William Murphy, Julia L. Armstrong Elementary School

Photo courtesy of Delta Democrat Times
Article courtesy of Mrs. Eva Finley

As an elementary male teacher, William Murphy see education from varied perspectives. His perspectives, driven by a passionate desire to effectively influence students' early school experiences, have certainly earned him the distinguished honor of "Teacher of the Year" for the Greenville Public School District.

Murphy, a native of North Carolina, accepted the invitation three years ago to become a team member of Julia L. Armstrong Elementary School. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Currently, he teaches reading in grades 4 and 5 at Armstrong.

Murphy believes that a good basic education should include teaching academic skills, as well as social skills. "It is imperative that, as teachers, we incorporate our personalities in teaching. Teaching and learning should be fun, yet challenging. Once our students leave and go into the real world, it is not going to be easy." He also believes that more teachers must take the "why-not attitude" and challenge students to the fullest. "Why not introduce students to Shakespeare on the elementary level? Many students deal with difficult and controversial issues daily in their communities and by means of television." He continues by saying, "teachers must go beyond the books to create productive citizens that will positively affect our society. We must come 'out of the box' and approach each child as if we are the last persons to give a child an opportunity to learn."

Murphy acknowledges his family for teaching him to appreciate the value of education. He credits his success as a teacher at Armstrong to his students and colleagues fostering a positive learning environment. "I am a part of a staff that accepted me from the beginning and has guided me daily," says Murphy. As the Teacher of the Year, Murphy would like to challenge everyone in the Greenville Public School District to adopt a "win-win" approach in moving our district from "good to great." It is quite evident that Murphy would also like to share his enthusiasm with all of the citizens of Greenville as "we embrace an authentic relationship between the school district and the school community that promotes success for all children."