DANVERS – Amanda Murphy, a 25-year educator who has served in a variety of positions, has been named principal of Great Oak Elementary School, according to Danvers Superintendent of Schools Dan Bauer.
Murphy comes to Danvers from Marblehead Public Schools, where she has worked for 20 years and has been principal of the Village School since 2016.
“I’m very excited,” Murphy said. “It’s how we grow as educators – new opportunities and trying something different.”
Murphy worked as a guidance counselor at the Village School from 2004 to 2015 and assistant principal for a year before becoming principal in 2016. The Village School is grades 4-6, though it hosted second- and third-graders while new schools were being built.
“Ms. Murphy believes that relationships are key to the success of a school,” Bauer said. “As a principal, she leads with a student-focused vision, collaborating with teachers, administrators, and parents to meet the needs of every student. We are very pleased to welcome her to our district.”
Murphy said her experience in guidance translated well into school administration.
“There are certain skills you learn that help you as a leader,” she said. “I was able to visit a lot of classrooms. You develop listening skills that can diffuse situations.”
A Connecticut native, Murphy earned a bachelor’s degree from St. Michael’s College and master’s in education from UMass Boston. Prior to coming to Marblehead she worked as a mental health counselor at Franciscan Children’s Hospital in Boston, teaching assistant in Wellesley, and guidance counselor in Brookline.
The oldest of six children, Murphy was the only one not to go into the family business, owning and running a grocery store. “I wanted something different,” she said.
In Marblehead, Murphy was a board member and coach in the Fit Girls Run Club, providing coaching for 125 girls in grades 4-6 who complete a 5K road race at the end of the school year.
An active runner, Murphy lives in Lynn with her husband, Craig, who teaches in Reading, and their two dogs.
Murphy will begin her new position on July 1.