Murphy helps students at three local schools better their reading skills. Her volunteer efforts landed her the 2017 Camden County Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal.
In June 2015, Cherry Hill resident Jane Murphy retired after teaching for 42 years.
However, Murphy hasn’t completely left the classroom.
Three days a week, Murphy can be found helping elementary school students across the Philadelphia area become better readers. Her recent volunteer efforts were a big reason she was selected as a winner of the 2017 Camden County Martin Luther King Jr. Freedom Medal.
Murphy spent more than four decades teaching at the elementary school level, including 15 years in Cherry Hill Public Schools. Murphy taught at Joyce Kilmer Elementary School as a reading specialist prior to her retirement following the 2014–15 school year.
After taking some time off following her retirement, Murphy decided she wanted to help local students learn to read.
“The best antidote for being lonely is to find someone who needs help,” Murphy said.
Murphy began volunteering with Urban Promise Academy in Camden. She first got involved with the school when it refurbished the Johnson Cemetery in Camden. Murphy heard a presentation about the project and donated the sign for the newly named Johnson Cemetery Memorial Park.
A short time later, Murphy began regularly volunteering with Urban Promise once a week. She works with some of the school’s elementary-aged students to better their reading skills.
“I go on Thursdays,” Murphy said. “This year, I’m working in a second-grade classroom. Last year, I was working with first grade.”
“I don’t have to do any of the paperwork,” Murphy added. “I just get to do the fun stuff and work with the kids.”
Since last year, Murphy has added two schools to her schedule. She volunteers at EW Rhodes Elementary School in Philadelphia once a week, working one-on-one with first-grade students on their reading skills.
The third school where Murphy volunteers is the school where she formerly taught — Kilmer Elementary. Murphy volunteers in a first-grade classroom there on Tuesday.
“I go into that classroom during their reading time and take some children needing some extra help,” she said.
Murphy said the best part of helping these kids with reading is the joy she sees on their face when they improve their skills.
“I walk in the door and I see a smile on their face,” Murphy said. They’re glad I’m there. I’m enjoying it very much.”
Murphy’s work in elementary schools isn’t the only volunteering she does. Murphy has also volunteered with the Singing City choir in Philadelphia and the Interfaith Hospitality Network at First Presbyterian Church in Moorestown.
During her time as a teacher in Cherry Hill, Murphy also volunteered as the coordinator of Kilmer Elementary’s Green Team and as a member of the school district’s Cultural Proficiency Committee. Murphy’s time with the committee still resonates with her.
“We gathered for the purpose of talking with each other to help overcome the discomfort of talking about issues of race and ethnicity,” Murphy said.
“I worked on that committee for about four or five years,” she added. “I felt in my heart, it was the most important work that I had ever done.”
During the Camden County Martin Luther king Jr. Freedom Medal ceremony on Jan. 18, Murphy enjoyed meeting the other award winners and learning how much they’ve given back to the community over the past few years.
“After I sat and listened to the things other people did, I was humbled,” Murphy said.
After receiving the Freedom Medal and learning more about it, Murphy is considering nominating a few people close to her who volunteer in the coming years.
