For some, a job is a job, but for Scott Murphy, the new assistant principal of Mountain View Middle School, his work is his passion. “One reason I got into education is that I just enjoy being around the kids so much,” Murphy said. “You’ve got these energetic, inquisitive kids who are all learning their place in the world, and you’re there to help them. And they’re just so much fun.”
Murphy’s previous post was as an assistant principal at Astoria Middle School, where he also worked as a social studies teacher. His résumé also includes a stint as principal at Captain Robert Gray School in Astoria, as well as stops in The Dalles and Montana.
He also helped develop and ta ught an English program in Japan.
"This is not my first administrative job,” Murphy said of his new post. “I think I have a good, solid background, and I feel I can be a very strong member of the team here.”
Murphy was selected for the position from a pool of 73 applicants by a seven-member committee that included four teachers and Mountain View Principal Wayne Strong. He replaces former Assistant Principal Dan Busch, who resigned to accept a principal position at a middle school in Tigard.
According to a press release, the selection committee found that Murphy’s colleagues described him as “a dedicated, caring professional who works well with students and provides strong leadership to a school.”
“He brings a history of building trust, developing positive relationships combined with high ethics and strong leadership,” Strong said.
For his part, Murphy said he was impressed with Mountain View’s educational philosophy and history, as well as its disciplinary “incentive program.”
“Coming into this position, what I was excited about was the teachers I met with, and how they addressed learning with the students,” he said. “The systems that are in place here are very impressive, and I’m excited to come in and learn and be a part of it.”
Murphy, whose first day on the job was early this month, will be responsible for student management, positive behavior support programs and instructional leadership at Mountain View, according to the press release from the approximately 550-student school.
Murphy, also a parent with two sons in elementary and middle school, received his master’s in education from Montana State University and his bachelor’s in business administration from Eastern Montana College.
Tyler Francke, Newberg Graphic
