitment to empowering leaders and staff at each site to outwork the strategic plan and cohesive education model and culture, communicating progress to maintain engagement in the shared vision. 
• Lead Expansion: Develop relationships with other sites, business and community groups to provide meaningful inclusion opportunities for all students. Lead the design, development and opening of fit for purpose facilities for a new site, that supports innovative pedagogy, life skill opportunities, inclusion and community integration for students with complex disabilities. 

To be successful in the role, you will: 

• Be an active member of a Catholic Eucharistic community. 
• Hold a valid teaching qualification and relevant post-graduate qualification in Education and/or Inclusive and Specialised Education.
• Demonstrate visionary and contemporary educational leadership with a passion for fostering excellence, integration, and a supportive learning environment for students with disabilities.
• Experience leading schools through expansion including building design and cultural integration.
• Possess the strategic mindset and business acumen to lead an extensive growth and development period of the school. 
• Exemplary interpersonal and communication skills ensure the ability to engage diverse stakeholders and build networks that support the school.
• Understanding of Catholic values and a commitment to their integration into the school environment.

• Unlock tax savings and enjoy financial flexibility with our salary packaging program. Package up to $15,900 of your pay each FBT year for living expenses, covering regular payments and everyday items, while also having the option to include a novated lease, income protection insurance premiums, and more. 
• Relocation Support

You can review the Position Description including additional information here. 

To apply, please email ******@cesa.catholic.edu.au your resume including Parish Priest's contact details and a 2-page response to the following questions:

• Your motivation for applying.
• Describe your experience and application of Specialised and Inclusive Education and strategies you have applied to ensure integration within school and wider communities.
• How would you describe the way you lead and nurture a Catholic school community?
• Share your experience in leading multi-site schools and/or the development of a new school site and some of the unique considerations when responding to the needs of students with disabilities. 

We are Catholic Education South Australia with almost 9,000 staff who are Raising Hearts and Minds of more than 52,000 students across our 101 Catholic Schools. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we provide dynamic, innovative, and personalised learning in a Catholic context, from Early Years to Year 12.

Our schools work in partnership with families to educate and nurture the whole person, helping them to be thriving people, capable learners and leaders for the world God desires.

The sites of Catholic Special Schools are High-Risk Settings and require all employees to maintain up-to-date vaccinations against COVID-19.