Murphy at a Glance

I am originally from Grand Forks, North Dakota (an hour from the Canada border). After graduating high school, I attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota where I wrestled at the NCAA Division II level and received bachelors degrees in Journalism and Communications. After working as a daily sports reporter for the Gillette News-Record in Gillette, Wyoming for a year, I went back to school at Minnesota State University-Moorhead to earn a degree in English Education. I then completed my Masters of Education in Educational Technology from Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota. I have also completed National Board Certification for Career and Technical Education, which includes Arts, Media and Entertainment credential certification.

This is my first year at Santa Rosa Academy and my 15th year teaching. For the first 14 years of my teaching career, I taught high school courses in West Fargo, North Dakota. During that time, I had the opportunity to teach every grade level of high school English and Career and Technical Education courses, in addition to elective courses such as debate and speech, newspaper journalism, video production, broadcast journalism, graphic design, photography and yearbook photojournalism.

My experience in student media provided me with the opportunity to serve as the regional media association coordinator in the midwest for 10 years as well as the Journalism Education Association ND State Director for three years. During that time, I also helped pass legislation in North Dakota to protect student journalists and media advisers.

I have been married to my wife, Tamara, for 16 years and we have three daughters. Tamara teaches at the elementary level in the Murrieta Valley Unified School District. We have absolutely loved our transition to Southern California and we are extremely excited to enter our second year as a part of the Santa Rosa Academy community.

Contact information:

• Email: jmurphy@sra.mn