Marblehead Principal To Lead Danvers Great Oak Elementary School

DANVERS, MA — Amanda Murphy is the latest educator making the North Shore switch from Marblehead to Danvers Public Schools as the 25-year educator is the new principal at Great Oak Elementary School.

Murphy comes to Danvers from being the principal at Marblehead's Village School since 2016.

"I'm very excited," Murphy said in a DPS statement to Patch. "It's how we grow as educators —new opportunities and trying something different."

A former guidance counselor, Murphy was assistant principal for one year before taking over the principal role for the past eight years.

"Ms. Murphy believes that relationships are key to the success of a school," said Danvers Superintendent Dan Bauer, who came to the district after serving as the principal of Marblehead High School. "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."

A Connecticut native, Murphy earned a bachelor's degree from St. Michael's College and a 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, a teaching assistant in Wellesley, and as a guidance counselor in Brookline.

The Lynn resident was a board member and coach in the Fit Girls Run Club in Marblehead, coaching 125 girls in grades 4-6 who complete a 5K road race at the end of the school year.

Murphy will begin her new position on July 1.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)