Shaun Murphy

Shaun Murphy is a Professor in the Department of Educational Foundations at the University of Saskatchewan. He serves as Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs, Partnerships, and Research) and has held roles such as Department Chair and Graduate Chair. Born and raised on Treaty Six territory, he has over two decades of experience as an elementary school teacher in rural and urban settings. His research focuses on relational narrative inquiry, curriculum making, rural education, and teacher-student-family dynamics.

Education:

• Ph.D., University of Alberta, 2004 (Elementary Education)
• M.Ed., University of Alberta, 2000 (Elementary Education)
• B.Ed., University of Alberta, 1985 (Elementary Education)

Research Interests: Shaun’s work explores narrative inquiry, teacher education, familial curriculum making, rural education, and Indigenous pedagogies. He emphasizes ethical relationality, particularly in assessment practices involving Indigenous communities. His approach integrates storytelling, self-study methodologies, and collaborative praxis.

Service and Outreach: He holds editorial roles with journals like Teaching and Teacher Education and LEARNing Landscapes. He also engages with organizations like the Spadina Early Learning Foundation and collaborates internationally, including guest lectures at Brazilian universities.

Advising and Grants: Shaun has supervised numerous graduate students, many of whom have received awards for their work. His mentorship focuses on narrative inquiry and Indigenous education. He actively seeks grants to support community-based research and pedagogical innovation.

Labs/Teams: Collaborates with interdisciplinary teams on projects involving Indigenous knowledge integration, rural school partnerships, and narrative-based teacher training initiatives.