HBCU Grad makes history as the youngest principal in Atlanta public school district

Dr. Dominique Merriweather, a Morehouse College graduate and educator, was chosen as the first Black person to lead Sutton Middle School in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a 30-year-old educator.

Additionally, he is currently the youngest principal in the Atlanta Public School system.

Both Westlake High School and Morehouse College, an HBCU, awarded Dr. Merriweather diplomas in 2010.

He had not set his sights on being a schoolteacher at the time, but rather a business attorney.

But after spending time reading and mentoring to inner city students, he made the decision to take a different route.

Merriweather told Fox 5 Atlanta, “I went to go read to elementary school kids one day in the Atlanta University Center area and I fell in love with the students.

In 2013, he started to pursue a career at teaching as a special education teacher for kids.

Within just 9 years, he has since climbed through the ranks to become the district’s youngest principal ever.

“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 said.

He has been appointed as principal at Sutton Middle School, where there are currently over 1,500 students.

With the large population, he said listening to people and valuing and respecting their input are some of the most important things to do.

Indeed, he already received positive feedback from the students.

Eighth-grader Avery Wicker said, “He’s incredibly pleasant and fair, and if we have an issue, he helps us to improve that.”

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RJ Scott, a student in the eighth grade, said of him, “He is a really lovely guy, always there for you.” Merriweather hasn’t even begun to consider his next professional move.

He claimed he wanted to concentrate more on his current position and demonstrate his ability to achieve despite his still-relatively-young age.

Age is not a measure of aptitude or capacity. It is possible to be the best at what you do if you are motivated, open to learning, and sincere in your desire, the speaker added.