Interest and areas of expertise
Research
- School Reform/Renewal
- School/Community Partnerships
- Self-Regulation
- Brain Development and Developmentally Appropriate Practices
Education
- Ph.D., University of Maryland College Park, 1992
Human Development
Dissertation topic:
“The Relationships Between Geographic Mobility, Academic Achievement, Self-Esteem and Stress Among Inner City Second Graders,” Dr. Charles Flatter, advisor - M.Ed., Penn State University, Harrisburg, PA, 1987
Curriculum and Instruction - B.S., Messiah College, 1979
Elementary/Early Childhood Education
Classes I teach
EDUC 420: Professional Issues in Education
Profile
I graduated from Messiah College with a degree in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. After spending a few years in Christian television, I returned to Messiah College in 1981 to direct the early Learning Center. I directed the Early Learning Center until 1995 and then began to teach full time in the Education Department. I retired after 39 years at Messiah and after a year, returned to teach EDUC 420 again. I was blessed to serve in many different roles and to contribute to the university through serving on various committees throughout my career.
Hobbies:
Gardening, Baking, Bicycle riding, Motorcycle riding
Research and Publications
Research and Publications
“Together for Tomorrow: Meeting the Needs of Individual Students for School Attendance,”
Conference on Chronic Absenteeism, AASA, The School Superintendents Association,
Washington, DC. 2015.
“Together for Tomorrow: Building Community Partnerships,” Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development Leadership Conference, Nashville, TN. 2015.
“Irish Film Maker Tells Story of Campus Challenge,” Presidents Fifth Annual Interfaith and
Community Service Campus Challenge National Gathering, Howard University,
Washington, DC, September 10, 2015. Co presented with Paul Moorehead, Rev. Wayne
Baxter, Dr. Sybil Knight-Burney, Molly Miller, and Chad Frey.
“Together for Tomorrow: Transforming Student Achievement,” Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development International Conference, Nashville, TN. June 26-28, 2015.
Co presented with Dr. Sybil Knight-Burney and Mr. Travis Peck, Harrisburg School
District.
“Using Boyer’s Basic School Approach To Transform Public Schools,” National Association of
Elementary School Principals Annual Conference, Long Beach, CA. June 30 – July 3,
2015. Co presented with Lillian Brinkley, Patrick Callaghan, Carla Janes, Dana
McCauley, and Carly Day (Messiah College Scholar Intern).
“Community, School, University Partnerships: Success in the Classroom,” Association for
Supervision and Curriculum Development International Conference, Chicago, IL. 2013.
“Self- Regulation: Keys to School Success.” Association for Supervision and Curriculum
Development. Seattle, WA. 2012.
“What Does History Tell Us About School Reform” National Association of Elementary School
Principals, Seattle, WA. 2011.
“Nurturing Seeds of Promise,” Association of Christian Schools International, Lancaster,
PA.2011.
“Hope in Simple Things,” Association of Christian Schools International, Lancaster, PA. 2011.
“Developmentally Appropriate Practices,” Association of Christian Schools International,
Lancaster, PA. 2011.
“Guiding Young Children: Managing Behavior in an Early learning Environment,” Association
of Christian Schools International, Lancaster, PA. 2011.
“Play: An Essential Component of Learning,” Association of Christian Schools International,
Lancaster, PA. 2011.
“Nurturing Seeds of Promise,” Association of Christian Schools International, New York, 2010.
“Hope in Simple Things,” Association of Christian Schools International, New York, 2010.
“Developmentally Appropriate Practices,” Association of Christian Schools International, New
York, 2010.
“Guiding Young Children: Managing Behavior in an Early learning Environment,” Association
of Christian Schools International, New York, 2010.
“Play: An Essential Component of Learning,” Association of Christian Schools International,
New York, 2010.
“Self-Regulation: A Critical Skill for School Success,” Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, Basic School Conference, Columbus, Ohio, 2010.
“Character Education in School” Basic School Conference, San Antonio Texas, 2010.
“Self-Regulation: A Critical Skill for School Success,” Association for Supervision and
Curriculum Development, San Antonio, Texas, 2010.
“Hope in Simple Things” National Basic School Conference, San Antonio, Texas. 2007.
“What to Expect of Preschools,” National Association of Elementary School Principals, Seattle, Washington. 2007.
“Constructing the Future, Challenging the Past: Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Leadership,” Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development, Chicago, IL. 2006.
“Keynote Address – “Hope,” Association of Christian Schools International. Seattle, Washington.
“Addressing Needs of the Whole Child: Leading with Passion.” Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Orlando, Florida. 2005.
“Ethics in Early Childhood Education.” Association for Childhood Education International, Washington, District of Columbia.
2005.
Keynote speaker at Association for Christian Schools International: “Morals and Values of Young Children,” Sacramento,
California. 2004.
“Service Learning: Best Practices Access the Curriculum.” National Association of Elementary School Principals, San Francisco,
California. 2004.
“Service Learning: Best Practices Access the Curriculum.” Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, New
Orleans, Louisiana, 2004.
“Reaching for Success.” Association for Childhood Education International, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2004.
