New Principal at EEV Prep Leads with Love and “LUV”

EEPVA Principal Marty Bulger speaks with a group of student. Image courtesy of Toson Knight

Marty Bulger is the kind of principal who would rather greet you with a hug than a handshake. When he meets students in the hallway, he puts their names and grade levels into his phone, all the better to remember them as individuals.

Like so many schools throughout the nation, East English Village Preparatory Academy has seen an uptick in student fights as a result of pandemic stress. EEVPA was cast in a negative light in the local news this fall after an especially disruptive fight broke out in the school lunchroom. But Principal Bulger didn’t let the story end there. A follow up on TV a few days later showed all the staff applauding students as they returned to school after a few days’ cooling off period. He also organized a pep rally that day, which included showing off his dance moves to a surprised and delighted student body. “We needed to receive them with the knowledge that they hadn’t been in school for 16-18 months. They needed to know that we love them.”

Principal Bulger may be new to EEVPA, but he’s no stranger to educational challenges. Before starting there in early October, he had been the principal at Legacy Academy, which serves students who’ve had difficulty succeeding in DPSCD’s regular high schools. His emphasis on love and support shouldn’t be mistaken for weakness. He’s clear that fighting will not be tolerated at school. “Instead of fighting each other, we must fight for each other. If you want to fight, this is not the place for you. Come back when you’re ready to learn.”

To help foster a calm and supportive environment for learning, Mr. Bulger wants to ensure that the DPSCD officers assigned to help keep order in the school have a good rapport with the students. He plans to bring the officers into classrooms regularly to get to know the students and provide them with information and resources.

EEVPA Principal Marty Bulger Image courtesy of Susan Newell

Mr. Bulger’s approach to education has been shaped by his own life experiences. He grew up in the North End of Detroit and graduated from Northern High School, where he got “foundational support. Everyone invested in me. I learned how to be a good educator from them.” His mother, who worked at Thirkell Elementary-Middle School, also encouraged his education. Although he admits getting into his share of trouble as a kid, he says “my mother taught me how to love.”

Love guides Principal Bulger’s educational philosophy and shows up as “LUV - Listen, Understand, and Validate.” That’s the mindset he wants all the staff at EEVPA to adopt in their interactions with the students.

Mr. Bulger’s plans for EEVPA are as expansive as his personality. His office is filled with boxes of pink Tshirts, ready for the young women’s leadership council to wear. He changed the name from “principal’s council” to “leadership council” to emphasize the leading role that students must take. There will be another one set up for the young men in the school.

Mr. Bulger is also committed to developing relationships with community organizations and leaders through “Collaborative Community Conversations.” And he very much wants parental engagement, not just involvement. “Involvement means you know a few things about the school, might go to a conference now and then. Engagement means that you’re interacting in the day-to-day operations of the school.” He’s especially interested in engaging fathers through a “Dads on Duty” group modeled after a successful program in Louisiana.

Principal Bulger sums up his approach to his new job in just a few words. “Do what you say you’ll do. Be who you say you are. We’re not teaching subjects, we’re teaching students. This is what education is.”