Mrs. Murray is a dedicated educator whose professional journey reflects an enduring passion for learning. Currently in her eighth year of teaching, she brings not only academic expertise but also an energetic, student-centered philosophy that makes her a valuable member of the Bolles faculty.

From a young age, Mrs. Murray envisioned herself pursuing a career in engineering, a path she remained committed to until her junior year of high school.

“I realized I was terrible at math. And I was like, well, I don’t want to do this for the rest of my life if I don’t like math,” she said. This realization prompted her to explore other passions.“I decided I wanted to be a maritime archaeologist, so someone who goes into shipwrecks and discovers treasure.” Although fascinating, she recognized that such a career lacked stability.

While studying anthropology in college, Mrs. Murray gained hands-on experience by volunteering with a museum, where she was assigned to sort thousands of seashells. That moment proved significant in her decision to pivot toward education. She recalled discovering a teaching program through her district in South Florida, explaining, “With that, if you got a degree in teaching and you went back to the county, you were guaranteed a job. So I signed up for that… and that was the first time I thought I would actually be pretty good at that.”

Her transition into teaching was also influenced by her husband, who was working at the University of Florida’s English Language Institute, where he taught international students. Mrs. Murray described how his enthusiasm for teaching contributed to their joint decision.“He really liked it, and he would tell me all the stories of all these activities, and it sounded really fun,” she said. “So we kind of were both like, maybe we should be teachers.”

She also highlights her time working with students at Gainesville High School during her internship, and her leadership as a swim coach and summer camp staff member at Oak Hall School in Gainesville.

Before joining Bolles, Mrs. Murray taught at Bartram Trail High School in St. Johns County, where she primarily taught geography and the culture was very supportive. “If I had any ideas, the administration always encouraged me to pursue them.”

While she appreciated her experiences at Bartram Trail, Mrs. Murray expressed her excitement about the additional resources available at Bolles.

“The difference is that Bolles is actually giving me the resources to do that, versus before I had to find the resources and get creative… I feel like I’m going to be a better teacher here,” she said.

Mrs. Murray teaches World History, a subject directly tied to her academic background. She minored in Classics during college, focusing on the study of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. 

She describes teaching this course as a dream fulfilled.

“My dream has always been to teach ancient world history. I’m just over the moon with getting to teach that, and I think the kids will feed off of that energy too.”

Her enthusiasm for the subject is matched by her belief in creating an engaging, memorable classroom environment where students are encouraged to explore their interests and connect with history on a deeper level.

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Mrs. Murray also serves as the Student Activities Director. This role allows her to merge her organizational skills with her passion for student engagement. “I love welcoming people, and I like making people feel comfortable and at home and getting people excited about things.”

For Mrs. Murray, fostering school spirit is one of her main goals for any school she works at. 

“I went to a school that had zero school spirit. I didn’t get that experience, so I love being able to give that experience to other people, because I really feel like I would have enjoyed high school a lot more if I had cared more about my school.”

She believes that involvement and participation are central to a meaningful high school journey.“You only get one high school experience, you’re not going to regret doing something—you’re going to regret not doing something.”

Outside of the classroom, Mrs. Murray’s personality is equally vibrant and diverse. She enjoys swimming, running, playing board games, acting, reading, baking, and traveling. She has completed a marathon and climbed Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States.

She proudly shares these fun facts with her students to help them see her as approachable and relatable.

Her love for new experiences shapes her approach to life. “I like to do everything. I will try literally anything.” This openness to new challenges translates directly into her teaching style, where she encourages students to explore diverse opportunities, whether academic, extracurricular, or personal.

Ultimately, Mrs. Murray views education not only as a career but as a meaningful opportunity to guide students toward success while ensuring their high school years are enriching and memorable. She is motivated by the belief that students should be encouraged to grow in multiple dimensions, not just academics.

She talks about how her high school experience differs from high school now. “At my school, we weren’t encouraged to join sports or do extracurriculars; we were just told to get good grades, and that was it. I think you guys are in a really cool place.”

Mrs. Murray is committed to using her position to ensure students at Bolles feel supported, engaged, and inspired.