-Murray Independent School District and Calloway County School District students with Mayor Bob Rogers signing the Gifted and Talented Education Month proclamation. Students met with the Mayor Rogers as he and Kenny Imes, Calloway County Judge Executive, signed the February 2026 Gifted Education Month Proclamation.
The Commonwealth of Kentucky and the Kentucky Association for Gifted Education recognize the need to increase public awareness regarding the unique educational, social, and emotional needs of gifted and talented students. The goal of helping gifted children reach their full potential must be shared by the entire community, including policymakers, educators, business leaders, civic organizations, and parents. The economic future of Kentucky depends on developing all the Commonwealth’s students.
The Murray Independent School District Gifted and Talented Program is directed by Sheri Muehleman. The Calloway County School District Gifted and Talented Program is directed by Shannon Ordunez. #murrayschools
All State Middle School Band will take place at Eastern Kentucky University - March 6-7. Students will rehearse with guest conductors and other middle school band students across the state and perform a concert on Saturday March 7th. #murrayschools

All funding raised assists the MMS PTO in each they sponsor for students. #murrayschools

The Murray Middle School Speech Team achieved the Team Sweepstakes-Regional Runner Up in the Lakes Regional Tournament.
Regional Champions:
Broadcasting - Henry Mallory
Dramatic Interpretation - CeCe Futrell
Extemporaneous Speaking - DeeDee Shastri
Impromptu Speaking - DeeDee Shastri
Poetry - DeeDee Shastri
Storytelling - Elin Davis
Regional Runners Up:
Duo Interpretation - Claudia DeBonis & Alicia L.
In addition to these Regional Champions and Runners Up, these students from Murray Middle also qualified to advance on to the State Tournament: Elin Davis (Broadcasting), Avery Dublin (Broadcasting), Daisy Mireles (Declamation), Claudia DeBonis (Declamation), Daisy Mireles (Dramatic Interpretation), CeCe Futrell (Dramatic Interpretation), Claudia DeBonis & Alicia L. (Duo Acting) CeCe Futrell & Shiva Shastri (Duo Interpretation), Maggie Finney & Quinn Gibbs (Duo Interpretation), Wyatt Riquelme (Extemporaneous Speaking), Ezra Riquelme (Extemporaneous Speaking), Henry Mallory (Humorous Interpretation), Shiva Shastri (Humorous Interpretation), Elin Davis (Humorous Interpretation), Wyatt Riquelme (Impromptu Speaking), Ezra Riquelme (Impromptu Speaking), Sylvie Beckers & Wyatt Riquelme (Improvisational Duo), Avery Dublin & Thea Hultman (Improvisational Duo), Sylvie Beckers (Oratory), Henry Mallory (Oratory), Daisy Mireles (Poetry), Maggie Finney (Poetry), CeCe Futrell (Prose), Quinn Gibbs (Prose), Avery Dublin (Prose), Thea Hultman (Storytelling), and Claudia DeBonis (Storytelling).
The Murray Middle School speech team is coached by Michael Robinson and Jennifer McCafferty. #murrayschools

Murray High School Speech claimed the Kentucky High School Speech (KHSSL) Regional Championship title for the eleventh year in a row at the KHSSL Regional Speech Tournament this past weekend.
Kentucky students from Paducah to Paintsville spoke in the annual (KHSSL) Regional Speech Tournaments.
Kentucky’s seven Regions hold tournaments at both the Junior and Senior levels each year. Each Division qualifies students for the Junior State Speech Tournament (grades 4-8) – coming February 27 and 28 in Florence – and for the Senior State Speech Tournament (grades 9-12) – March 13 and 14 in Murray.
At each Regional contest, Regional Champions and Runners Up are named in each of the twelve Junior and fourteen Senior speech categories. Additionally, team awards are given for the top three teams in each of the Regions.
Murray High School winners in the Lakes Region.
Team Sweepstakes: Regional Champions
Regional Champions:
Declamation - Lydia Smith
Duo Interpretation - Ellie Klarer & Laney Like
Extemporaneous Speaking - Gavin Gorman
Humorous Interpretation - Faith McCafferty
Oratory - Olivia McLaughlin
Prose - Vanessa Oster
Storytelling - Laney Like
Regional Runners Up:
Declamation - Roman Anderson
Dramatic Interpretation - Faith McCafferty
Extemporaneous Speaking - Ali Yarali
Humorous Interpretation - Emma Bailey
Poetry - Anastasia Arkova
Program Oral Interpretation - Arlo Vance
Storytelling - Mira Kinsley
In addition to these Regional Champions and Runners Up, these students from Murray High also qualified to advance on to the State Tournament: Anastasia Arkova (Broadcasting), Lydia Smith (Broadcasting), Will Burkeen (Broadcasting), Chyanne Miller (Declamation), Lylah Bennett (Dramatic Interpretation), Laney Like (Dramatic Interpretation), Vanessa Oster & Alexis Ray (Duo Interpretation), Jade Green & Zoey Mason (Duo Interpretation), Roman Anderson (Extemp), Olivia Camfield (Humorous Interpretation), Ali Yarali (Impromptu), Olivia McLaughlin (Impromptu), Emma Bailey and Zoey Mason (Improvisational Duo), Mira Kinsley and Arlo Vance (Improvisational Duo), Ali Yarali (Informative Speaking), Zoey Mason (Informative Speaking), Jade Green (Informative Speaking), Khush Patel (Oratory), Susie Todd (Poetry), Khush Patel (Poetry), Alexis Ray (Program Oral Interpretation), Emma Bailey (Program Oral Interpretation), Ellie Klarer (Prose), Arlo Vance (Prose), and Khush Patel (Storytelling).
The Murray High School speech team is coached by Michael Robinson with Jennifer McCafferty and Drew Thompson. #murrayschools











