Michelle Murphy, a mother of two boys in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District and an active community leader, is seeking to spot on the school board in the Nov. 8 election.
“I have two kids in the district and their education is very important to me. In my area, there are a couple of low-performing schools and that has triggered my interest in bringing their achievement scores up,” Murphy told The Epoch Times. “Those kids deserve just as good quality education as other students.”
She is running against parent Danielle Mills for the Area 2 position—which covers Costa Mesa Middle and High Schools, College Park Elementary, Davis Magnet Elementary, Paularino Elementary, and Sonora Elementary.
Murphy sought this position in 2018, but very narrowly lost to the current board member, Charlene Metoyer, who now endorses her campaign because she said she sees Murphy has the energy to get things done for families in the district.
Murphy identified the after-effects of COVID-19 as the most pressing issue the district is currently facing.
“Our students are having trouble reacclimating to classes after coming back from an off-campus setting. Our number one priority should be helping these kids graduate on time and catch up on those learning losses,” she said.
Her many involvements on boards and community services—including current President of the Woodland and Kaiser Elementary Parent Faculty nonprofit supporting schools in Costa Mesa—have allowed her to improve health and education opportunities for children and families in the county.
One of Murphy’s sons is a part of the district’s programs for students with disabilities. Her involvement in this program is where she realized her passion for advocacy and determination to do more for these children to have educational success, she said.
“It is time for a leader who will ask the hard questions, demand accountability, and work collaboratively with parents, teachers, community organizations, and local businesses to deliver improved results for our students,” she said.
Murphy said she is an advocate for transparency between the school board and community so taxpayers can see how their money is spent and improve fiscal uses. She said she believes teachers should also be allowed open communication with the administration to receive the tools and training necessary for them to help students grow.
Along with her husband and children in fourth and sixth grade, Murphy has lived in the city of Costa Mesa for over 15 years. When asked what awards she is proud of, she laughed and said even though she has earned distinguished service awards at work, “nothing compares” to receiving the mom of the year award from her children.
She attended the University of Southern California, where she earned her master’s degree in Social Work.
Her endorsements include Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine), Assemblywoman Cottie Petrie-Norris (D-Irvine), Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, Costa Mesa Mayor John Stephens, Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers, and the Democratic Party of Orange County.
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