Assistant Head of School for Spiritual Life
Cardinal Gibbons High School
Raleigh, North Carolina
cghsnc.org
Start Date: July 2025
Mission Statement
At Cardinal Gibbons, our mission is to form students of faith, service, and leadership in Church and community. Through this holistic approach to education, we guide young people in their spiritual, moral, and intellectual development, empowering them to become engaged citizens and faithful leaders rooted in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the traditions of the Catholic Church.
Overview
Cardinal Gibbons High School is a thriving and dynamic community that fosters academic excellence and spiritual growth in its students. Rooted in the rich tradition of Catholic education, this Diocesan school is committed to developing faith, service and leadership in young men and women. With a forward-thinking approach to learning, state-of-the-art facilities, and a dedicated group of talented and experienced educators, Cardinal Gibbons provides a caring environment that inspires students to achieve their full potential both in and out of the classroom. Our welcoming community encourages a spirit of innovation, compassion, and commitment to making a positive impact on the world, empowering students to lead with purpose and passion.
Cardinal Gibbons High School in Raleigh, North Carolina, has a storied history that dates back to its founding in 1909 as Sacred Heart High School, the first Catholic high school in the region. Originally located in downtown Raleigh, it was established to meet the growing need for quality Catholic education in the area. In 1953, Cardinal Gibbons was the first high school in the state to integrate. Throughout its history, Cardinal Gibbons has continually evolved to adapt to the needs of its students and the broader community. The school moved to its current campus in western Raleigh in 1999, where it significantly expanded its facilities to include modern classrooms, athletic fields, arts spaces, and a chapel, fostering a holistic educational environment. The school has grown from a small local institution into a leading Catholic high school in the Southeast, nationally renowned for its arts, athletics, and robotics program.
Cardinal Gibbons High School, a faith-filled and mission-driven Catholic high school in Raleigh, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12, seeks a visionary and experienced Assistant Head of School for Spiritual Life. The individual in this role will be responsible for cultivating a vibrant spiritual life across the school, nurturing students to become men and women of faith, service, and leadership. Reporting directly to the Head of School, the Assistant Head for Spiritual Life will oversee spiritual programming, ensuring that faith is integrated into all aspects of the school's curriculum and extracurricular life, in alignment with the school's mission.
Key Responsibilities
Spiritual Leadership
• Lead and oversee all spiritual life initiatives, ensuring the Catholic identity of the school is visible and vibrant in every aspect of student life. This includes organizing Masses, opportunities for students to receive the sacraments, and to engage in adoration, fostering an environment where students are immersed in the Catholic faith.
• Oversee the retreat program for students and educators that focuses on personal reflection, spiritual growth, and the development of a deep and authentic relationship with God.
• Serve as a spiritual mentor to students, guiding them in their journey of faith and helping them develop into leaders who live out the Gospel values in their daily lives.
Faith Formation & Leadership Development
• Collaborate with the academic and administrative teams to ensure that the school's faith-based mission is seamlessly integrated across all aspects of the curriculum and student programs. Actively engage students in understanding the Catholic faith and its relevance in today's world.
• Promote leadership opportunities rooted in faith by guiding students to become servant leaders, following Christ's call to serve others. Encourage participation in outreach initiatives that challenge students to apply Catholic social teaching and develop a lifelong commitment to serving their communities.
• Create opportunities for students to explore their Catholic vocation, offering guidance on how faith can shape their future careers and contributions to society.
Outreach
• Lead and coordinate outreach programs that align with Catholic social teaching and encourage students to live out their faith through acts of service. Engage in pre-existing partnerships with local parishes, diocesan organizations, and community groups to provide meaningful service experiences that reflect the values of compassion and social justice.
• Foster a culture of service leadership by encouraging students to take ownership of outreach projects and involve themselves in outreach efforts that help them grow into compassionate, justice-oriented leaders.
Educator Formation
• Support and guide the ongoing spiritual formation of educators. Plan and implement retreats, professional development sessions, and formation opportunities that deepen their understanding of their roles in shaping the faith lives of students.
• Act as a spiritual resource for educators, helping them integrate faith and leadership into their teaching and mentoring roles.
Community Engagement & Collaboration
• Strengthen relationships with parents, parishes, and the broader Catholic community, encouraging them to take an active role in the spiritual life of the school. Facilitate opportunities for family engagement in spiritual and outreach activities.
• Work with the Head of School and the leadership team to ensure the Catholic identity and mission of Cardinal Gibbons are central to all school decisions and strategic initiatives. Ensure that the school's mission of faith, service, and leadership is articulated and effectively implemented throughout the school community.
Qualifications and Personal Attributes
• A practicing Catholic with a deep commitment to the teachings and traditions of the Catholic Church, and a strong desire to guide the spiritual formation of young people.
• A master's degree in theology, pastoral ministry, or a related field is preferred
• Strong pastoral and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage, inspire, and connect with students, faculty, staff, and families on their spiritual journeys.
• Demonstrated experience in planning and leading liturgies, retreats, and service programs that emphasize faith formation, service, and leadership.
• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to work collaboratively across school departments and with the broader community.
• The ability to articulate vision and strategy, the tactical skills to manage the systems and processes needed to implement strategy, and the ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Strong organizational and management skills with a strong attention to detail.
To Apply
Interested and qualified candidates are invited to contact the consultants in confidence. Candidates will ultimately need to submit the following materials as separate PDF documents:
• A cover letter expressing their interest in this particular position;
• A current resume;
• A completed Candidate Questionnaire (to be supplied by the consultants);
• A list of five professional references with name, relationship, phone number, and email address of each (references will not be contacted without the candidate's permission) to:
Barbara Daush
Senior Consultant and Catholic Schools Practice Leader
barbara.daush@carneysandoe.com
Michael Truesdell
Consultant
michael.truesdell@carneysandoe.com
