Growing up with attention deficit disorder (ADD) in the ‘80s meant that Michelle Murphy’s teachers were confused about how to handle her.
“I still have vivid memories of being hit on the knuckles for not sitting still,” said Murphy. “Back then they didn’t know how to handle a child with ADD.”
Throughout her years in school, it didn’t get any better.
“Other teachers saw my file and thought “she’s a bad kid,” without getting to know me.”
She remembers one teacher who called on her when she wasn’t paying attention.
“I didn’t know the answer because I didn’t hear the question,” said Murphy. “She started calling me names and encouraged the other kids to start in on me too.”
For 33-year-old Murphy, those moments growing up are what shaped her decision to go to school to be a teacher.
“I want to be the teacher that I didn’t have,” said Murphy. “I don’t believe in judging a kid based on their file alone. I want to get to know the child myself and give them a chance.”
Murphy currently works at Redondo Beach Learning Academy Community Day School, an extension of the South Bay Adult School, as an instructional assistant for teacher Steve Doherty. She assists all subjects, including her specialty, math. The students at the day school range in grades from ninth to twelfth grade. She is currently going to school at the University of Phoenix to get her teacher’s credentials in math and has her masters in secondary education.
As an instructional assistant, she records weekly progress reports, grades tests and homework, monitors students’ behavior and learns how to run a classroom.
“I’m gaining experience in the classroom, like learning how the teacher sets it up and teaches different lessons,” said Murphy. “I’m also learning my own style of teaching. I think it’s better than going fresh out of school to my own classroom. It’s great preparation.”
Plus, Murphy gets to work with at-risk youth, which she feels is a more challenging environment.
“The only struggle is that it’s not my classroom,” said Murphy. “I don’t have the same authority as a regular teacher so they challenge me because I don’t have the power to give out consequences.”
Being a part of the school has helped Murphy work with kids who have been previously left behind or judged based on their past experience in and out of the classroom.
“A lot of the kids here think they are stupid,” said Murphy. “I let them know that it’s not true. Everyone has skills in different areas. Some kids are auditory and others are visual. That’s what I bring to the classroom; I try to find out how that student learns best.”
Murphy frequently tutors students who ask for additional help and often stays well past her scheduled hours to help students who ask for help.
“She goes over and beyond her call of duty,” said Principal Erin Simon. “This is someone who will tutor students outside of school and do anything possible to make sure students succeed.”
One of her greatest accomplishments when she first started working at the school was being able to help a young woman finish 13 classes in seven months, an amazing accomplishment for most students at the school.
“All she wanted was to find a connection, she was smart and loved to learn,” said Murphy. “She went back to the high school and graduated. I went to her graduation and she said, ‘Thank you for believing in me.’”
Murphy feels her specialty is finding out what motivates each kid.
“Michelle gets to know each kid on a personal basis,” said Doherty. “She figures out how they learn and focus and independently adjusts to that. She’s great one-on-one with the kids.”
Simon believes that Murphy is able to connect especially well with students who have had difficulties in the past. “It’s not like she’s pulling teeth, they respond to her very well. I think she is a teacher who will impact students’ lives in a positive way.”
Murphy has worked at the day school since 2009 and will soon be receiving her credentials after she completes her classroom observation and student teaching. As part of the program she hopes to student teach at Animo Leadership Charter High School in Inglewood before applying for jobs and teaching her own class.
“She’ll be fine when she gets her own classroom” said Doherty. “She’s great with the kids and she’ll easily be able to hold down a classroom.”
