TPH Academy Waterloo Region Welcomes Shannon Murdock as Head of Academics
TPH Academy is thrilled to announce that Waterloo Region resident Shannon Murdock has joined the TPH Academy Waterloo Region team as Head of Academics. Murdock brings 16 years of combined classroom teaching, sport instruction, and student leadership experience to this position.
“After going through an extensive process to identify our first ever Head of Academics for TPH Academy Waterloo Region, we are extremely pleased that Shannon has accepted the position,” shared TPH Academy Executive Director of Academics Bill Simms. “Shannon is the absolute right person to team up with Director and Head of Hockey, Brandon Merli, to guide our student-athletes and shape the blended learning environment synonymous with TPH Academy. Shannon has taught in various academic settings, has immersed herself in curriculum, and has first-hand experience leading athletes. Shannon also brings experience working in the university setting, making her a fantastic asset to our student-athletes as they strive to advance, in and beyond the game, as impact players, which is central to our TPH Academy core purpose.”
Shannon Murdock, Head of Academics, TPH Academy Waterloo Region
For the past two years, Murdock has served as a homeroom teacher for grades 5-8, most recently with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board. Prior to that, Murdock served as Head Health and Physical Education Teacher for the Kitchener-based Sunshine Montessori School. A double major with degrees in both Arts and Education, Shannon has also served as a Camp Coordinator and Head Supervisor for the Kitchener-Waterloo Humane Society, a Program Facilitator for Girls Inc., and a Kinesiologist for Spectrum Physiotherapy based out of Newmarket, Ontario. As mentioned by Bill Simms, Shannon Murdock also brings three years of university experience to TPH Academy, having served in the role of Senior Campus Ambassador for Wilfrid Laurier University, where she oversaw all things “campus experience” for prospective university attendees.
TPH Academy Director and Head of Hockey Brandon Merli hails Murdock as “the ideal fit,” and believes Waterloo Region families will be drawn to the many expertise Shannon will bring to the role. “When we went through this process, I tried to wear both my TPH Director and parent hats,” shared Merli. “As the parent of a future TPH Academy student-athlete, in our discussions with all the candidates, I kept asking myself ‘is this a person I would trust to individualize, customize, and shape the academic experience for my child?’ For me, this is where Shannon stood out from others. Her passion for leading student-athletes and her ability to articulate how she will shape an educational experience for aspiring-elite student-athletes earned her this position. I look forward to working with Shannon and accompanying her as she interacts with current and prospective TPH Academy families.”
In addition to the TPH Executive team singing praises to her onboarding, Murdock shares that she is equally as enthralled about joining TPH Academy and is excited for the opportunity to support aspiring-elite student-athletes on their journeys to discover newfound levels of potential, in sport, school, and life.
For more information about TPH Academy Waterloo Region, please visit their campus page at https://tphacademy.com/Waterloo-Region/. If you are interested in speaking with Shannon Murdock directly, you may reach her at SMurdock@TPHAcademy.com.
