Looking for a higher calling? Launch a new urban Catholic K-8 school of excellence in Cleveland or Milwaukee. Seton Education Partners seeks faith-filled, mission-driven, results-oriented leaders to participate in a yearlong training program to prepare for launching and leading a new urban Catholic school of excellence. We are looking for dynamic educators who have achieved strong academic results with their students and want to dramatically increase their reach. We seek motivated entrepreneurs who want to start a school from the ground up—a school that helps underserved children develop the virtue, knowledge, and skills necessary to earn a college degree and live well in this world and the next.

Background
Seton Education Partners is launching a new network of K-8 (or PK-8) Catholic schools in underserved neighborhoods where traditional Catholic schools are struggling. Co-founded in 2009 by KIPP Foundation pioneer Scott W. Hamilton and Teach for America alumna Stephanie Saroki de García, Seton is a response to the dramatic decline of urban Catholic schools in America, which have served the economically disadvantaged so well for decades. With a focus on results, Seton is committed to expanding opportunities for underserved children to receive an academically excellent and vibrantly Catholic education. For more information on Seton Education Partners, visit www.SetonPartners.org.

Seton seeks a founding leader for its first new, high-performing, urban K-8 Catholic school. Seton will provide the strategic, tactical and financial supports necessary to take an inspired dream from possibility to reality. If successful, Seton will help grow this school into a network of flourishing schools. This network will serve as a national model for sustainable, academically superior, and faith-building Catholic education.

About Our Schools
Inspired by the results of some of the nation’s best urban schools, Seton is working to grow schools that are built on six cornerstones—vibrantly Catholic, high expectations, results matter, lead with character, more time, and teach the best content.

1. Vibrantly Catholic. We seek God in all things, are faithful to and celebrate the teachings of the Catholic Church, and strive to bring others closer to Jesus and His Church.
   
   
2. High Expectations. Because we believe in the inherent dignity and potential of every child, we have high expectations for our students’ academic achievement and conduct that make no excuses based on their background or socio-economic status.
   
   
3. Results Matter. We relentlessly focus on high student performance on standardized tests and other objective measures because we hold ourselves accountable for preparing students personally and academically in ways that will enable them to succeed at the best high schools and colleges.
   
   
4. Lead with Virtue. Good character makes for a meaningful life, produces lasting happiness and contributes to academic success. The development of the virtues of Justice, Self-control, Good Judgment, Courage and Kindness in students is central to our educational mission.
   
   
5. More Time. There are no shortcuts. Only with expanded instructional time will students be able to acquire the academic knowledge, skills and habits that will prepare them for success in college and in life.
   
   
6. Teach the Best Content. All students will learn math and science while also becoming familiar with the classics of Western Civilization, because of the way the traditional liberal arts convey truth, beauty, and goodness, and because students need the world’s best content in order to become good citizens and be competitive globally.

Power to Design and Lead
Beyond the above six cornerstones, all school leaders will have the power to design and lead this new K-8 (or PK-8) school. School leaders will have significant autonomy in making budgetary and hiring and firing decisions. School leaders will also have tremendous latitude in shaping the structure and design of this new school—creating the systems, routines, and cultural artifacts that will make the school sing.

About the Seton School Leader Fellowship
Seton offers all school founders a two-year fellowship that is customized to the needs of the leader and the school he/she will launch. Seton School Leader Fellows will be selected by March 2018, in time to participate in an intensive training program over the summer. Following summer training, Fellows will spend the first year of the fellowship visiting and engaging in part-time residencies at high-performing urban schools across the country. Fellows will spend the second year recruiting families and staff, working to open a new school in August 2020.

Seton School Leader Fellows are expected to engage in ongoing faith formation as well as in the study of Catholic teachings. Fellows must not only grasp the complexities of urban education but also have a sound foundation in the Catholic theological tradition, particularly as it relates to the Church's understanding of virtue and the call to holiness, mission of education, and service to the poor.

Fellows will receive a competitive salary with excellent benefits. Seton is also committed to investing in additional training, as needed, to provide individualized development opportunities for school founders.

Qualifications and Desired Characteristics
Candidates for the position must possess the following personal characteristics:

• You have unquestioned integrity and commitment to Seton’s mission and values
• You are a faith-filled and practicing Catholic, who understands and honors the teachings of the Catholic Church and is passionate about sharing the Catholic faith
• You take personal responsibility
• You have a strong belief that all children can achieve both moral and academic excellence
• You have a relentless drive for excellence
• You have an unwavering determination to be better today than you were yesterday

The ideal candidate will bring experience and skills in the following areas:

Education/Experience

• Bachelor’s degree required
• At least two years teaching in a school serving predominantly underserved children with demonstrated exemplary student achievement results
• Successfully serving in an instructional leadership position in a private or charter school (preferred)
• Experience with elementary grades, middle school, the Core Knowledge® Scope and Sequence, and/or classical liberal arts education (preferred)
• Proficiency in Spanish (preferred)

Competencies

• Achievement Orientation & Drive: Sets ambitious goals, takes initiative, follows through to get results. Has a relentless pursuit of excellence and a “whatever it takes” attitude. Demonstrates resilience and resolve in the face of change. Has a consistent history of personal success.
• Communication: Listens, writes, and speaks effectively. Able to inspire others.
• Continuous Learning: Constantly seeks opportunities to learn and improve, making use of successes, failures, and data to find a better way. Willing to take calculated risks in order to learn.
• Critical Thinking & Problem-solving: Approaches challenges in creative and analytical ways. Integrates and acts upon new information quickly, and is comfortable thinking about details and the big picture.
• Cultural Competence: Is able to read and adjust to cultural differences, and effectively works cross-culturally.
• Decision-making: Can make decisions in a timely manner and in the face of ambiguity. Considers consequences of decisions, stands by difficult decisions, and communicates decisions effectively.
• Flexibility: Comfortable in a fluid start-up environment; able and willing to adapt in the face of unexpected changes.
• Instructional Leadership: Is a strong teacher with a good quality filter for instruction. Has strong planning and instructional skills and some experience coaching others. Understands what makes schools succeed or fail.
• Personal Organization: Prioritizes and multi-tasks effectively. Is punctual, prepared, and detail-oriented.
• Self-awareness: Is aware of own strengths and weaknesses and the perceptions of others and adjusts accordingly. Is open to feedback, works to improve upon weaknesses, shows a balance of confidence vs. humility, and behaves professionally.
• Student Focus: Always puts the needs of students first. Sets high expectations for, works effectively and builds strong relationships with, and keeps commitments to educationally disadvantaged students.
• Team Leadership: Works effectively in a team environment, encourages initiative in others and effectively manages conflict.
• Collaborative: Able to work well with other school leaders and staff throughout the Network.

Diversity & Inclusivity
We are building an organization in which talented individuals from all walks of life and past work experiences can join our team and make significant contributions. We are particularly committed to attracting and developing individuals who share the life experiences or backgrounds of the students we will serve.