Pacifica School District celebrates outstanding Elna Flynn volunteers
- November 20, 2010
Every year, the parents of the Pacifica School District honor those among them who are outstanding volunteers, those who accomplish more for a school community than seems possible. The award is named after a grandmother at Portola Elementary School, then a part of the Pacifica School District, who set a high bar for volunteering.
Doreen Cummins-Murphy
Vallemar School
Vallemar parents and staff are delighted that Doreen Cummins-Murphy is the 2010 recipient of the Elna Flynn Volunteer of the Year award. She has been such a magnificent part of our Vallemar School in so many vocations. Cummins-Murphy is described as a kind and gentle person. She would do anything and everything to help anyone. Some have said she is generous to a fault. She is also smart and decisive; this makes her a person that can get anything accomplished and always has a smile.
Two generations of Cummins-Murphy's family, her husband and sons, have attended Vallemar. She has two boys at Vallemar in second grade and eighth grade. Cummins-Murphy and her husband, Eamon, grew up in Pacifica. They met and married while working at Safeway and going to college. Prior to that, she attended Linda Mar School, Alma Heights, Terra Nova, and CSU East Bay. Cummins-Murphy said, "I love the small town community feel in Pacifica, living near the beach and the beautiful scenery. I refuse to live anywhere but here, near my family and my husband's family." Cummins-Murphy genuinely cares about all the kids at Vallemar. As PTO president for two years she jump-started many programs. She is extremely efficient and organized the PTO in several ways. She started Vallemar's much needed "power of ten" (volunteer hours). Due to school budget cuts, all of our schools are in desperate need of both people power support and financial support. Also, she was an essential part in modernizing our playground.
Cummins-Murphy says her most rewarding experience is the enhancement of technology at Vallemar. Vallemar parents know she was the strength behind getting technology upgraded. Cummins-Murphy was driven because of her career experience in human resources. She said, "I was able to see the improvements and communication transitions in technology with laptops, netbooks, video conferencing, Skype, interactive white boards, online resources, blackberries, etc. Yet, these resources were not available at school for our students except in our designated computer lab." She was concerned and went on a mission. "How can we prepare our children to communicate in a technical world if they do not use these tools at school?" she asked. With the help of fifth grade teacher Jean McMartin and tremendous support from parent fundraising and auctions, Vallemar now has smart interactive smart boards, Elmos, and laptops in the upper grade classrooms.
"It is my dream to have updated technology in every classroom, not only at Vallemar but every school in the district to improve learning outcomes. It benefits all of the students with varying visual, kinesthetic, and auditory learning styles, particularly students with language needs. Many of our curriculum programs, i.e. math programs are available online and interactive. Technology can enhance learning, so our schools should have proper government funding to provide the classroom supplies and technology resources they need," Cummins-Murphy said.
Another demanding role at Vallemar is the annual spring auction. That did not stop Cummins-Murphy from helping Kim Gilmore over the last two years. Putting in countless hours, she was always willing to do what was needed to make them a huge success and helping to raise almost $60,000.
Here are a few more things Cummins-Murphy has been involved with at Vallemar over the past nine years. She helps out in various classrooms, room parent, copying support, class parties, tutored kids in class, corrected and organized homework, supervised students at center and other small group instruction, organized carpools and drove on field trips and elective assistance. She also ran Literature Day with her friend Donna Guardino. She has helped with newsletter collation, fall fair and even beautification projects. We are the beneficiaries of her Target grant writing, crosswalk improvements and "Genentech gives back day." Kindergarten teacher Marilyn Niehaus said, "she was available for every task, function and every job I gave her." She has also been part of district issues like "Save Our Schools" and Measure N. One of Cummins-Murphy's favorite Pacifica memory is the Friendship Playground build. She said, "Seeing more than 1,000 volunteers, families and friends come together over one week to build a playground from scratch for Pacifica's children was so gratifying."
Through all the drastic budget cuts she has always fought for what teachers needed. Teachers have said "Doreen kept our spirits up with her positive attitude and revitalized our school during these difficult times." Cummins-Murphy says the teachers are amazing and dedicated and she sees a lot of extra hours they give to the school. "I feel pride and community at Vallemar, and that makes me feel part of something special," she said.
We are so thankful Cummins-Murphy has a great support system that allows her to help our school. She says it's because her wonderful husband is very tolerant of her volunteering, and he also loves to help coach soccer, baseball and basketball for their boys. She provides contract HR support to his company, and sometimes, she would have to tell him that his work would have to wait due to volunteer commitments at Vallemar. Her children have been very supportive of all of the volunteer events they have had to participate in and the many times they had to stay after school. They have learned the value of giving back.
Cummins-Murphy explains that her parents are deaf, and have taught her that anything is possible with a dream, a plan and hard work. Both parents graduated from college and had successful careers despite any perceived disability. Often, they will help with volunteer events at their grandsons' school and buy supplies for their classroom.
What does Cummins-Murphy have to say about volunteering? "It's for the kids! These children are our future!" "Honestly, my first two years at Vallemar, I was really nervous about volunteering, only helped out with administrative support for my son's teacher and attended one PTO meeting. After I was more comfortable, I helped out here and there as it fit with my work schedule. There are so many different ways to volunteer in very small, yet important ways. The volunteering can fit your schedule and interests. Just an hour a week can make a huge difference at the school. By volunteering, you feel a special connection to the school. Your child is excited about your caring and involvement. It can be as simple as helping with an art day, driving on a field trip, grading math fact quizzes at home, providing copying support to a teacher, assisting with the book fair, library volunteer, helping with the auction or fundraiser, creating a database, leading a science fair, or cutting up supplies at home. More parents' involvement equals more successful children and a positive impact on their education. In the beginning, I thought PTO was about bake sale fundraising and playgrounds. It is so much more than that. The parent groups provide well rounded enrichment (art, music, PE, computers, psychomotor, library, classroom supplies, classroom technology, and field trips) for the children. Personally, my involvement in the school has given me so much for my children. Now, I have a wonderful support system at the school. I was able to get to know my children's teachers, the principal, the staff, and the parents and feel like a welcome part of the Vallemar family. Through PTO and PTA partnership meetings, I was able to meet, network, share ideas, and build friendships with other PSD parents."
Cummins-Murphy has plans and goals for her future. "I spent so much time volunteering at school that I realized that this is where I was truly happy. I had the privilege of volunteering in Marilyn Niehaus' class for a year with my son Conor's class, and realized that I did not want to graduate from Kindergarten. I made the decision to leave my human resources career to return to school to become a teacher". Doreen is currently enrolled in a teacher credential program through Cal State Teach at CSU Monterey Bay, and will complete her teaching credential in late April. Over the last year she was able to volunteer as a student teacher in kindergarten, fifth, and third grade under three fabulous teachers in our district, Debby Lyttle, Marilyn Niehaus and Retta Guel.
Guel said, "Doreen is almost finished with her studies and I have the privilege of her student teaching in my class. She brings a fresh look to everything and is loved by all. Her sharp mind and compassionate heart make her ideal for the profession. It would be an honor to one day not only be able to say she is my good friend, but also a colleague."
We are very grateful for everything Cummins-Murphy has done for Vallemar. We wish her well in her teaching career. Some school will be very lucky to have her.
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