Veteran educator now principal at Milford alternative school

MILFORD — Amanda Marshall doesn't think any student of hers should worry about surviving a trip to the principal's office.

Marshall began a new job this month as principal at The Academy, Milford's alternative high school, after roughly a decade with Bridgeport's public schools. She redecorated her office picture collages of her children, covered her conference table with a cloth like restaurants have, and had the place painted to brighten it up.

Given that the school handles students who need a non-traditional learning environment that emphasizes relationships, smaller class sizes and increased academic and emotional support, Marshall wanted her office to be familiar, personal and inviting, she said.

“Having it be home was important to me,” Marshall said. “I want (students) to come in. I want them to talk to me and understand that, even if they did something wrong, we're still going to love them. We are going to figure out everything. Everything is figureout-able.”

Marshall's last post, as assistant principal for Bridgeport's High Horizons and Multicultural Magnet schools in Bridgeport, had her overseeing school scheduling and federal grants, student discipline and working with families, staff and community partners. She started there in 2021. Multicultural Magnet School leaders named her the Staff Person of the Year in 2023, Milford school officials said in a statement.

Prior to that, since 2014, she was a part-time school counselor at several Bridgeport schools and worked full-time at that city's preKindergarten to eighthgrade Multicultural Magnet School. Marshall handled individual and group counseling for the academic and social-emotional needs for 460 students. Her counseling duties placed much emphasis on truancy and chronic absenteeism, officials said.

Marshall applied for The Academy principal's job after becoming familiar with Milford administrators while interviewing for another Milford position. The Academy is much smaller than Multicultural or Milford's Foran and Jonathan Law high schools. With eight classrooms, plus a gym, the school has 57 students and 27 staff — seven certified teachers plus support staff and part-timers who rotate through several city schools.

Marshall likes what she sees in the school and her supervisors, she said.

“I like the idea of working with kids who maybe didn't do as well in a comprehensive school setting,” Marshall said.

“I was like, ‘Wow. This is the ideal way to get an education,' in smaller settings with connected features. I am drawn to this type of environment.”

Marshall