By Emily Carroll – News Editor

Mr. Marko recently joined the Jonathan Law community as the new assistant principal.

Before he came to Law, Marko was the Dean of Students at Tomlinson Middle School in Fairfield. He replaces Mr. Cavanna, who was named principal at West Shore Middle School.

“He is eager to meet everybody and very welcoming,” principal Mr. Thompson said. “He is going to do a great job complimenting our team.”

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Marko sat down for an interview with Advocate news editor Emily Carroll. He discussed his early impressions of Law as well as his plans for the future.

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Emily Carroll: What made you decide to be an assistant principal?

Mr. Marko: I really enjoy being with students and the dean’s role really gets you in with the students, but I was missing out on a piece that I also liked which is the academic role. I was a teacher before I became a dean. The assistant principal role does still lend itself for me to be with the students in a dean-type of position. It also allows me to work with teachers and students in the classroom.

EC: What made you come to Milford?

MM: I was looking for a place that I thought that I would really enjoy going to and the reputation that Law has is that it is a great big family. When I came to interview for the position, that is the feel I got here. I like that the students look like they love to be here, that they take pride in their school, and wear their colors. That was the type of atmosphere I was looking for and Law seemed like the perfect fit.

EC: What are your long-term and short-term goals for this year?

MM: My long-term goal this year is to assimilate myself to become a part of this community and to really entrenched to get a feel for what makes this community so special. Really that’s my short-term goal, too. I want to help take Jonathan Law to the next level. It is already great, but even when you are already great at something there is always room for improvement.

EC: Do you have any idea for how you would help improve Law?

MM: I call it the “look, listen, and feel” aspect of being the assistant principal here. I don’t really have an idea of what is really here yet.

EC: What were some reactions and emotions you felt after your first day?

MM: I was kind of like a whirlwind. You don’t really remember much of what was going on. I think it was meeting the people. Anyone who walked by stopped and said hello. I think when you have an environment where someone new comes in and every person at least smiled or came to shake my hand and introduce themselves – student, teacher, everyone – I think that’s a type of environment i’m going to enjoy really working in.

EC: What are some of the things you like to do outside of school?

MM: I like to travel. That’s one of the things I really enjoy doing to try and get away. I have a wife and two children, a 12 year old and a nine year old. So a lot is based upon their lives. I like to go play golf and to just really enjoy my family.

EC: Is there anything else you would like to say to the Law community?

MM: Just a big thank you for being so welcoming and for just taking me in as one of their own already. Usually it takes a little bit of time, but I really feel very comfortable here and it really is the way that everyone is treating me here.