Meet Our Wildcats

Why did you choose to attend AMHS?
I chose to attend AMHS because the first day I stepped on campus, I sensed something special. AMHS has a welcoming spirit containing multiple opportunities, making the community feel like a big family. In just my first year at the school, I have already felt a change in myself both academically and in areas beyond the classroom. I am immensely grateful that I chose to spend all four years of my high school journey here, and I am truly looking forward to creating my own path!

What is your favorite thing about AMHS?
AMHS has so many amazing elements. I love the way the school has such an inseparable community, which is composed of the most caring and helpful people I have ever met. AMHS adapted to the pandemic smoothly, while maintaining and spreading a strong sense of hope. The academics at AMHS are also very organized, with clear assignments and comprehensible lessons. The school offers tons of opportunities including multiple sports teams, diverse clubs, and various extracurricular activities. I am eagerly looking forward to playing on the AMHS soccer team! The close community and distinct opportunities that AMHS has are remarkable.

What is your favorite class and why?
I enjoy all of my classes, but if I had to choose a favorite class, I would choose Biology. We dig deeper into learning about vital life processes and the balance of the environment. Through labs and lively activities, we can grasp concepts and understand the science of life. We also learned about how diseases spread and the inner workings of vaccines, which is especially helpful during a pandemic. Students in Biology class inspire each other to learn, grow, and succeed. 

Finish this sentence: "Murphy pride is…"
Murphy pride is uniting to overcome challenges and to achieve success.

Why did you choose to attend AMHS?
I chose to attend AMHS because of the community it had to offer. I have attended both a very small, private elementary school and a large, public middle school. At the elementary school I attended, I knew everyone very well. At the middle school I went to, there were hundreds of kids in each grade, and I had to navigate everyday differently. AMHS is the perfect middle ground. 

What is your favorite thing about AMHS? 
My favorite thing is the community. Throughout each school year I grow closer with friends, teammates, and teachers. At AMHS, our teachers see every single one of us as individuals. They want to see us succeed, not only while we are still in high school, but beyond. They do everything they can to support us. They always reach out to stay updated on each of the students' sports games, asking how it went. 
 
Sports teams bring together students of all grades. I have met some of my closest friends in other grades through sports. Everyone supports and cheers each other on. We celebrate our wins as a whole school. 

Being on a team means spending every day of the week during the season with an amazing community of athletes and coaches. The coaches here are great, and the weight lifting program is such a unique and beneficial opportunity. Not only is Strength and Conditioning one of my favorite classes, but Coach Jordan also has individual programs set up for each sports team.

What is your favorite class and why?
My favorite class is Theology. I find this class very engaging because we learn about different views from all over the world. It is such a safe environment where students have very respectful discussions about different views. We learn something new every day, and our opinion may change, and nobody ever gets defensive that you have changed your mind. It is an amazing feeling to help educate fellow classmates and to see them grow. 

Finish this sentence, "Murphy pride is..."
Murphy pride is actively supporting those around us because we are a family, and we always want the best for each other.

What is your role at AMHS? (Briefly, explain the Business Pathway Program)

I am the Director of the Business Pathway program at Archbishop Murphy High School. I graduated from Gonzaga University (Bachelors) and Northern Arizona University (Masters), this is my 9th year at AMHS and 13th year as an educator in the Pacific Northwest. I also spend my time on campus managing the student store and concessions booth, advises our DECA chapter, and I'm the varsity boy’s tennis coach.

The Business Pathway program empowers students to pursue their curiosities and futures in the myriad of career pathways available to them in local, national, and global markets. Committed to cultivating insight, the program enhances student understanding of business administration, marketing, finance, hospitality, and entrepreneurship through a specialized curriculum and experiential learning. In alignment with the mission of AMHS, the program is committed to providing opportunities to develop the necessary skillsets and ethics to function effectively in the 21st century workplace.  

How will the business pathway program prepare students for their future?

The Business Pathway program offers students opportunities to develop practical skills that are needed and required to be successful in the workplace. Students will learn how to interview effectively, create a resume and cover letter, think on their feet and problem solve, develop a personal brand, and overall, they will be instructed in content knowledge related to business administration & management, marketing, finance, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. In order to do all of this, we have business courses students will take, an internship to participate in, service work to complete, and they will be a member of our DECA chapter. 

How have you seen AMHS change for the better over the last 5+ years

AMHS has grown tremendously in the past five years. I started teaching here in 2012, and since those days, we have integrated new and compelling curriculum across every discipline and added new course offerings. The Business Pathway program is an example of that and was inspired by our school’s Health Studies Program’s development and success. Another focal point that makes me proud of our community is the growth we are making through our partnership with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), as we are participating in discussions on race, inclusion, equity, and equality. 

How does your interaction with students bring our mission to life?

The vision of our school centers on “nurturing the full development of the gifts that God has given to each student, fostering service as an outgrowth of faith, and valuing diversity.”  I am lucky to be so involved in different arms within that mission: leading the Business Pathway program, teaching in the English department, being a club advisor, and being a coach. My work as an educator is to help provide a space and opportunities for students to recognize within themselves those gifts, desires to be a servant leader, and to empathize with others. Most importantly, I need to model what it means to embrace one’s gifts, serve with a kind heart, and to humbly learn and understand the life of those the same and different than myself. I hope that every student I teach, advise, and coach sees our school’s vision within me and within themselves by the time they leave AMHS. 

Why do you work at AMHS?

I work at AMHS because I want to leave a legacy. When I was in high school, my teachers were incredibly formative in my life. Both my DECA advisor and my English teacher opened my mind and eyes to see myself more clearly. AMHS is where I can honor my teachers' legacy by being the type of instructor that encourages students to cultivate their identity, spark inspiration, and discover what life might look like after their time at AMHS. 

What is your favorite part of teaching?

Hands down, the best part of teaching is witnessing a paradigm shift. Each lesson, I want something within that time frame to reorient their assumed way of thinking: to expand perspective or even just to imagine new possibilities.

Finish this sentence, "Murphy pride is...."

Murphy pride is discovering who you are.