Individual Results:
Lower Level Exam:
Sumin Park — 1st Place
Upper Level Exam:
Anastasia Arkova — 5th Place
Brandon Daughaday — 4th Place
**Both of these students were awarded potential scholarships for the MSU Math Department.


Mike Ray-Murray High School
Patrick Morris-Murray Middle School
Jeremy Partin-Murray Elementary School
The safety and care each of you provide each day to our district is felt across our campuses.
#murrayschools





Congratulations to our Murray High School Tiger Seniors committing to further their football career at the following universities:
De'Erik Jackson-Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders
Simon Rickman-Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders
Demetrius (Meech) Carman-Murray State University Racers
Zaye Martin-Murray State University Racers
Wyatt Robbins-Murray State University Racers
Hank Fronza-UPike Bears
Joshua Bridges-Kentucky Weleyan University Panthers
During a ceremony held at Murray High School, these players, their families, and coaches were recognized for their signing letters of commitment. #murrayschools














Thanks to Kate Chipman with the MHS Yearbook staff for capturing their performance! #murrayschools




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FRYSC Coordinators do extraordinary work with one clear mission: helping every student reach their fullest potential and succeed well into adulthood. This year’s celebration is especially meaningful as we honor 35 years of impact, dedication, and life-changing work across Kentucky, and that deserves to be celebrated in a BIG way!
We appreciate Melissa Durham, FRYSC Director, Shelia Scott, FRYSC Assistant, and Andrea Morris, The Den Services Director. They definifely DO WHATEVER IT TAKES Each and Every Day! #murrayschools #kybuilt #35years #fryscstrong #whateverittakes


The “Celebrating Black History Month: Representing Leadership, Education and Commitment.” event will begin at 2 p.m. with a Meet and Greet Reception at 1:30 p.m. The community is invited to attend.
Dr. Ron K. Patterson joined Murray State University as president on July 1, 2025. He was unanimously selected by the Board of Regents and members of the Presidential Search Committee following a comprehensive nationwide search. With more than two decades of leadership experience in higher education, he is committed to expanding academic initiatives, advancing student success, and cultivating collaborative partnerships on and off campus.
President Patterson believes that higher education is about relationships, resilience, and realization. His interactions with students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents, legislators and friends of the university fosters collaboration, inspires partnerships, and continues the tradition of Murray State University, the finest place we know.
Patterson and his wife, Jenny, have two children, Olivia, and Braylon, and a dog named Tundra. #murrayschools








Murray Middle School fifth grade math teachers, Taylor Garland, and Jarrod Darnall, implemented the fifth grade Math Student of the Month Recognition this year. After being awarded a grant from the MISD Foundation For Excellence, these math teachers have recognized 30 students since the beginning of school, with six being recognized each month.
This outstanding math student criteria includes participation in class discussion, completing assigned work and extension work, demonstrating the TIGER traits, and showing improvement in any of these areas.
Students have their photo taken for the bulletin board recognition and receive a yard sign to display in their yard for the month. Garland and Darnall also reach out to parents with a positive message.
Students who have been recognized are pictured: (September): Veer Patel, Hazel Pizzo, Harper Ford, Bella Vigil, Grady Farr, Duncan Hoffman, (October) Tippy Poston, Molly Ryan, Brody White, Bill Kramer, Blakely Burke, Quinn David, (November) Maddox Forrest, Maddox Lusk, Carsyn Clementa, Vivienne Canon-Hull, Roman Crumble, Talia Karns, (December) Jay Zaidan, Penelope Kennedy, Thomas Rayburn, Kinsley Williams, Tegan Clark, Addie Moore,(January) Nick Broker, Claudia Debonis, Chloe Lynch, Isaiah Villaflor, Joseph Bell, and Cass Prohm.
Martin accumulated 2167 receiving yards and 29 touchdown receptions in his Tiger career, along with several highlight reel level plays, helping Murray to a 14-1 record and a spot in the 3A State Championship game.
(picture and info by Steve Springer)
By STEVE SPRINGER @racercard

