Rebecca Leigh Murdock
Hernando,MS
Summary
Dynamic Assistant Principal with a proven track record leading the ELA Department at Lake Cormorant High School, achieving a 56% reading proficiency and 79% reading growth for the 2023-2024 school year and earning PREPS Achievement Award and Growth Award. Demonstrates data analysis and curriculum development expertise, fostering strong stakeholder engagement and effective instructional leadership. Notable accomplishments include tripling WorkKeys benchmark success and implementing significant academic and disciplinary enhancements. Committed to driving continuous improvement in educational outcomes.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Assistant Principal
Lake Cormorant High School
, Mississippi
07.2021 - Current
- Communicate with, oversee, guide, collaborate, and support ELA and ELL teachers through the PLC process, using data analysis, data-driven instruction, curriculum and instruction, strategies, and high-quality instructional material.
- Offer professional development and training inside and outside of the school building.
- 10th Grade ELA: Led the ELA team from 2021-2022 to 2023-2024 to achieve 56% in reading proficiency, 79% in reading growth, and 70% in lowest-performing growth.
- Responsible for WorkKeys data analysis and test preparation.
- WorkKeys: The number of students meeting the benchmark more than tripled from the 2023-2024 to the 2024-2025 school year.
- Handle eleventh-grade discipline referrals according to school board policy.
- Responsible for creating positive, productive relationships with all stakeholders.
- Responsible for analyzing data and selecting students for needed ELA tutoring with Title Tutor.
- The eleventh-grade agency representative for IEPs, 504s, eligibility, and parent-teacher conferences.
- Responsible for conducting and participating in discipline hearings.
- Conduct formal and informal observations of English teachers, and informal observations of other subject areas as necessary, with follow-up and feedback to improve teacher practice.
- Coordinate and work with District Literacy Specialists and Consultants.
- Collaborate with counselors on course selections, scheduling, and other issues to ensure success, both academically and emotionally, for all students.
- Collaborate with other administrators and the State Test Coordinator on the scheduling of all MVPA Benchmarks, AP Exams, ACT Tests, Bi-Lingual Literacy Test, ELPT, and MAAP Tests.
- Responsible for the LCHS Crisis Management Plan and Team, including training of the team and staff, monthly safety drills, and reporting.
- Collaborate with the administrative team in creating a yearly master schedule, allocating teacher units, and interviewing potential teachers, assistants, faculty, and staff.
- Responsible for ACT data analysis and collaboration with all teachers in the implementation of strategies to improve ACT scores.
- Past responsibilities included fixed assets.
Assistant Principal
Southaven Middle School
, Mississippi
07.2018 - 05.2021
- Designed comprehensive processes, procedures, and schedules for daily activities in the 6th-grade building.
- Managed sixth-grade discipline referrals in accordance with school board policy.
- Fostered cooperative and beneficial alliances with stakeholders.
- Facilitated comprehensive support for ELA teachers through PLCs focused on data analysis and curriculum strategies.
- Served as agency representative in eligibility conferences.
- Delivered constructive feedback following evaluations of teaching practices in various disciplines.
- Facilitated joint efforts between school and district experts to advance literacy initiatives.
- Coordinated efforts between both feeder school staff and administration for upcoming 6th graders.
- Teamed up with sixth-grade counselor to help students achieve their goals and mediate disputes.
- Facilitated joint efforts between State Test Coordinator and MTSS Coordinator.
- Coordinated schoolwide scheduling of substitute staff.
- Formulated morning and afternoon duty rosters for the entire teaching and administrative personnel.
- Managed delivery and execution of Word Generation curriculum in all Study Skills classrooms.
State Test Coordinator, TST Interventionist, and Administrative Intern
Horn Lake Middle School
, Mississippi
08.2015 - 05.2018
- Company Overview: DeSoto County Schools, Mississippi
- Executed a comprehensive plan for testing over 1100 students in compliance with MDE guidelines.
- Established and managed an academic assistance program tailored for students in MTSS.
- Designed a school-wide initiative to support academic improvement in ELA and Math based on Case21 benchmark results.
