By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great local journalism.
Private school has new leader
Marshall ex-NGCSU professor
Marshall Heather
Heather Marshall - photo by Submitted
Heather Marshall is ready to lead Horizon Christian Academy.

Marshall was named to the role of managing director of the private Christian school in April after the former director, Garin Berry, resigned due to health issues.

While she’s still new to her position, Marshall isn’t new to the school, which has a kindergarten through sixth grade campus on Freedom Parkway in north Forsyth and a new facility for grades seven through 12 soon to open on Canton Highway.

She has worked at the school since February 2008, serving as elementary principal and later as director of curriculum and instruction.

“I was really led here,” she said. “I feel [God] called me here and I answered.”

Prior to coming to Horizon, Marshall worked as a professor, teaching future teachers at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega.

“I was very happy in my position with North Georgia College,” she said. “But I loved the staff and students here. The parents and staff are also all so nurturing.”

During her first months at the helm, Marshall has promoted Jodi Michaud to the position of elementary principal and Melanie Godwin to principal of the high school.

“My first decision was to have the right people in place to lead the schools at the school levels,” she said. “It’s amazing the synergy the three of us have together.”

In addition, she’s also seen ground broken on the school’s new facility, which will allow Horizon to have a football team and band program for the first time this fall.

Marshall also hopes to continue to expand the school’s academic offerings.

This fall the high school will offer three new Advanced Placement courses — psychology, language and U.S. history — bringing the total AP offerings to seven.

Marshall taught middle and high school math in Towns County from 1997 to 2005. Her teaching abilities led to her receiving the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics Teaching in 2003 and being named the Georgia Secondary Mathematics Teacher of the Year in 2004.

She holds degrees in business administration, legal assistant technology and liberal arts, in addition to a master’s degree in mathematics education and a specialist degree in teacher leadership.

She is currently completing her dissertation toward a doctorate in educational policy from Georgia State University.

E-mail Crystal Ledford at crystalledford@forsythnews.com.