Principal, Middle School

ABOUT MERIDIAN PCS

Meridian is a PreK-8th grade school located in Washington DC’s vibrant U Street Corridor. Our mission is to inspire a passion for learning in our students and to help them build their self-confidence and self-respect through academic achievement. 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.

Join us as we continue to take Meridian from good to great! For additional information about Meridian visit mpcs-dc.org.

ABOUT THE POSITION

As a member of the Academic team, the Middle School Principal will develop and implement a vision for academic excellence, tied with a strong focus on school culture and accountability. The Principal will be the leader of the Middle School campus and is responsible for establishing relationships with students, staff, families and community partners in service of strengthened culture and academic instruction. The ideal candidate will be results driven, team-oriented, willing to build on personal leadership strengths and areas of growth.

The Principal will report to the Chief Academic Officer and will work collaboratively with the Elementary School Principal and the Director of Special Education to build and sustain student achievement, top quality staff performance, and strong family satisfaction. The Principal will consult with the Senior Leadership team, consisting of the Executive Director, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Operations Officer and the Managing Director of Impact and Community Partnerships.

RESPONSIBILITIES

The Principal will perform specific responsibilities that include, but are not limited to:

• Academic LeadershipImplement an instructional vision and maintain school-wide focus on high standards of student achievement leading to defined student achievement outcomes;
• Equip staff to use student performance data to set achievement targets, strengthen instruction, and improve student outcomes;
• Analyze school assessment data to make academic and programmatic decisions;
• Lead a dynamic professional learning community that embraces accountability and outstanding student results;
• Work cooperatively with the Chief Academic Officer and other school leaders to coach, supervise, and evaluate staff through informal classroom visits, regular formal and informal classroom observations, lesson plan review, and written evaluations for instructional staff;
• Model excellence in teaching and learning;
• Design, deliver, and evaluate research-based professional development for all staff that fosters improved student achievement, developmentally appropriate instructional approaches, using data to strengthen student performance, positive school climate, and productive staff morale;
• Participate in the recruitment, assessment, hiring, and retention of exceptional teachers and staff;
• Oversee the implementation and evaluation of the curriculum and instructional program.

• Culture and CommunitySupport a culture of excellence, grounded in belonging, trust, and transparency, which empowers and motivates teachers, staff, families, and students;
• Create a culture of accountability, in which effective student behavior policies and practices are implemented fairly;
• Support the staff to embody the core values of curiosity, respect, resilience, and leadership;
• Develop, implement and sustaining strong systems and expectations with students and teachers;
• Build and sustain deep connections to students and families through communication, outreach and collaboration, building trusting relationships and providing necessary support;
• Perform other duties as assigned.

• School OperationsCollaborate with the Chief Operations Officer and operations team to manage, supervise, and evaluate effective procedures for the day-to-day operation of the school consistent with its philosophy, mission, values and goals;
• Support the school’s compliance with external parties including the Public Charter School Board (PCSB), Office of the State Superintendent (OSSE), and all federal and local policies and laws;
• Collaborate with school leadership on HR, budgeting, facility management, and compliance to fulfill the school’s academic goals.

• QUALIFICATIONSAn advanced degree in K-12 school administration, curriculum & instruction, or a related field, preferred;
• A minimum of three years of academic leadership experience; previous experience as a Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, or academic lead required;
• At least four years of classroom teaching experience;
• Commitment to the mission and vision of Meridian PCS, and the implementation of the EL Education model as a means to achieve that vision;
• A demonstrated ability to inspire a culture of excellence, while holding others accountable and making difficult decisions;
• A performance and results-driven approach to school leadership and student achievement;
• Experience coaching school staff to instructional excellence;
• A demonstrated commitment to advancing educational opportunity and the ability to lead and build culture while being respectful and inclusive of multiple perspectives and backgrounds;
• Familiarity with state and benchmark assessments;
• Comfort synthesizing and prioritizing data to solve problems and develop strategies to achieve ambitious academic goals;
• Strong problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytic skills;
• Outstanding oral and written communication skills and the ability to present information to large groups of adults;
• Willingness to collaborate around instructional decisions;
• Experience with local, state, and federal compliance;
• A demonstrated passion for advancing educational opportunities in low-income communities; extensive knowledge of the charter school movement, while extremely valuable, is not required for this position.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Meridian offers a competitive salary commensurate with experience and a comprehensive benefits package. The salary range for the MS Principal is $120-150,000.

HOW TO APPLY

Please share a cover letter and resume and apply here. No phone calls please.

Meridian Public Charter School is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The School’s EEO policy prohibits discrimination in employment based on race, color, religion, national origin, disability, sex, age, sexual orientation, marital status, or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Meridian PCS prohibits discrimination against individuals with disabilities and will reasonably accommodate applicants with a disability, upon request, and will also ensure reasonable accommodation for employees with a disability. Under this policy, equal employment opportunity is required in recruitment, hiring, training and development, promotion, termination, compensation, benefits, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment as required by applicable law.