Leadership Role Expectations and Relationships of Principals and Pastors in Catholic Parochial Elementary Schools: Part I

Abstract

Parish elementary schools in the United States have a governance structure that often precipitates conflict. The principal is the designated leader of the school, the educational administrator, and the supervisor of the faculty and students. By canon law, however, the pastor of the parish remains ultimately responsible for the spiritual and temporal welfare of the entire parish. This review addresses the relationships of pastors and principals in parish schools. After a brief review of general governance in the Catholic Church, the review analyzes the roles of pastor and principal respectively, and concludes with some preliminary advice about role expectations.

Preparing Priests to Work with Catholic Schools: A Content Analysis of Seminary Curricula

“…The pastor is placed at a disadvantage and is unable to provide necessary sup-port for the principal. In cases like this, there is a likelihood for misunderstandings and conflict (Schafer, 2004).…”

Seminarian Perspectives on Catholic Schools and the New Evangelization

“…Today, in light of the New Evangelization and the unanswered questions about how to fund parish schools, pastors of parish schools have a challenging role as chief educational leaders (Schafer, 2013;Weiss, 2007). Pastors must engage in policy making for the school, create a board to help with oversight duties, provide ongoing financial supervision of the school, and lead or provide faith formation programs for faculty who will teach students in the school.…”

“…Pastors must engage in policy making for the school, create a board to help with oversight duties, provide ongoing financial supervision of the school, and lead or provide faith formation programs for faculty who will teach students in the school. While the pastor may delegate the day-to-day operations of the school to the principal, the pastor is the chief administrator of the school (Schafer, 2013).…”

“…The pastors who were surveyed reported that operating a parish school required regular and time consuming attention to the financial details involved in operating a school. As noted by Schafer (2013), even when a pastor seeks the help of qualified persons in the parish who can assist him with development efforts, enrollment management, investment, and financial reporting, the pastor is the person who is ultimately responsible for the financial well-being of the school.…”

“…astors of parishes with a Catholic school fulfill a vital role in today's Catholic Church as chief educational leaders of these schools (Dolan, 2010;King, 2013;Schafer, 2013;USCCB, 2005b). In light of the importance of the role of pastor as school leader, the research team conducting this study asked, "How are current seminarians-tomorrow's pastors-being prepared in seminaries across the United States to lead the New Evangelization and provide leadership for parish schools?"…”