Today, we are honored to profile the extraordinary Dr. Benjamin Merrill, Executive Director and Principal of Meridian Medial Arts Charter High School in Meridian, Idaho.
Dr. Benjamin Merrill spent most of his early professional career driven by the desire to prove that his upbringing did not define him. Today, he focuses on building the school he needed when he was young.
As Executive Director and Principal of Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School (MMACHS) in Meridian, Idaho, Ben leads a healthcare-focused charter school that combines academics with career and technical education pathways. His leadership draws on his experience as a struggling student who needed multiple pathways to succeed.
At the helm of MMACHS, Ben often asks himself: Would this system have worked for me? As a teenager growing up in poverty, struggling academically, navigating family instability, and trying to find a path forward, Ben knows the answer is often no.
Growing Up Without a Plan
Ben grew up first in eastern Idaho and then in eastern Oregon, where his father worked as a ranch hand. His family struggled financially, and the household faced hardship. His family had a negative reputation in town, and higher education wasn’t seen as a viable path. He graduated from high school, but barely; as graduation neared, he couldn’t see college as part of the plan because his family really had no plan at all.
Convinced that the military was his only path forward, Ben began working with an Army recruiter while still in high school. When his parents refused to sign the paperwork necessary for him to move forward before turning 18, he was devastated. What felt like one opportunity to escape difficult circumstances had suddenly disappeared, leaving him uncertain about what came next.
Wrestling as a Lifeline
Ben eventually connected to school, not through academics, but through athletics.
“The only thing that really kept me in school was that I was a pretty good athlete,” said Ben.
Wrestling became one of the most important influences in his life, providing structure, accountability, and purpose when he desperately needed it. Ben credits athletics with helping him remain engaged in school long enough to discover his own potential.
Adults Who Believe Change Everything
After high school, Ben followed friends to a nearby community-college town. Without resources and a stable place to live, he slept in his car while trying to establish a foothold in college.
His path changed when a college employee, Cathy Yasuda, helped him secure housing and access to basics. Later, his psychology instructor, Debbie Skousen, connected with Ben, who said it was one of the first times he felt an adult genuinely believed in him.
“For the first time in my life, someone believed that I was worth something,” said Ben. “It wasn’t because I was academically gifted, it was because somebody believed in me.”
The student who barely graduated from high school became a high-achieving college student. Ben completed an associate degree, earned a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University and a master’s degree in educational administration, and eventually an Ed.D. in educational leadership.
Ben’s experiences also influenced his decision to become a social studies teacher: it was the teacher in high school who cared about him the most.
He believes that the single most powerful force in education is one caring adult who refuses to give up on a student.
Ben started teaching as far away as he could from his family and past, in a small Yupik Eskimo village in Alaska, where he could start a new adventure.
Coming Full-Circle
Eventually, Ben returned to Baker City, Oregon, where he had nearly been expelled as a student, and became principal. In a full-circle moment, he replaced an administrator who had once tried to remove him.
“I wanted to show that I wasn’t the person my last name defined me as,” he said.
In July 2024, Ben joined Meridian Medical Arts Charter High School after serving as Dean of Career and Technical Education at Treasure Valley Community College. He inherited a school facing significant challenges. Leadership turnover had created instability, and enrollment demand had fallen.
Only 62 students had applied for a freshman class of 75 seats. Ben focused on outreach, communication, and relationship-building. He started marketing the school, and applications grew rapidly as the school maintained a waiting list while growing.
After joining MMACHS, he reviewed the school’s policies and practices through the lens of his own experience. Would the school have helped the teenage version of himself?
Ben focused on students who needed him the most. Students from low-income families, multilingual learners, and students who needed academic support. The key, according to Ben, is not asking whether students belong, but challenging educators to ask whether the school is doing enough for students.
“Behind the scenes, I think I’m trying to build a system that would allow a kid like me to benefit from a school like this,” he said. “Ultimately, our goal is to graduate students with their associate’s degree in health science.”
Under his leadership, the school has expanded its intervention programs, after-school tutoring, additional academic support, and increased its focus on retention.
Redefining Success
Today, MMACHS is known for exceptional outcomes and a unique model that combines college prep with healthcare careers. Students can earn certifications in EMT, Certified Nursing Assistant, Medical Assistant, and Pharmacy Tech, with many completing associate degrees during high school. The school’s model allows students to prepare for life-changing access to careers and economic mobility. But for Ben, what matters most isn’t the rankings but making a difference.
“It’s easy to graduate the bright kids. Anybody can do that,” he said, “Graduating kids like me is the tough part.”