Lifelong Learning Takes Priority for ExCEL Award Nominee

Passion, dedication, compassion — these are the forces that get Hodgenville Elementary School teacher Tracy Murray out of bed each morning. They’re also what contributed to her 2025 ExCEL Award nomination.

As a 2025 ExCEL Award nominee, she continues to make a profound impact on her students and colleagues alike, embodying the core values of hard work, kindness, and respect.

"When I show up to school every morning, my goal is to provide a safe and loving environment that challenges every student in my classroom," she said. "Although the bar is different for every student, what is challenging for one will be different for another.”

“I want them all to be challenged, whether that's academically, socially, emotionally, or whatever we're working on that day,” she said. “I also want the bar I set for them to be attainable so that they can come back and do it again tomorrow."

Murray’s efforts are clearly appreciated by HES Principal Patrick Reed.

“One of our core values at HES is working hard, being kind, and being respectful,” he said. “Ms. Murray does that in so many ways in her classroom. She gets the best out of students academically. Even better than that, she is able to get students to believe in themselves."

Reed further praised Murray’s ability to instill resilience and perseverance in her students.

"Ms. Murray fosters and engenders that grit and determination that they can do anything that they set their minds to," he said. "Through her experience here at HES, she has become a leader. She shares what she knows, collaborating to help everyone do their best. She does a great job refining her instructional practice to do the very best she can, supporting any of her colleagues who might need it along the way."

Like many of her fellow ExCEL nominees, Murray’s inspiration to teach came from a history teacher who left a lasting impression.

"He was so engaging, and he made school so fun,” she said. “And even though I didn't specifically go into teaching history, I wanted to bring that love of learning into my classroom. I wanted to inspire kids to want to be lifelong learners who pursued whatever curiosity they had, and that's what made me want to be a teacher."

Beyond her students, Murray also serves as a pillar of support for her colleagues. Fellow second-grade teacher Marsha Price celebrates her invaluable presence on the team.

"When I think about Tracy Murray as a teacher, I think of all the things she does for her students,” Price said. “And she does the same thing with her team members. If we're looking for something, she's a great asset to our team. She helps us find things and is great with computers, which some of us might need a little help with."

Through her unwavering commitment to education, Tracy Murray continues to uplift those around her, inspiring both students and fellow educators. As HES celebrates her nomination for the 2025 ExCEL Award, it is clear that her impact of excellence will be felt for years to come.