Goodbye Business, Hello Kids

Russell Morgan, the John M. Marshall Elementary School’s newly appointed assistant principal, began his career far from East Hampton. The Manhattan resident worked in real estate and marketing after graduating with a dual degree in finance and real estate from Indiana University’s Kelley School of Business.

“After working in those fields for several years, I was left feeling unfulfilled and in need of a change,” Mr. Morgan said by email. “My most rewarding work to that point had been as a summer camp administrator, where I had the opportunity to strengthen character and impact lives by helping campers to cope with adversity, foster independence, and become responsible participants in the community.”

He went on to earn master’s degrees in special education and general education from Touro College and a school building leadership certificate from St. John’s University, and on May 17 the East Hampton School Board unanimously appointed Mr. Morgan as the new elementary school assistant principal.

He has experience as a special education teacher and currently serves as the math coordinator for kindergarten through eighth grade at the Churchill School, a private special education school in Manhattan. At John Marshall, Mr. Morgan will earn a salary of $125,000 and will have a four-year probationary term when he starts on July 1. He said he plans to relocate to East Hampton. He replaces Dennis Sullivan, who submitted his resignation in March, effective at the end of the school year.

Beth Doyle, the elementary school principal, said she feels his background in math will complement her love for literacy.

“He has a wealth of knowledge about instruction, he’s really smart, and really thoughtful,” she said. “Every person I spoke to with respect to his references raved about how awesome he is with kids and how hard he works, and how much he goes above and beyond. . . . I think he’s going to be great.