Retirement and Rebirth

The once colorful, vibrant room of F-206 is now barren with remnants of push-pin holes and tape. The home of countless tokens, trinkets, and memorabilia has been passed down into the hands of students. Walls covered like stamps in a passport with travel mementos added to the vibrance of the canvass of this room, but it was June Murray who held the paintbrush.

Murray is retiring after 27 years at Hudson High. From World Cultures to 9th-grade civics, to both academic and AP Psychology, and more, she has taught a voracious amount of content in the social science department.

She is the only teacher in HHS history to bring a hip-hop concert to the school. Emmanuel Jal performed in 2011 as a result of a successful “Schools for Sudan” fundraiser.

Even now her plans for retirement reflect the variety she had in her career. Murray will be moving to her house in Philidelphia with her husband. She plans to take a bird-watching course at the local arboretum, a nine-month internship at the arboretum in herbal education, and a garden on her rooftop deck. 

“I’m going to explore my inner shaman in Philadelphia,” Murray said. 

Murray is not one to sit idly, and mentioned that she intended to go back to work, however, she was uncertain about what that would entail. 

“I can’t imagine my life not working with young people.” She continued, “…I don’t think it will be…in a public school any longer. Perhaps in some sort of alternative setting if I can find that.”

Even though Murray is moving home to Philadelphia, the relationships she has created at the high school will forever stay with her.

“This has been my community… my extended family. I will 110% miss the people the most.” Murray added.

This can easily be seen during ARC in Murray’s classroom, as her room is a safe space for students across the grades. Murray always kept snacks under her desk for students to grab, and was always ready to guide students through both personal and academic issues.

It was Murrary who piloted the ARC program five years ago and through a grassroots initiative built the teacher-lead directive to bolster the community of the school.

The people are a key part of Hudson High School and Murray recognizes that. However, Murray highlighted that she has noticed a shift from what she used to see in school.

“I think we have lost our way,” Murray said. “We used to be a school that stood for community… that truly celebrated academic achievements.”

Even as Murray leaves her position, she has high hopes for the future of Hudson High School. 

“We as a community…should see students and teachers as our greatest strength and not something that needs to be fixed.” She continued, “Allow us to be who we are and create community organically because that is when the best learning happens.”

As she passes on the torch of teaching, Murray imparts lots of advice. 

“Be open to every opportunity that presents itself, you never know when you are going to learn something new, especially from your students” Murray said in regards to teachers. 

In true Murray fashion, she said, “The only thing any of us have to offer each other is ourselves.”

She advises teachers that the greatest gift from teachers and students is to be themselves, as that is where the greatest learning happens. 

Murray encourages students to look at the world with a greater perspective.  

“The most important thing that I would want my students to realize is that the world is going to present so many opportunities for you.” She continued, “Sometimes we get really myopic and we can only see what’s directly in front of us.”

Murray has been teaching Buddism in her World Cultures class for many years and is a major part of her life. Part of Buddhism is learning to let go, which Murray advises people to heed. She emphasized this in an email sent to staff on June 7.

Murray wrote, “For someone who has spent the better part of her career teaching Buddhism to students, it seems that in this case, letting go, is proving to be more difficult than I imagined.” 

“I think that people tend to cling… We sort of equate attachments with sort of security and feeling a sense of belonging.” She continued, “Letting go doesn’t mean you lose anything. It just means you’re allowing yourself to move forward without longing for the past.”