Howell man recognized as Principal of the Year
BY CHRISTINE GRIMALDI
Staff Writer

Robert Murphy

EAST BRUNSWICK - Award winners commonly book celebratory vacations to Walt Disney World, but East Brunswick High School Principal Robert Murphy had to cancel such plans after receiving the unexpected honor of New Jersey Secon-dary Principal of the Year.

Murphy, a resident of Howell, deferred his trip, a 30th wedding anniversary celebration, to attend the Principals Institute and Awards Banquet this fall in Washing-ton, D.C. The nation's top administrators will collaborate on leadership practices at the forum.

Murphy's own philosophy centers around collaboration.

"Most decisions need to be made at the levels [at which] they're going to be put in place," he said.

Murphy participates in a monthly principal's council with the heads of school clubs and sports, and often attends extracurricular events to increase administrator involvement. He meets with his three vice principals for weekly reviews on school issues and oftentimes gathers with them for daily debriefing sessions, all to "maintain the consistency that we want for a building this large."

Just under 2,300 students attend East Brunswick High School, which educates students in grades 10-12.

"This isn't my school, this is a community school," Murphy said, adding that problems arise when any administrator thinks more highly of himself or herself than their own school.

Murphy, a native of North Brunswick, attended New Brunswick High School and received his undergraduate education degree and a master's degree in education administration and supervision from Rutgers University.

He lives in Howell with his wife, Jane. He has two children, John Ryan, 26, and Jenny, 21.

Murphy began his career as a teacher of vocal music. He later served as principal of Bayshore Middle School in Middletown, for 10 years before coming to East Brunswick High School in September 2000.

He said his proudest accomplishment at East Brunswick is establishing the nine-period day schedule expected to begin in September.

Adding the extra instructional period had been talked about as far back as the 1970s, and graduating seniors have often left feedback about their inability to fit a choice class into their schedules, Murphy said. In fact, the school now has some 500 students taking an extra class at the expense of their lunch period. As of next year, students will be required to take lunch, and for their ninth period they can select an instructional class or a study hall.

The new schedule came about under Murphy's leadership through meetings involving faculty, parents, and students.

"He is a model for educational leadership," Superintendent of Schools Jo Ann Magistro said of Murphy's statewide recognition. "His collaborative, supportive and hands-on management style have enabled him to involve the entire school community, teachers and support staff, parents and students in creating a positive learning environment where all students can meet their full potential."

Murphy received the Secondary Prin-cipal of the Year honor courtesy of the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Assoc-iation, in conjunction with the National Association of Secondary School Princi-pals and Met/Life.

As for the future, Murphy plans to increase the rigor of senior year education by continuing to offer college-level courses accredited through Middlesex County College and the school's advanced placement program.

And he still intends to go to Walt Disney World.