BREAKING NEWS: Jim Murray named superintendent of Humboldt Community School District

Algona native approved by board in special meeting

By Phil Monson

Humboldt’s new school superintendent is coming back home to north central Iowa.
Jim Murray, principal at Tilford Elementary School in the Vinton-Shellsburg Community School District in eastern Iowa, has accepted the position as Humboldt’s school superintendent starting July 1.
Murray’s hiring was approved unanimously by the Humboldt School Board in a brief, special meeting held Monday night, March 23.

Murray and his wife, the former Lisa White, both Algona natives, are looking forward to establishing their roots in Humboldt. Their daughter, Lauren, will be a senior at Humboldt High School in the fall.
“This is a golden opportunity for me and my family,” Murray told the Independent in a phone interview Monday night. “My wife Lisa and my daughter, Lauren, are really excited to come to Humboldt.”
“The communities and schools in the Humboldt area offer a fantastic quality of life for us. We look forward to joining St. Mary’s church. There are many community organizations there and the recreation center is an amazing facility,” Murray said.

“The Humboldt Community School District is excited to announce Mr. Jim Murray as the new superintendent for our district,” Humboldt board president Tate Satern said. “Jim’s authenticity, educational experience, community mindedness and his preparation really made him an excellent choice.”
“There was a total of 21 full applications and four incredibly talented finalists. Mr. Murray will be actively involved with the hiring of our administrative team,” Satern said.

Murray, a 1988 Algona High School graduate, and his wife, the former Lisa White, have one daughter, Lauren, who will be a senior at Humboldt High School in the fall.

Murray has spent the past 17 years as principal at Tilford Elementary School in the Vinton-Shellsburg School District in eastern Iowa. He began his career in education as an elementary school teacher in the Wall Lake View Auburn School District in August of 1994. Murray has been extensively involved in the Vinton community. In 2017, Murray was named Iowa Elementary Principal of the Year. In 2018, he was named a National Blue Ribbon School Award winner.

“My parents still live in Algona and they have some health concerns and they need me right now and so we’re also excited so we can be close by and help them out, too,” Murray said. “My wife and I were high school sweethearts when we were seniors and we’ve gone on this journey together and so it’s nice to be coming back home,” Murray said.

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