Precincts: Beans 1, Beans 2, 1A, 1B
From Small Beginnings Come Great Things
Kelly Murphy strongly supports the proverb which states, “From small beginnings come great things,” especially as it relates to education. He fondly recalls the middle and high school years he spent in the Mt. Sterling Independent Schools and the impact it had on his life. “Classes were small, teachers cared, and everyone was close,” Mr. Murphy shared, as he discussed the significant role teachers play in their students’ futures.
Following graduation, Mr. Murphy had an opportunity to explore multiple career options including civil engineer, retail sales, auto detailing, data processing, and banking. Though his high school aspirations were mechanical engineering and drafting, banking won out as his career of choice. Having worked in two different banks for over thirty years, Mr. Murphy has had numerous opportunities to gain additional educational experience. He attended banking classes at Western Kentucky University periodically for a five year span. He currently serves as a loan officer and Vice President of Whitaker Bank in Mt. Sterling.
An avid sports fan and former athlete, Kelly has been active with coaching football for youth groups of various ages for a number of years. Additionally, as his oldest son, Scott, entered third grade he acted on a desire to be more involved with his children’s education by joining the Mapleton Elementary Site Based Decision Making Council. After serving on the SBDM council, Mr. Murphy further pursued his interest in education by running for a seat on the Montgomery County Board of Education. He is currently in his second term on the Board and also serves as President of the Montgomery County School Finance Corporation.
As a member of the Board of Education, Mr. Murphy is proud of the facility improvements that have taken place in the district, as well as technology upgrades such as the installation of SMART boards in classrooms throughout the district. He is particularly pleased with the current 20:1 student-faculty ratio, which reminds him of his sophomore English class that was comprised of eleven students.
With regard to future Board endeavors, Mr. Murphy recognizes that the McNabb facility must be addressed and he stresses that small classroom sizes must be maintained. He wants the district to promote community engagement and involvement as well as school pride and spirit. He believes every student would benefit from involvement in extracurricular activities. He adds however, that most importantly, “We must make sure we always put students first and give teachers the tools to teach.”
Kelly and his wife, Barbara, have two children Scott and Conner. They are members of the First Church of God where Kelly serves as church treasurer. Mr. Murphy is proud to represent the citizens in the Beans 1, Beans 2, 1A, and 1B precincts. He vows to continue to pursue opportunities and make decisions that are in the best interests of students.