SPARC MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: HEATHER MURPHY
Meet Heather Murphy!
Full Name: Heather Murphy
School: Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, Philadelphia, PA
Grades Served: 18 months - 12th grade
Total School Enrollment: 1,200 students
Job Title: Director of Auxiliary and Special Programs
Years in Role: 6 years
The Auxiliary Experience at Springside Chestnut Hill Academy
Under the Auxiliary Umbrella
- After Care
- Summer Programs
- Rentals
- New business development
- Establishing and enhancing programs such as Early Childhood Center (ECC) and new squash strategy
- Providing "start-up" support for initiatives like the "Horizons" program
- Full Time Staff: 4 year-round full-time employees within the Auxiliary Department
- Part Time Staff: Approximately 75 staff during summer programs
- Annual Auxiliary Program Participants: Around 600 unique participants across various offerings
The Journey to Auxiliary Program Management
I began working in HR at a local summer camp in exchange for free camp sessions for my kids before a multi-state for-profit camp organization discovered my talent and offered me a General Manager role. I developed my skills in children's programming and business strategies, transitioning smoothly into the world of Auxiliary Programs.
Passion and Advice for the Role
What I Love About My Role: I value the independence, autonomy, and creativity in implementing projects that serve young students, impact my local community, and further my school's mission.
Guidance for New Auxiliary Program Managers: I encourage newcomers to “Develop systems for getting things done.” A great place to start would be with a self-intake...a figurative "mirror.” A "know thyself" moment is crucial for understanding your own work style, and how to work with others and serves as a benchmark of where you are in your career and where you want to be. Continue to check on yourself and make sure your "truths" still stand or decide how you want to grow.
Lastly, become deeply connected with what drives you- or energizes- you and, conversely, what drains - or exhausts you. Auxiliary Programs, more often than not, require a person to wear many hats, operate with lots of change and ambiguity, lead others in seasonal or "pop-up" cycles, and maintain fresh eyes and ears for building awesome, innovative programs.
This is a LOT.
If you take care of yourself and stay organized and curious, you can make GREAT things happen in the Aux Programs space. Without clarity of your own "why,” supportive organization skills, and work/life balance, your gas can run out quickly. And Auxiliary Programs take a LOT of gas to run!
Personal Interests and Favorites
- Hobby: I love practicing yoga for its balance of mental and physical benefits.
- TV Show: I watched Bridgerton in one weekend, though I rarely watch TV or movies.
- Music: I am a fan of David Bowie.
- Sports Teams: I'm a diehard supporter of the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies.
- Favorite Book: The Wind-up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami
A Proud Achievement
I'm proud of growing my Auxiliary Team from 1.5 to 4 full-time employees in the last six years, which has provided increased resources and support for my school's auxiliary initiatives.
Future Goals for Springside Chestnut Hill Academy's Auxiliary Programs
Next Year's Focus: I plan to implement deeper pricing strategies for Auxiliary Programs to foster competitive growth while paying part-time and seasonal talents higher wages. With the goal of attracting and retaining strong talent for program execution, I aim to drive revenue growth through appropriate pricing and excellence in outcomes.