Edmonds Educator Wins Teacher of the Year Award

Thomas W. Murphy, chairman of the anthropology department at , has won the Washington Association of Conservation Districts’ Conservation Teacher of the Year Award. The award recognizes a K-12, college, technical, or trade school educator.

Murphy, who is 44 and lives in Edmonds, will now be considered for the National Association of Conservation Districts' award.

Murphy was honored Nov. 14 at the King Conservation District annual meeting and will be recognized again on Nov. 30 at a State Conservation Commission meeting in Cle Elum.

Murphy founded the Learn and Serve Environmental Anthropology Field (LEAF) School in 2006 and the Center for Service-Learning in 2007. He serves as the faculty liaison for the Center for Service-Learning, which leads the college’s nationally recognized service-learning program. In 2008, he received an Excellence in Education award from the college’s trustees.

The LEAF School partners with tribes, governments, nonprofits, businesses and educational institutions to get students involved in hands-on projects that help communities.

Murphy’s students have played key roles in a wide variety of service-learning projects, including many habitat restoration projects with both the King and Snohomish Conservation Districts. Among his students' projects was a study of possible contamination sources at Brackett's Landing in Edmonds.