Many students may know Julia Murdock as their biology teacher, or a friendly face in the yellow hallway. However, she is now gaining attention far beyond just the classroom, and even beyond McLean.
Murdock is currently competing in the nationwide contest “America’s Favorite Teacher,” a multi-round competition run by Colossal Management that could bring recognition to both Murdovk and the School. The grand prize includes $25,000, a trip to Hawaii for two and a school assembly hosted by Bill Nye, a television presenter known for inspiring students through science.
“I’m a really big fan of Bill Nye, the Science Guy,” Murdock said. “Who wouldn’t want an assembly with Bill Nye for the whole school?”
The contest relies heavily on community support, with students, parents and colleagues able to vote daily to help candidates advance through each stage. Murdock is currently in first place in her regional bracket, putting her in a strong position as the competition moves towards more competitive national rounds. However, the process will become more challenging as it progresses.
“I think it’ll be harder to stay in the lead the more national it becomes,” Murdock said. “I’m comfortably certain I’m going to get to the next round, it’s when we get to the national competition that I’ll really need the help.”
While the prizes are significant, Murdock’s motivation is far deeper than just personal achievement. If she wins, she plans to use the prize money to create a scholarship fund that would help underprivileged students attend the Marine Lab trip, an opportunity that is often inaccessible due to high cost.
“Every year, the only kids that really get to go are the ones whose parents have the money for it,” Murdock said. “I’d like to offer the opportunity to the kids in the school who would really love to go but don’t have the money.”
Her goal is not just to fund a single trip, but to build something lasting in the future. Murdock hopes to establish a fund within the school that will be able to grow over time with additional support from families and the community, allowing more students to participate each year.
“If there’s a place within the accounts of the school, say the Murdock Marine Lab fund, and parents want to donate some money to that fund, we can keep it going every year,” Murdock said. “Then we can have a certain number of kids that we can take every year who might not otherwise have been able to go.”
Murdock’s dedication to both teacher and biology is what makes her stand out to students. Many acknowledge her engaging lessons and clear explanations that cause students to both understand her material and succeed in her class.
“I think Mrs. Murdock is a great teacher, and I say that not very lightly,” senior Daniel Kim said. “As a student interested in biology, I really appreciate how she goes in depth explaining these concepts that we go over in class, and I can really tell that she cares a lot about the stuff that she teaches. I definitely do think that she is a great candidate to win this.”
For Murdock, the contest ultimately is a reflection of something more meaningful than just the title or the votes she earns. She emphasizes that the most important thing to her is the relationship between teachers and students, and how she works to support those in her classroom.
“It really should be about the teacher that inspired you, the teacher that gave you a really cool place to learn and really good opportunities in the classroom and out of the classroom, and the teacher that believed in them,” Murdock said. “Those are all things that I hope that I do in my classroom. I hope that I’m inspiring people, and that I’m making students feel valued and respected, and that they know how much I love my job and how much I love science.”
Although students can donate money for more votes, Murdock is adamant that she is not asking students to do this.
“I wish it wasn’t involving money, because it really shouldn’t be the richest teacher with the richest friends who wins,” Murdock said. “It should be the teacher that’s really esteemed and valued for her teaching or his teaching.”
Murdock sees this opportunity not only as one for herself, but for the broader school community, and says that any teacher would be deserving of recognition.
“I don’t hold myself above any other teacher at all,” Murdock said. “There are lots of other teachers that I know in the Fairfax region who could win this hands down, but this is an opportunity for the school and for the students and it’s for a good cause.”
As voting continues, Murdock encourages the McLean community to participate, not just for the possibility of an assembly with Bill Nye, but also for the impact it could have on students who might otherwise miss out on valuable learning experiences.
“I would love to win for many reasons, not just for me,” Murdock said. “I would love to take someone to the ocean who’s never seen the ocean, or take someone who just loves biology but never thought they would be able to go to Marine Lab.”
You can vote for Ms. Murdock here: http://americasfavteacher.org/2026/julia-murdock
