By Nila Harris
BUTLER — Wesley Murray may be a new face at Northern Elementary School, but he is not new to the Pendleton County school system.
Murray, who has spent the last five years at Pendleton County High School, recently took over the reins at the elementary school, following the retirement of Darell Pugh.
At the high school, he served as the vice principal. Prior to that, he was the principal at Silver Grove Independent for seven years until it closed in 2019.
Silver Grove was a preK-12th grade school, which means that Murray not only has a background at the high school level but also at the middle school and elementary levels.
His teaching career at Silver Grove was varied as well, having taught elementary health and physical education, middle grades social studies and high school history.
Murray received his graduate degree in teaching and instructional leadership from Northern Kentucky University. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and history from Eastern Kentucky University.
“My aspirations at NES are to carry on the Bobcat tradition of student success and growth and to further our duty to provide students with top-quality education while maintaining a safe, orderly, motivating, and nurturing environment.
“I seek to put students first and help every child, every day, reach their full potential,” Murray said.
“My goal is to reduce and overcome any barriers that may hinder student learning in order to have all students performing at proficient and distinguished levels in all academic areas.
“I want to foster a belief that dedication and hard work are the basis for success and that all students have the capacity to reach their full academic potential,” Murray said.
Murray and his wife, Kelly, have one daughter who is a junior at PCHS, and a dog named Annie.