Three months after returning as principal of Merl Grove High School in St Andrew, Dr Marjorie Fullerton says the job remains challenging, given that she is still working with the same board that recommended her dismissal four years ago.

“It is not easy at all, because I thought that coming back after six years — and six successful years, and I’m saying successful because the school has moved in terms of ranking and academic performance. And coming back, I thought I was going to see a new board, but I’m facing the same school board, and there were teachers here before who are still here,” Fullerton told the
Jamaica Observer on Monday during clean-up and back-to-school preparation at the school for the 2026-2027 academic year, with help from Jamaica Defence Force soldiers.

“It is very difficult if I’m not getting the support that I need. It’s not easy, but I have been through many fights, because I’m a breast cancer survivor, and during the time I was fighting for my job, I was also fighting for my life. I believe that, even though it’s not the same thing, it’s still a fight,” she said.

The veteran educator was at the centre of a long-standing dispute at Merl Grove, dating back to 2022 when she was removed by the board following a recommendation from the school’s personnel committee.

The committee had submitted a report stating that charges against Fullerton were proven at a hearing that followed her September 10, 2021, suspension.

But the Supreme Court ordered her reinstatement in March this year, marking a defeat for the school board, the Ministry of Education, and the Associated Gospel Assemblies (AGA) Church, which owns Merl Grove. All had upheld her dismissal following a dispute with staff over her leadership style.

While noting that the journey has not be smooth sailing, Fullerton believes she can create a meaningful impact “with parents, the school board, and all of the stakeholders working together. I’m sure we can move Merl Grove to the next level”.

“My focus is academic excellence, and right now the school is not where we are used to having it,” she added.

According to the principal, academically, internal examination scores are below what they used to be. As such, she is now seeking to assist students through a previously established incentive programme to boost their examination grades.

“We had an incentive programme where we identified students who were attaining an average of 85 and over, and we provided them with gadgets, whether they were tablets or not. If they are getting 90 and over averages, we provide them with computers,” she explained.

“They get to wear the honour roll jacket, which is bright, so everybody can see that they were honour roll students, and we recognise them in prize-giving and also with their parents who are here for PTA (parent-teacher association), so that helped them. The other students would see them and want to be like that student, and they would work hard and get there. That helped to move the academic performance of the school,” she said.

Dr Fullerton said teachers who assist students in attaining 80 per cent and over averages are also rewarded.

For external examinations, the principal said the school is known to do well in both the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) and Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC).

“The CSEC scores — I haven’t got them analysed as yet; I know for the CAPE, because that is where I go first, because it’s usually extraordinary. For CSEC, though, Merl Grove has been recognised in the Orlando Patterson Report along with Campion [College] as adding value to CSEC and CAPE passes. So Merl Grove is known to do exceptionally well,” she added.

Fullerton said she is excited to commence a full academic year with a new cohort of students since her reinstatement.

“Ready and raring for September to come, and for me to start a whole full year because I just came on April 30 this year. So I’m three months in. So starting the new year, seeing the new students, and starting with a brand new set, hoping to finish up with them,” Fullerton added.