- Led facilitation of the Middle School Literacy Initiative Process Generation Ready with educators and middle school learners.
- Observed teaching practices to ensure alignment with MSLI guidelines.
- Achieved a decrease in 'at risk' sixth-grade literacy percentage from 44% to 17%.
- Reduced 'at risk' student numbers from 170 to 65 during the 2015-2016 school year.
- Managed all MTSS duties including tutoring, tracking and file completion for District Review Team evaluation.
- Facilitated staff and student relationships through safety, support, encouragement and leadership as Assistant Principal.
Advanced Placement English III and Gifted English I Teacher
Horn Lake High School
, Mississippi
08.2008 - 05.2015
- Company Overview: DeSoto County Schools, Mississippi
- Created lesson plans per Framework and Benchmarks that engaged students
- Responsible for teaching students, building relationships, and maintaining the safety of students
- Maintained positive and productive communication with all stakeholders
- Responsible for not only ensuring that students are prepared to be successful on the Advanced Placement Exam, but also to ensure the growth of individual students
- Designed and implemented a successful remediation plan to aid struggling students with state test preparation
- Subjects Previously Taught – English II, English IV, and English I - Designed and implemented a successful remediation plan to aid struggling students with state test preparation
- While teaching English II supported and engaged students through lessons so that they in turn would be successful on the Mississippi State English II Exam
- DeSoto County Schools, Mississippi
- Literacy leadership Team 2012-2013
- Head Tennis Coach 2010 to May 2014
- Common Core Transition Team 2013 to May 2014
- Capturing Kids Hearts Teacher 2014-2015
- Process Champion Leadership Team 2014-2015
- PLC Department Team Leader 2014-2015
- ELA Textbook Training Team 2012-2013
- SACS Accreditation Team 2009-2010 and 2014 - 2015
Education
Ed. D - Educational Leadership
Belhaven University
Jackson, Mississippi03.2025
Ed. S. - Educational Leadership
Belhaven University
Jackson, Mississippi06.2019
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Arkansas State University
Jonesboro, Arkansas12.2012
Bachelor of Arts - Communications/Journalism/Public Relations
University of Memphis
Memphis, TN08.1989
Skills
- Data analysis
- Curriculum development
- Professional development
- Education policy
- Student assessment
- Stakeholder engagement
- Team collaboration
- Instructional leadership
- Crisis management
- Master class schedule
- Data-driven instruction
- Disciplinary actions
- Teacher training
- College and career readiness
- Performance standards and analysis
- Attendance monitoring
Certification
Mississippi, English grades 7-12, Journalism grades 7-12, Principal Endorsement 486
Awards
- Horn Lake Middle School’s Employee of the Month, 10/01/15
- Horn Lake High School’s Teacher of the Year, 2013-2014
- Rotary Teacher of the Month, 10/01/10
- Rotary Teacher of the Month, 11/01/13
- Foundation of Excellence Grant, 03/01/12
Additional Information - Leadership Roles
- Literacy leadership Team 2012-2013
- Head Tennis Coach 2010 to 05/01/14
- Common Core Transition Team 2013 to 05/01/14
- Capturing Kids Hearts Teacher 2014-2015
- Process Champion Leadership Team 2014-2015
- PLC Department Team Leader 2014-2015
- ELA Textbook Training Team 2012-2013
- SACS Accreditation Team 2009-2010 and 2014 - 2015
Timeline
Assistant Principal
Lake Cormorant High School
07.2021 - Current
Assistant Principal
Southaven Middle School
07.2018 - 05.2021
State Test Coordinator, TST Interventionist, and Administrative Intern
Horn Lake Middle School
08.2015 - 05.2018
Advanced Placement English III and Gifted English I Teacher
Horn Lake High School
08.2008 - 05.2015
Ed. D - Educational Leadership
Belhaven University
Ed. S. - Educational Leadership
Belhaven University
Master of Science - Educational Leadership
Arkansas State University
Bachelor of Arts - Communications/Journalism/Public Relations
University of Memphis
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