He’s also the first African American principal at his school.
A Morehouse graduate is making history as the youngest principal in the Atlanta Public School system, Fox 5 Atlanta reports.
Dr. Dominique Merriweather is an Atlanta native, graduating from Westlake High School in 2010 before earning his degree from Morehouse in 2014. At first, Merriweather aspired to have a career as a corporate attorney, but a brief encounter with inner city students changed everything.
“One day, I went to go read to elementary school kids in the Atlanta University Center area and I fell in love with the students,” Merriweather recalled.
Shortly after, he began working as a special education teacher, fast-tracking his way up the ranks. Now at just 30 years old, Merriweather has been named the new principal of Buckhead’s Sutton Middle School, making history as the first Black principal at the school and the youngest principal in the history of Atlanta Public Schools.
Merriweather says he’s ecstatic to lead in the district, really opening himself up to work with his staff and the 1,500-plus students at Sutton. While some may think his accomplishment is an anomaly, Merriweather says anyone can do it.
“When you put your head in it, and never stop learning, and always are open to feedback and being better, the opportunities are there,” he explained.
His students are already giving great feedback about their new principal, one eighth grader calling him “nice and fair.”
“He’s really nice and fair and if we have a problem, he helps us to improve that,” said student Avery Wicker.
Eighth-grader RJ Scott agreed, adding, “He is a really nice guy, always there for you.”
The good doctor says he’s living proof that age isn’t always an indicator of success in education. While he doesn’t know what his career trajectory will look like in the distant future, right now, he’s committed to being the best principal possible at Sutton Middle.
“Age does not equate to ability or capacity. If you are driven and open to learning and if you truly want to be the best at what you are doing, it can happen,” he said.
Congratulations Dr. Merriweather! Because of you, we can!
Photo Courtesy of Dr. Dominique R. Merriweather/Twitter