Our School

Marga Marshall

Academic Dean

Marga Marshall is a seasoned educational leader with over 27 years of experience in bilingual and dual language education across Spain and California. A passionate advocate for bilingualism and biliteracy, she has dedicated her career to expanding opportunities for English Learners and multilingual students through her work as a bilingual teacher, instructional coach, English Learner coach, dual language coach, and principal. She also founded Mt. Diablo Unified School District’s first TK–8 Two-Way Dual Immersion English/Spanish Magnet School, establishing a flagship model for multilingual education in the region. Renowned for her relational, culturally responsive approach, Marga builds strong partnerships with students, families, staff, and communities to create inclusive, language-rich learning environments. She has presented at numerous state and national conferences on effective practices in bilingual education, culturally competent school leadership, Number Talks in dual language settings, and supporting families and paraeducators during Distance Learning. Marga’s leadership has been recognized through multiple honors, including the MDEA Community Involvement Award, two MDEA Outstanding Administrator Awards, and a nomination for ACSA Region 6 Elementary Principal of the Year. Under her guidance, Holbrook Language Academy earned three consecutive Parents Press awards and the 2021 CSBA Golden Bell Award for excellence in English Learner/Biliteracy programs. She is also a contributing author to Breaking Down the Monolingual Wall (Corwin, 2023), writing Chapter 6, “From Leading in a Monolingual Program to Leading in a Dual Language Program.” Today, she continues both her leadership work at ISI and her work as an educational leader partnering with districts and state organizations to deliver expert, customized professional development and consulting support in Multilingual Learner education and biliteracy program design and implementation. Since August 2025, Marga has served as the Assistant Head of School for ISI Academy, an international sports institute dedicated to providing student-athletes with access, opportunity, and a balanced pathway to realizing their full potential.  With our mission to develop the whole student, Marga plays a key role in shaping an individualized, high-performance learning environment where students are empowered.