An Oxford native is moving down to the land of the Dragons to assume an administrative position at a middle school in Lake Orion.
Rob Murray, who taught fourth grade at Leonard Elementary last year, took his talents to Waldon Middle School in Lake Orion during the first part of the school year to become the middle school’s assistant principal.
‘Lake Orion is an amazing district,? said Murray, who graduated from Oxford High School in 1998. ‘Having come from Oxford, you hear a lot about Lake Orion, and the opportunity was right to get into a destination district, as I call it, a place where people want to go.?
During his eight years with the district, he taught fifth grade at Lakeville Elementary before moving out to Leonard to teach fourth grade.
He had just begun teaching second grade when he received word on Monday, Sept. 12 that he was selected for the open assistant principal position.
Murray noted the nomination did not come as a surprise because the interview process only took about two weeks.
However, he noted it has been an interesting transition going from full-time teacher to full-time administrator without a whole summer to learn the ropes.
?(The hardest part) was phasing out of Oxford after the school year started,? Murray said. ‘You’ve already developed relationships with kids and those types of things, and not necessarily having the whole relationship piece here at Waldon with teachers, parents and staff members.?
Murray said he has had a great experience so far at Waldon.
‘I really feel like, especially this week, that I am really a good fit here and I’m part of a team already,? he said. ‘It was a great situation for me to be in because I could leave one excellent district and come to another.?
Murrary noted he would have applied for an assistant principal position in Oxford, but the time was not right.
‘Oxford has a lot of young, quality administrators and the timing wasn’t going to be right…for me in terms of what I felt I was going to bring to the table,? Murrary said. ‘The timing in terms of finding a position there, because of the quality they have, wasn’t going to be right.?
Working in school administration was something Murray did not consider at first, but throughout his time with the district, he would have people come up to him and tell him he would make a great school administrator.
After that, he began to take on more leadership roles within the schools.
‘During the early years I was really focused on being a good teacher,? he said. ‘As I started to develop into what I feel was a quality teacher, you start taking on some leadership roles. Teaching had become more manageable so I could focus more on the leadership things I knew I would need down the line.?