Leslie Rice Murray

Graduated from BYU in 1985. Majored in Elem Ed and minored in English. Got married right after graduation and started teaching that fall. Taught for five years until the cost of daycare exceeded my net pay (three kids were the financial breaking point). Stayed home for 14 years raising my children and travelling throughout the world with my husband. In December of 2004, my life changed dramatically. My husband, Richard, passed away unexpectedly. He was only 43. Eight days after he died, I was back in the classroom-- teaching 28 sixth-graders whose teacher had decided to quit over the holiday. (They were THAT tough.) I spent the next four years in that classroom teaching highly transient, low-income students in South Salt Lake. Next to raising my children, it was the most rewarding work I've ever done.

This past year has been another year of big changes for me: a new marriage, four new children, a new school, and a new grade. I also decided to go back to school myself. (WHAT was I thinking???) If I can just hang on three more months, I'll have my MEd this spring!