University of North Georgia (UNG) alumnus Greg Murray has been named the 2019 Lumpkin County Teacher of the Year. Murray teaches Georgia history to eighth-graders at Lumpkin County Middle School.
"It's been pretty humbling. I work with some great teachers," Murray said. "So many of the things I do I've gotten through collaboration."
He said getting buy-in from his students is crucial to the work he does.
"I typically don't have a lot of trouble in my room because we have that relationship," Murray said. "I pull for them. They pull for me."
And having grown up in Savannah, Georgia, he appreciates getting to teach his students state history. That makes it easy for him to wake up each morning.
"I enjoy what I get to do," Murray said.
Murray is in his seventh year of his current role, having previously taught special education. After starting as a biology major, he earned a bachelor's degree in special education from UNG in 2002 and played basketball for UNG from 1999-2001. Murray later served on women's head basketball coach Buffie Burson's staff for one season.
