Founding President

POSITION START DATE: IMMEDIATE OPPORTUNITY (or no later than July 2026)

SEARCH LEADERSHIP & PARTNERSHIP

ACELA Solutions has been retained as the exclusive executive search partner for Don Bosco Trade High School in the recruitment of its Founding President. This search represents a rare and formative opportunity to partner with a bold Catholic initiative rooted in the Salesian charism of St. John Bosco and animated by a deep commitment to faith, craftsmanship, and human dignity.

ACELA is honored to support the Board of Directors and founding stakeholders of Don Bosco Trade High School as they identify a mission-driven, entrepreneurial leader called to launch and steward a pioneering model of Catholic Career and Trade Education (CTE)—one that integrates academic excellence, skilled trades, and Gospel-centered formation.

ABOUT DON BOSCO TRADE HIGH SCHOOL

Rooted in the Salesian educational tradition of reason, religion, and loving-kindness, Don Bosco Trade High School (DBTHS) is being established as a faith-based response to the growing need for high-quality trade education grounded in Catholic values.

Opening to students in Fall 2027, DBTHS will be a co-educational Catholic high school serving young men and women through a distinctive model that blends rigorous academics, immersive trade pathways, and opportunities for entrepreneurship. Students will be formed not only as skilled professionals, but as people of integrity, faith, and service.

The school’s modernized campus will feature workshops, laboratories, and collaborative learning spaces designed to support both technical mastery and moral formation. With early and enthusiastic support from regional building and trade unions, industry partners, and community leaders, Don Bosco Trade High School is building a network of partnerships that will provide students with certifications, real-world experience, and pathways into dignified, sustainable careers.

Few Catholic schools in the nation are founded explicitly around a Career and Trade Education mission. Don Bosco Trade High School stands as a pioneering expression of Catholic innovation—expanding access to Catholic education while honoring the dignity of work and the diverse gifts of every learner.

THE POSITION

The President serves as the chief executive officer and chief mission steward of Don Bosco Trade High School. Distinct from the Principal—who will oversee day-to-day academics, trades instruction, and student life—the President is responsible for vision, strategy, advancement, and long-term sustainability.

Reporting to and working in close partnership with the Board of Directors, the President leads the school’s launch and growth by aligning mission, resources, relationships, and culture. This leader will recruit and empower the founding leadership team, serve as the school’s primary ambassador, and ensure that Don Bosco’s Salesian identity is visibly lived in every aspect of institutional life.

This is a formative leadership role requiring both entrepreneurial energy and pastoral sensitivity, balancing innovation with stewardship as the school moves from vision to reality.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The inaugural President of Don Bosco Trade High School will have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape a transformative model of Catholic education designed for the modern workforce and the modern Church.

Partnering with an engaged Board of Directors, founding benefactors, educators, industry leaders, and Church partners, the President will help establish the vision, culture, and credibility of a school that expands—not competes with—existing Catholic education in the region.

This role is ideal for a leader who sees Catholic education as a mission of access, inclusion, and formation, and who is energized by building something enduring from the ground up. The President will serve as chief fundraiser, chief storyteller, and chief relationship-builder—ensuring that Don Bosco Trade High School is known, trusted, and supported across eastern Massachusetts and beyond.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

Don Bosco Trade High School seeks a faith-filled, visionary, and relational leader who brings both strategic capability and missionary conviction.

The ideal candidate will demonstrate:

• A sincere commitment to the Catholic faith and a deep appreciation for the Salesian charism of St. John Bosco
• Proven success in senior leadership roles within education, nonprofit, workforce development, or mission-driven organizations
• Demonstrated strength in fundraising, advancement, and partnership-building
• Financial acumen and experience stewarding complex organizations or start-up initiatives
• An entrepreneurial mindset well-suited to launching a new school
• A collaborative, servant-leadership style grounded in humility, joy, and presence

Experience in vocational, technical, or workforce education is highly valued but not required. What matters most is the ability to align people, mission, and resources in service of young people and the Church.

APPLICATION PROCESS & NEXT STEPS

On behalf of the Board of Directors of Don Bosco Trade High School, ACELA Solutions invites qualified, mission-aligned leaders to submit materials for consideration for this founding opportunity.

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following materials for consideration:

• Letter of Interest – Rather than a traditional cover letter, candidates are asked to submit a thoughtful letter describing what draws them to Don Bosco Trade High School, their sense of vocational calling to this founding leadership role, and why this unique opportunity is compelling at this moment in their professional journey
• Resume or curriculum vitae, with all relevant positions and dates clearly included
• Statement of Educational Philosophy and Vision reflecting leadership of a Catholic secondary school rooted in the Salesian charism and integrated with career and trade-based education
• Five references representing a balance of personal, professional, and mission-aligned perspectives

References will be used as part of a holistic discernment process. No references will be contacted without the candidate’s prior knowledge and explicit permission, and confidentiality will be safeguarded with the utmost care throughout the search.

Anticipated Start Date: January–July 2026

School Opening: Fall 2027