Executive Director/ Head of School

Meridian Public Charter School is seeking a proven education leader who will champion our mission and vision. This results-oriented leader should demonstrate an unwavering commitment to fostering equity and a sense of belonging for all stakeholders. This leader should demonstrate expertise in both academic and nonprofit business leadership. This leader will be responsible for managing and developing Meridian’s senior academic and operational leaders and, working collaboratively with the board of trustees, will be accountable to the DC Public Charter School Board. This leader is also expected to actively engage with the larger Meridian community that includes students, staff, families, and the broader DC education community.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Executive Director/ Head of School will join an executive leadership team consisting of a Chief Academic Officer, Chief Operating Officer, and Managing Director of Impact & Community Partnerships, along with a dedicated and diverse group of principals, faculty, and staff at both Meridian’s elementary and middle school campuses.

As one of the oldest public charter schools in the city, our campuses support about 600 racially and ethnically diverse students from all wards of Washington, DC. Approximately 25% of our students are English language learners (multilingual learners). One-third of students live in the surrounding neighborhood and approximately 50% live in Ward 1. Meridian’s elementary PreK-5th grade campus is located in DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Meridian’s middle school campus, grades 6-8, is located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood.

Meridian draws on the strengths of our neighborhood and our partnerships with community organizations to support our students and families. The city is our classroom; as an emerging EL Education school, we prepare our students to be active citizens and create a better world. Through language learning, a rich and rigorous curriculum, and the schoolwide values of curiosity, respect, resilience, and leadership, we support students in achieving their highest aspirations.

Leading a team of 100+ employees across two campuses, the Executive Director/ Head of School will:

• Inspire and unite students, staff, and families to realize Meridian’s mission and vision.
• Strengthen academic performance and achieve high performing status as measured by the state and charter authorizer accountability frameworks and charter goals.
• Increase enrollment to meet budget and growth targets.
• Reach full EL Education credentialing.
• Distinguish Meridian as an outstanding community asset and school of excellence.

Key responsibilities:

Visionary and Strategic Leadership

• Guide the school towards the realization of its vision: One School, One Community, One City...the World Intersects at Meridian, while leading Meridian to high academic performance, ongoing financial sustainability, and strong community engagement.
• Execute the school’s strategic priorities, partnering with school leaders, teachers and staff, and the Board of Trustees.
• Build Meridian’s brand by serving as the champion of the school among external stakeholders within the broader DC education community; with current and potential partners; and among our familial and cultural communities. Build responsive coalitions, relationships, and partnerships with key stakeholders. Oversee school communications and serve as the school’s spokesperson, communicating the school’s value proposition and accomplishments.
• Attract, support, and retain a diverse senior leadership team and staff that reflect the rich diversity of our student body. Develop and implement a plan for coaching and empowering senior leaders, offering opportunities for training and professional development.
• Advocate for educational equity, building an inclusive school culture and integrating equity into all aspects of the school.

Academic Performance

• Lead the school to achieve high academic performance and equitable outcomes, holding all team members accountable for reaching academic goals. Ensure consistency of implementation and accountability across both campuses, as “One School.”
• Lead and model continuous academic improvement. Set clear and measurable performance goals and monitor student growth and achievement through data analysis.
• Evaluate and hold the leadership team and staff members accountable for achieving academic goals. Monitor student performance and use data, with other information, to develop and implement strategies for improvement in collaboration with senior leaders.

Financial and Operational Health

• Grow the school’s enrollment annually, increasing public demand for attendance at Meridian, and parent satisfaction. Oversee a targeted, effective student recruitment initiative to reach and maintain annual enrollment goals.
• Ensure the school has a viable long-term financial plan and a sustainable funding base. Leverage state, federal, and foundation grants to continue to build Meridian’s funding base.
• Oversee the school’s fiscal and operational health by ensuring that financial management, fundraising goals, facilities, operations, and human capital are effectively managed.
• Understand and provide broad oversight for the business functions of the school. Strategically supervise budgeting, monitoring, and reporting income, expenses, investments, and cash flow, ensuring that funds are used to provide a top-performing academic program. Oversee all employment and human relations matters.
• Ensure all external financial metrics are met for loan covenants, DC Public Charter School Board requirements, and other financial reporting targets.

Accountability and Compliance

• Ensure that the school meets and exceeds all reporting and accountability requirements as defined by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) as well as the DC Public Charter School Board’s ASPIRE Framework.
• Ensure that the school is in compliance with all local, state, and federal guidelines.
• Prepare the school for a successful 30-year Charter Renewal in SY28-29.

School Culture and Community Engagement

• Build and support a culture of excellence, grounded in belonging, trust, and transparency, which empowers and motivates teachers, staff, leaders, families, and students. Establish a culture that values seeking and listening to diverse perspectives throughout the community.
• Support the leadership team and staff to embody the core values of curiosity, respect, resilience, and leadership; oversee equitable and effective student behavior policies and practices.
• Build and sustain deep connections to families and community networks, building trusting relationships and providing necessary support.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree required. A graduate degree in K-12 school administration, nonprofit leadership, education, business, or a related field is preferred.
• A demonstrated commitment to advancing educational equity and the ability to lead and build culture through a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Previous successful experience as an education nonprofit or business leader with a minimum of 10 years of professional experience and at least 5 years in a role managing and leading a high-performing institution or team.
• Commitment to the mission and vision of Meridian PCS, and the implementation of the EL Education model as a means to achieve that vision.
• Demonstrated experience successfully driving high-impact initiatives, especially long-term initiatives, through a full cycle (inspire, plan, develop, implement, monitor, reflect and adjust).
• Demonstrated experience overseeing the financial health and sustainability of an organization with a multi-million-dollar budget.
• Inspiring and dynamic leadership and management style, with experience developing leaders, while holding them accountable for measurable results.
• A performance and results-driven approach with a demonstrated track record of impact on student outcomes, with strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical skills.
• Strong communication and listening skills, with experience in team building and trust-fostering, while building alignment around a shared vision.
• Demonstrated leadership abilities, integrity, and a proven record of working cooperatively with diverse stakeholders.
• Multilingual preferred not required (Fluency in Spanish a plus).

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Meridian offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range for the Executive Director/ Head of School is $165,000-$190,000.