“Teaching and Learning in Caring Classroom Communities.” Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development. San
Antonio, Texas. 2002.
“Teaching and Learning in Caring Classroom Communities.” Co-presented with Messiah students Danae Van Jaeckel and Sara
Hoffman and Debora Wesneski (University of Texas). Association for Childhood Education International. San Diego,
California. 2002.
“Powershift: The Role of Young Children as Cooperating Teachers.” Co-presented with Keith Pentz. Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development. Boston, Massachusetts. 2001.
“Transcending Chaos, Conflict, and Coercion.” Association for Childhood Education International. Toronto, Canada. 2001.
“Transcending Chaos, Conflict, and Coercion.” International Conference on Education, Spirituality, and the Whole Child. London,
England. 2000.
Keynote speaker at the Association for Christian Schools Internationals, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2000. “How the Latest Brain
Research Impacts Classroom Teaching” and “Finding A Biblical Balance to the Latest Research on Brain Development.”
Association for Christian Schools International, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2000.
“The Passion of Jesus’ Teaching.”
“Morals and Values of Children: Whose Responsibility?”
“Guiding Young Children."
“Example, Study, and Practice: Character/Moral Development in the Schools” (Ticketed Session), Association for Supervision
and Curriculum Development Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. 2000.
“When Cognitive, Social, Emotional, and Moral Development Converge” (Ticketed Session), Co-presentation with Keith Pentz,
Gordon College, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development Annual Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana.
2000.
“Passion for Teaching, Passion for Learning,” Association for Childhood Education International, San Antonio, Texas. 1999.
“Community, Coherence, Climate, and Character: Making Our Schools a Place for Children,” Association for Childhood
Education International, San Antonio, Texas. 1999.
“What Brain Research Tells Us About Social Competence,” Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, San
Francisco, California. 1999.
“What Brain Research Tells Us About Social Competence,” Association for Childhood Education International, Tampa, Florida,
and Southern Early Childhood Association, Louisville, Kentucky. 1999.
“Passion: It’s Not Just About Sex Anymore,” Southern Early Childhood Association. 1998.
“Discipline and the Young Child,” Association of Christian Schools International. 1998.
“Discipline Versus Punishment,” Association of Christian Schools International. 1998.
“Morals and Values of Children, Whose Responsibility,” Association for Childhood Education International, Portland, Oregon.
1997.
“Kicking Left But Doing What’s Right,” Soccer Clinic, Messiah College. 1997.
Capital Area Association for the Education of Young Children presented at yearly regional conferences covering topics such as,
“Parent Involvement,” “Dads and Young Children,@ “Developmentally Appropriate Practices in Your Child=s school,”
“What Developmentalists Advocate for Young Children,” and “Piaget in the Lives of Young Children.” The most recent
presentation was entitled “Morals and Values of Children, Whose Responsibility?”
Presented to the Greater Washington, DC Christian Education Association on the topic of the “Integration of Children’s Moral
and Spiritual Development With All Areas of Development.” 1997–1999.
Publications:
Together for Tomorrow – A Partnership Designed for Student Success (2015). Murk, D. The Total Child, AASA, The School
Superintendents Association.
Book Review: Religious Tolerance, Education and The Curriculum in Journal of Christian Education, Fall, 2012.
This Time We Must Make School Reform Work (2009). Murk, D. and Dalen, C. Harrisburg Patriot News.
Schools Proficient in Fear, (2007). Murk, D. Harrisburg Sunday Patriot.
“Growing the Soul.” Murk, D. (2007) Faith and gender Equity. Wipf & Stock, Eugene, OR.
“Pets In The Classroom.” Murk, D. (2007) Christian Early Education, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“Great Expectations: A Basis for Fostering Moral and Spiritual Development.” Rydell, M. and Murk D. (2005), Christian Early
Education, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“Developmental Perspectives on Teaching Mathematics.” Fitzgerald, K. and Murk, D. (2002) Christian Early Education. ACSI.
Colorado Springs, Colorado.
This Time We Must Make School Reform Work (2009). Murk, D. and Dalen, C. Harrisburg Patriot News.
“Parenting in the Digital Age.” Murk, D. and Murk, C. (2002) Messiah College Bridge.
Los Angeles Times Interview. “Stress and Young Children” Murk, D. (2001) Los Angeles Times.
Washington Post Interview. “Developmental Kindergarten.” Murk, D. (2001) Washington Post.
“Stress and Young Children.” Murk, D. (2000) Christian Early Education. ACSI Colorado Springs, Colorado.
“Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg & Jesus A Growing the Soul.” Murk, D. (1999) Nurturing and Reflective Teachers: A Christian
Approach for the 21st Century. Learning Light Press.
“Laying a Foundation for Learning,” Murk, D. (1998) Educational Leadership.
“Moral Values and Predicted Moral Actions of Youth Soccer Participants,” Miller, D. and Murk, D. (1998) Soccer Journal.
“Relations Among Moral Reasoning, Locus of Control, and Demographic Variables Among College students.” Murk, D. (1992)
Psychological Reports, 70, pp. 467–476.
“Logo and the Preschooler.” Cook, D. and Murk, D. (1982) Tech Trends.