Principal

About the School

Trinity High School in River Forest, Illinois, seeks its next visionary and mission-driven Principal to lead a vibrant community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and the empowerment of young women. An all-girls Catholic, Dominican school and International Baccalaureate (IB) World School, Trinity ensures that each student is known, supported, and challenged to become her best self. The position begins in Summer 2026. Now in its 108th year, Trinity draws students from more than 50 Chicagoland zip codes and reflects a purposefully diverse community committed to global citizenship and compassionate leadership. As a long-standing IB school, Trinity blends rigorous inquiry-based learning with its Catholic and Dominican values to prepare young women for lives of meaning and impact.

The Principal reports to the President, serves as a key member of the President’s Leadership Team, and is the academic leader of the school, responsible for ensuring excellence in academic and support programs, and alignment with the teachings of the Catholic Church, Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) requirements, Cognia accreditation requirements, and the standards of the IB framework. To learn more about Trinity High School, please visit the school’s website here.

About the Role

The Principal will lead a vibrant community dedicated to academic excellence, spiritual formation, and the empowerment of young women.

Responsibilities

Faith and Mission Leadership

• Model and promote the Catholic Dominican mission and values in Trinity’s academic and support programs.
• Foster a community grounded in prayer, reflection, and service and a visible commitment to social justice, inclusion and care for creation.
• Collaborate with the Vice President of Student Life and campus minister to lead faculty and students in integrating faith formation and Dominican spirituality into academic programs and activities.

Instructional, Academic and Student Support Leadership

• Provide visionary academic program leadership for school year and summer school curriculum development, instructional excellence, and student learning outcomes including within the IB framework.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, support and evaluate faculty to promote innovative, inquiry-based, and student-centered pedagogy.
• Lead data-informed decision-making processes to promote continuous improvement in curriculum, pedagogical practices and assessment for academic excellence.
• Supervise the Assistant Principal for Student Success, Dean of Students, Attendance Coordinator, Substitute Teacher Coordinator, Registrar and Librarian to provide holistic support for students and academic programs. The Assistant Principal for Student Success supervises School Counselors (2) and the College Counselor.
• Build a collaborative, faith-centered and trauma-informed professional culture, centered in the Dominican pillars, that values care, accountability, and excellence.
• Promote open communication, shared leadership, and continuous professional growth.
• Reinforce a culture of belonging for every student and maintain timely, consistent and caring communication with students and families.

Operational and Strategic Leadership

• Oversee daily school operations, scheduling, and resource management.
• Partner with the President to advance strategic goals, accreditation, and sustainability.
• Ensure compliance with our sponsoring institution, Dominican Veritas Ministries, and Archdiocese of Chicago, ISBE, Cognia, and IB standards.
• Manage budgets, staffing, and academic resources, to align with the school’s mission and strategic priorities.
• Support admissions, advancement, and marketing efforts to strengthen enrollment and community engagement.

Qualifications

• Practicing Catholic, committed to the teachings and traditions of the Church.
• Earned or working toward a Master’s degree or higher in Educational Leadership, Administration, or a related field (Doctorate preferred).
• Valid administrative certification/licensure (or eligibility) in Illinois.
• Minimum of 5 years of successful school leadership experience, preferably in Catholic, all girls, or IB schools.
• Minimum of 5 years of classroom teaching experience.
• Demonstrated expertise in leading trauma-informed education and inclusive leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire faculty, engage students, and build a mission-driven community.
• Strong communication, organizational, and strategic planning skills.
• Familiarity with the Dominican charism and the IB program are strongly preferred.

Required Skills

• Servant leader rooted in Catholic values.
• Visionary thinker with a collaborative and compassionate leadership style.
• Advocate for young women’s empowerment, justice, and excellence.
• Deeply committed to the holistic formation of students – mind, body, and spirit.

Pay range and compensation package

Salary ($90,000-$125,000) depends on qualifications and experience. Trinity offers Medical, Dental and Vision insurance, and a 403B plan. Time off includes paid time off and sick days, as well as scheduled school holidays.

Equal Opportunity Statement

Trinity High School is an equal opportunity employer committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive community rooted in the Dominican tradition of truth, compassion, and justice.

Application Process

We will be collecting applications until January 15th, 2026 and will reach out to qualified candidates at that time. Inquiries and applications will be treated with the highest degree of confidentiality. Candidates should be available to assume the responsibilities of Principal in July 2026.

To officially apply candidates should submit the following materials to Tina Taylor-Ritzler, Ph.D., President, at careers@trinityhs.org:

• Cover letter reflecting commitment to the school’s Catholic Dominican mission and charism, vision for academics, and leadership style
• Resume or curriculum vitae