James D. Murlless, EdD.

My name is James D. Murlless. Proud to be an Arizona native, I was born in Phoenix in 1950. My father was an attorney and my mother was a homemaker. I attended West High School in central Phoenix (now Metro Tech) and graduated in 1968. From there I attended Phoenix College and transferred to Northern Arizona University , where I graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education in 1973. Pat and I dated through our Phoenix College years. We were married shortly after our graduation (she from Arizona State University , also in Elementary Education). My first job opportunity in administration was in Globe, Arizona . Armed with my Master's Degree from Arizona State University and my Arizona Principals Certificate, I took the helm at Noftsger Hill School in 1977. All of 225 elementary students became my responsibility. I thought I was in heaven. In 1979 I received a promotion to East Globe Elementary. In 1982 Pat and I, together with three young daughters, headed up the hill to NAU to complete my doctoral studies that I had started in 1977. After a memorable year, I took my new degree and we headed off to Lake City , CO and my first Superintendent assignment. While in Lake City we picked up a new family member and we completed the construction on an elementary school to replace an 1880 building that had out lived its usefulness. After a short stay in Trinidad , Colorado , we moved to Moriarty , New Mexico . A thriving community and great for a young family, there we built three elementary schools in nine years. The shining moment in my career was in 1998, when I was named the Superintendent of the Queen Creek Unified School District . It has been a wonderful experience. As I start my ninth year, I believe Queen Creek keeps on doing those special things that are a hallmark of a great school system. We continue to intervene early with our kindergarten, pre-school, all day kindergarten, and Little Eagles program. We have been successful at keeping the student – teacher ratio low, for the most part. We also are attracting and retaining the brightest and best teachers to provide the highest quality instruction for our students. The future looks bright for the Queen Creek Unified School District as it continues to grow and I am proud to be a part of that growth.