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PENDLETON --- Jackye Murphy, an adjunct instructor in Tri-County Technical College's Early Childhood Development (ECD) program, received the College's 2015 Adjunct Faculty Presidential Award May 7.

            This award is given annually at the spring faculty/staff convocation to the adjunct faculty member who is recognized for excellence in teaching, who has consistently high student evaluations and who supports the philosophy and goals of the College.

Mrs. Murphy, a Hartwell, Georgia, resident and former elementary education teacher in Anderson County School District Four as well as Hart County Head Start (pre-K), has served as an adjunct instructor at Tri-County for the past two years.

"Jackye is a dedicated educator who makes every effort to reach her students on a personal and a professional level.  She embraces the transformative student experience ideology and can always be counted on to go above and beyond her role as an adjunct instructor," said Meredith McClure, ECD program coordinator. 

Murphy serves as the co-facilitator of the ECD student group, Inspiring Futures, and assists in planning meetings and fundraising.  She and McClure, along with seven ECD students, attended the annual national conference for the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), the ECD program's accrediting body last November in Dallas, Texas. 

 "She is dedicated to the mission of supporting, preparing and empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds and enabling them to make a positive impact in the early childhood community," said Jackie Blakley, dean of the Business and Public Services Division.

Blakley commended Murphy for always challenging students to think outside the box, adding that she facilitates a capstone course, called Celebration of Learning, which showcases student competencies in an academic conference format. 

Public Services Department Head Tom Lawrence describes her as "an enthusiastic faculty member and student advocate who consistently provides an academically challenging environment balanced with individual student support.  She exemplifies instructional excellence and a commitment to providing a transformative student experience.  Jackye takes an active role in ensuring all individuals have the opportunity and tools required to meet their personal goals."

He added, "Our ECD student population is comprised of students with diverse ages, backgrounds and academic preparation.  Many of our students are geographically isolated, work full time and have considerable life responsibilities outside academia.  To ensure student success, Jackye obtained scholarship funding to attend a graduate-level course at the University of South Carolina to support future course offerings in the ECD program.

 "Jackye is a brave example of excellence in education.  She is truly one of a kind and her passion for Tri-County is unsurpassed," said McClure.

Murphy earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Georgia and a master's from Southern Wesleyan University.  She and her husband, Patrick, live in Hartwell, Georgia, and they have two adult daughters.