Why Teach at Meridian?
Our Community
Teaching at Meridian means joining a collaborative team that makes data-driven decisions, tries new approaches, and holds high expectations for every student. Our teachers work together every day to ensure each student is building the academic and social-emotional skills they need to succeed in school and in life.
Our school community reflects the rich diversity of Washington, D.C. Thirty percent of our students are Multilingual Learners, and we serve families from the neighborhoods of Meridian Hill, the U Street Corridor, and Columbia Heights. Teachers at Meridian work within a school that centers literacy, language, and the arts, and they are encouraged to bring creativity into their instruction across every subject area.
Opportunities for Growth
Meridian invests in its teachers. Every teacher receives frequent, targeted feedback from a coach or school leader on a biweekly basis. Every Thursday throughout the school year, students dismiss early so teachers can engage in professional development together.
Each campus also budgets to send teachers to external professional development, including local and national conferences where teachers both present and bring back new ideas to the school community.
Is Meridian PCS Right for You?
Our ideal candidates also have the following qualifications and core competencies:
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A relentless belief that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or special education/EL placement, can learn at college preparatory levels;
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Bachelor’s degree required from an accredited institution. Concentration or advanced degree in education preferred;
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Meet the appropriate grade level and subject area requirements to be deemed a Highly Qualified Teacher (HQT) under the No Child Left Behind Act;
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Two or more years of successful teaching experience as an elementary or middle school teacher in an urban environment preferred.
Does this sound like you? If so, learn more about working with us!
Compensation and Benefits
Meridian offers competitive salaries and rewards employees for their performance through annual merit incentives. Meridian rates 42 points above the top quartile of DC charter schools for teacher satisfaction with compensation. We lead the charter sector in compensation transparency and publish our salary scale publicly.
Salary Scale for Teachers
Teachers and staff also have opportunities to earn additional income through school leadership roles, extracurricular clubs and sports, and tutoring programs.
Health Benefits
Meridian offers comprehensive health benefits including low-cost medical coverage, dental coverage that includes child and adult orthodontia, and vision coverage.
Retirement Plan Matching
Meridian offers eligible employees a 401k program with an immediate match of up to 5%. Employees are fully vested in the plan upon eligibility.
Parental Leave
Meridian provides paid parental leave for expecting parents. Employees can also take advantage of DC Paid Family Leave, which offers an additional 8 weeks to bond with a new child.
Referral Bonus
Employees receive a $500 referral bonus for recommending a candidate who is hired by Meridian.
Is Meridian Right for You?
Our ideal candidates bring the following to our community:
- A relentless belief that all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or special education and EL placement, can learn at college preparatory levels
- A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution, with a concentration or advanced degree in education preferred
- Eligibility to be deemed a Highly Qualified Teacher under applicable standards
- Two or more years of successful teaching experience at the elementary or middle school level in an urban environment preferred