Jennifer “Buffy” Murphy
South Carolina Teacher of the Year
Irmo Elementary School, South Carolina
Grade 5, ELA, Science, Social Studies

My teaching philosophy
I believe all students can learn given appropriate time and opportunities. I believe the field of education is constantly changing. Educators must remain abreast of current legislation, theories and best practices in order to teach and reach each and every child in the most effective and memorable ways.

My philosophy in action
I am a lifelong learner and risk taker, and I share this love of learning with my students. I want my students to see that I value education! I try to teach them that life is one big classroom, and learning doesn’t stop when we leave our room. The world is our learning laboratory. I constantly reflect on my own teaching and learning and encourage my students to do the same, always aiming to do better than our last personal best. I question what I do and why I do it, and articulate the rationale behind my teaching. I take an analytical look at the information I discover, for not all research, theories, and strategies are most effective for my pupils. I am selective and get to know each child in order to get the most out of my findings. My involvements in graduate courses, leadership teams, and as a presenter have a direct impact on student learning as my pupils truly see me as a lifelong learner. They know I have homework, too, and enjoy sharing experiences from my current studies. They know I am searching to find new answers. After many class sessions or district meetings, I enthusiastically share with my classes the main ideas from the previous afternoon or evening. They are involved in my learning. We refer to our brains as sponges soaking up as much as we can in an effort to grow and contribute. I want them to know that learning takes place everywhere as long as our minds and hearts are open to it. They know that I learn from them because I tell them often. I encourage them to be life-long students and teachers. We all have something to contribute to the learning of others. My students are allowed to be the “class expert” on certain topics in class discussions and are encouraged to do so. I feel the best way to instill a love of learning is to model it. Live by example. Through our collaborative studies, we are finding our own voice as risk-takers, learners, and teachers.

My greatest teaching accomplishment
One of the biggest rewards I experience from teaching is the fact that my students teach me something new every single day. I try to instill this thirst for knowledge and hunger for a challenge into all of my students, no matter their background or current ability. When a student brings me an article in the morning and says, “Mrs. Murphy, I did some more research on what we were talking about yesterday. I thought everyone would want to know a little more about it,” I am thrilled beyond belief! They have caught the “fever” and I know it will be contagious as long as I continue to foster and support this enthusiasm. I get up every morning to do what I do for students who never thought they wanted to know, until I showed them they really did. I am rewarded by high fives and hugs and notes and little red apples, but more than anything by that “ah ha” moment, an “I’ll give it a try, Mrs. Murphy,” a “You really think I can do this, Mrs. Murphy?” My rewards come in the focused eyes of my students when they are working with determination, the furrow of their brows when they are hooked enough to want to figure it out, the pride in their smiles after they’ve given it their all, the outstretched hand encouraging a classmate. My students’ confidence is my reward!

The most critical issues facing educators today
There are so many issues in public education today, from accountability and funding, to teacher recruitment and retention, and various “choice” initiatives. However, I firmly believe the most critical issue in public education today is advocacy for ALL children. Our state constitution mandates free public schools offering each child the opportunity for a minimally adequate education. Advocacy impacts all involved with public education because we owe our students so much more than a “minimally adequate” education. They are the future of our nation. As our country grows and changes, we must find new ways to reach our entire population, urban and rural. We must advocate for equity in education!

Ways to resolve this issue
We must become advocates for our profession and our children. We need to build relationships of mutual respect with community members, business leaders, parents, and policy makers. Henry Ford once said, “Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” We need to bring everyone to the same table. “Common Ground” tours are one such way. Groups can travel and/or meet together throughout counties and states in a continuing effort to ensure a quality education for all of our children. The entire community can be invited to share their voice. These visits could not only provide a status report on our state’s educational progress and information on our comprehensive vision for public education, it can challenge individuals as part of the community to use their influence and energies to take action. Participants can identify what is occurring in their community which will address areas for action. They can also identify critical barriers to fulfilling the commitment, and important things their community can do to address the responsibilities of coming together on “Common Ground.” I have found that most in the community want to be involved, but don’t always know how. Change occurs first at the local level. By giving all communities a voice, they feel empowered to make a change. This will promote informed education advocacy for our state’s children. It will also bring the voice for educators across our state to a very important table with business leaders, community members, and elected officials. I feel strongly that as educators we must be a voice for public education, but also a strong voice for ALL children.

One thought to inspire teachers to succeed
“All” means “all”. If we want all students to succeed, then we must strive to be better than our last personal best. We are their hope, and they are our future – each and every one of them!

One lesson every student should learn
I believe I am successful as a teacher if my students leave my room able to say with confidence, “I am important, and I can make a difference! I can do anything if I work hard and believe in myself.”

Back to the 2007 Teacher Profiles home page