LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Marlan Simpson was nominated by his colleague, Melanie Morsy.

Ms. Morsy is an employee at Mt. Eden High School and has worked there for 24 years, beginning her career as a social science teacher before becoming a Guidance Counselor. Over the years, she seen many school administrators come and go, but few have had as positive of an impact on campus as current assistant principal, Marlan Simpson, who joined the faculty two and a half years ago.

"When I met him at a leadership retreat at the start of the school year in 2015, I knew immediately that his heart was in the right place," said Morsy. "Marlan introduced himself by telling the team about his 'Why.' He shared his story of growing up and attending high school in the next town over from where we now work. Marlan told us about how he made many bad decisions as a young man and didn't value his education. He also told us about a mentor he had who never gave up on him and who inspired him to later become an educator himself."

Mr. Simpson has taken the message of never giving up on a child to heart, no matter how bad their behavior is. He has been instrumental in bringing the practice of restorative justice to campus and putting it into action as an alternative to suspension or expulsion. On a daily basis, he has meaningful conversations with students and faculty about how to find their passion and go for it. Recently, he has taken a few "at-risk" youth on field trips to tech companies and other local job sites to expose them to opportunities they might not have had otherwise. He teaches kids to think "out of the box," to be bold, and to never give up on their dreams. No matter how many times a student gets into trouble, Mr. Simpson never gives up on them.

"He constantly reminds me and my colleagues at Mt. Eden to remember our own 'Why'," Morsy said. "He spends every day making decisions that are student-centered and never forgets why he's here: to support and inspire kids."

Mr. Simpson has started an informal mentoring program after school for at-risk students who are interested in learning a different way of communicating and presenting themselves in the community. The students know that he will never give up on them.

"I have a young man on my counseling caseload who, despite many school-based interventions, continues to cut class and get in trouble at school and out in the community," Morsy said. "He has been sent to juvenile hall and is on probation, but Mr. Simpson, who knew this young man from the middle school where he had worked the previous year, continues to believe in him."

When this student was a ninth grader, Mr. Simpson offered him a chance to record his music in a local recording studio that one of his friends managed, but only if he earned a certain GPA for that semester. He knew this student liked to sing and was doing his best to provide positive reinforcement that is not typical of a school administrator. Last year, this same student was arrested and put on probation, and when his probation officer came to the school to search for a mentor for him, guess who stepped up? Mr. Simpson. This is a testament to Mr. Simpson's never ending spirit of forgiveness and hope in the youth with whom he works!