Previously a Spanish teacher and Rancho Milpitas Middle School principal, assistant principal Casey McMurray has enjoyed his return to MHS this year, he said.
McMurray majored in Spanish in college because he loved the language, he said. He taught Spanish at a local high school before he graduated from college to see if it was something that he would enjoy, he added. “I’ve loved being a teacher and an administrator,” McMurray said. “It’s been a great experience, and it’s taught me a lot of things that I didn’t know about myself and others.”
One of McMurray’s strengths is his ability to understand today’s youth, he said. His other strengths include attention to detail, communication, and organization, he added. His greatest weakness is not slowing down when working with others, McMurray said. At times, he wants to get things done right away, but realizes that others might not be at the same speed, he added. “My working style is different from others,” McMurray said. “And I need to remember that when I’m working, especially collaboratively, which is often the case in education. You’re working with other individuals and groups of people. They’re not all going to be like you, or like you, so you need to remember that.”
McMurray’s hobbies include playing pickleball and watching soccer, he said. He also enjoys watching Turkish telenovelas, going to the gym, and traveling, he added. “I like to be out doing something,” McMurray said. “Travel could be local, out of the area, or out of the country, but (I enjoy) just travel in general.”
McMurray has been to cities like Toledo and Segovia in Spain and several places in Central America, he said. “I’ve lived in Costa Rica for a few years,” McMurray said. “I’ve lived in Honduras. I visited Guatemala about four times. I’ve been to Nicaragua and El Salvador a couple of times. I’ve been to Canada, but that was when I went to the World Fair when I was 16 years old, (in) 1986.”
McMurray was a good Spanish teacher, French teacher Lisa Topping said. She used to be the department lead for world languages until he took over when she had a baby, she added. “He did a great job with taking over as department lead,” Topping said. “I was wondering what kind of leader he would be be-
cause he was kind of quiet before, but he ended up being one of our best admin because he always fol-
lowed through.”
Besides his career, McMurray is proud of his family, he said. “I’m proud of raising a family, having four good kids, seeing how they’ve grown up, how they’ve made good choices, (and) are becoming good people,” he said. “That’s what I’m leaving; that’s my posterity.”
The goals that McMurray has for himself include continuing to travel, he said. After he retires, he wants to find opportunities to volunteer in meaningful ways, he added. “I think that would be my goal,” McMurray said. “Being of service to my community, because outside of this (school) community (…) I try to be active and involved as well. I want to work to be a positive contributor, so serving in different ways, whether it’s serving families, individuals, or others, would be something I’d like to do more of when I retire.” McMurray is inspired by “‘underdog stories’ and stories of individuals or groups who beat the odds,” he said in an email.
McMurray is also inspired by seeing the different ways that he has helped previous students, he
added. “When I hear that I was able to help someone or make a difference for them in whatever way in their life, then that’s inspiring,” McMurray said. “And seeing what others do (inspires me) as well.
We have so many incredible individuals here: staff, students, even parents and families. When I see what they do every day, and how they work to make a difference, especially the staff and students who overcome such challenges in life, all that inspires me.”