CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYMENT
I. CRITERIA FOR EMPLOYMENT
Newly-hired administrators/teachers must possess the following criteria for employment in
addition to FBI VECHS fingerprint clearance:
A. Elementary/High School Principal Minimum Qualifications
1.
Must be a Catholic in good standing
2.
Hold a Master’s Degree from an accredited university or college that is recognized as
acceptable for Florida certification
3.
Must hold or obtain a Florida Professional Certificate in Educational Leadership
within three years of hire
4.
Recommend a minimum of five years of professional teaching experience
5.
Recommend three to five years of administrative experience
B. Elementary/High School Assistant Principal Minimum Qualifications
1.
2.
3.
4.
Must be a Catholic in good standing
Hold a Master’s Degree from an accredited university or college that is recognized as
acceptable for Florida certification
Have a minimum of three years of teaching experience
Must hold or obtain a Florida Professional Certificate in Educational Leadership
within three years of hire.
C. Teacher in Grades K-12 Minimum Qualifications (Full-time)
1.
2.
3.
Must have a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college that is
recognized as acceptable for Florida certification
Must hold or obtain a Professional Certificate in subject area taught within three
years of hire
Must hold or obtain Diocesan Catechist Certification in accordance with the Office of
Religious Education guidelines.
4.
D. Teacher in Grades PreK-3 and PreK-4 Minimum Qualifications
1.
2.
Hold an Associate Degree with an emphasis in early childhood education from an
accredited college or university that is recognized by a regional accrediting
association or approved by the U.S. Department of Education.
Must hold or obtain Diocesan Catechist certification in accordance with the Office of
Religious Education guidelines.
E. Religion Teacher Minimum Qualifications
1.
c.
Grades 9 - 12
a.
Must be a Catholic in good standing
b.
Hold a Bachelor’s degree in Theology, Religious Studies, or related area
Submit degree credentials to the Office of Religious Education, Department of
Diocesan
Catechist
Certification,
for
review
and
equivalency
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CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYMENT
2.
Grades K - 8
a.
Must be a Catholic in good standing
b.
Have a Bachelor’s degree
c.
Basic, Advanced, and Master level certifications through the Diocesan
Catechist Certification Program in accordance with the requirements of the
Office of Religious Education guidelines
F. Special Area Teacher Qualifications (Art, Music, Technology, and Foreign Language)
Grades 9 - 12
1. Have old a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university or college that is recognized
as acceptable for Florida certification
2. Technology Education Teacher must have documented qualifications in technology
education and/or training
3. Must hold or obtain a Florida Professional Certificate in the subject area taught within
three years of hire
Grades K - 8
1. Have documented qualification in the subject area taught
G. Part-Time Teacher Minimum Qualifications, Grades K - 12
1.
2.
Part-time core subject area teachers must hold a Bachelor’s degree with twelve hours
of college coursework in the field in which they are teaching
Part-time special area teachers must hold a Bachelor’s degree and have documented
qualification in the subject area taught
H. Substitute Teachers
1.
2.
Recommended that the substitute teacher have a Bachelor’s degree
Recommend that the substitute teacher have teaching experience
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CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYMENT
II. PROCEDURES FOR HIRING PRINCIPALS
A. The timing of the formation of a Search Committee for selecting a principal should be
worked out among the Board President, the local Pastor, the principal and the Office of
Schools to ensure proper communication and a smooth transition.
B. The Search Committee should be composed of a cross-section of local Board members
(laity, religious, clergy). Non-board members such as people from the local community,
faculty representatives, etc., can be called upon to function in an advisory capacity to the
Search Committee; however, it is the Board members’ responsibility to recommend a final
selection to the Superintendent of Schools/Parish Pastor.
C. Resumes and references should be required of all candidates. Both the local search
committee and the Diocesan Office of Schools should investigate references of nominees
for the position of principal.
D. Final nominees are interviewed by both the local School Board and the Diocesan Office of
Schools. It is desirable that more than one nominee be interviewed during and agreed upon
fixed time period (ex., two week period for individual interviews, or one sitting for all
nominees).
E. The Office of Schools declares the acceptability of nominees for the position after having
followed the above steps.
F. In elementary schools, the local School Board recommends a final selection to the Pastor.
The Pastor, as employer of the principal, signs the contract which must be co-signed by the
Superintendent of Schools.
G. In secondary schools, the local School Board makes a final recommendation to the
Secretary for Faith Formation/Superintendent of Catholic Schools for approval. The
Superintendent and the Secretary for Faith Formation, as the Bishop’s representatives, signs
the contract.
H. Where a religious community has a history of commitment to a school, a representative of
that religious community should be involved in “the timing of the formation of a Search
Committee”. (See A above.)
I. The religious community should be specifically invited to submit resumes and references of
candidates from the religious community for the position of principal.
J. If the credentials of the candidates from the religious community are generally acceptable, it
would be desirable that at least one of the final nominees to be interviewed by the local
Board and the Diocesan Office of Schools be from among those submitted by the religious
community.
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CRITERIA AND PROCEDURES FOR EMPLOYMENT
III. PROCEDURES FOR TERMINATING PRINCIPALS
A. As stated on the Principal contract, the Principal may be terminated by the Diocese, for just
cause, at any time upon written notice. Just cause is interpreted to include, but not limited
to misrepresentations made during the hiring process, misconduct, neglect of duty, physical
or mental incapacity, conduct contrary to the moral principles of the Catholic Church,
conviction of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude, any conduct tending to
reflect discredit upon the school or tending to impair the Principal’s usefulness as a
principal, and violation of the terms of this agreement. The decision as to just cause may be
made by the Bishop of Orlando in his absolute judgment and his decision shall be final.
Termination may be initiated by the Principal, the Local School Board, the Pastor or the
Superintendent of Schools, using the following procedures:
B. If in Principal’s judgment, sufficient reason exists to justify early termination, Principal shall
make application in writing to the Office of Schools and to the Pastor. Principal is obliged
for the full term of the school year as specified in the Principal’s contract unless written
permission is given by the Office of Schools and Pastor for an earlier termination.
C. The Superintendent of Schools or Pastor may suspend and/or dismiss the Principal for just
cause (See above paragraph).
D. If the Local School Board initiates a recommendation for termination, the recommendation
must be submitted in writing to the Pastor (or Superintendent of Schools) giving specific
reasons for the recommendation. A copy of this recommendation must be sent on the same
day to the Principal and the Office of Schools. If the Pastor (or others listed in case of
secondary schools) deems there is just cause for termination, he makes his recommendation
to the Office of Schools in writing within ten days. Copies of this recommendation must be
sent to the Principal and the Local School Board. The Superintendent of Schools, with
consulters, will review the request and will make final determination within ten days.
Copies of the determination will be sent to the Local School Board, the Pastor, and the
Principal.
E. If the Pastor initiates a recommendation for termination, the recommendation must be
submitted in writing to the Office of Schools with copies to the Principal and the Local
School Board. The Office of Schools, with its consulters, will review the case within ten
days and will submit in writing its determination to the Pastor, Principal, and the Local
School Board.
F. If the Superintendent of Schools initiates a recommendation for termination, the
recommendation must be submitted in writing to the Pastor with copies sent to the
Principal. The Local School Board will review the recommendation and submit in writing
its recommendation to the Pastor with copies to the Office of Schools and the Principal.
The Pastor, with his consulters, will make the final determination and submit in writing the
determination to the Office of Schools, the Local School Board, and the Principal.
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