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ReZoomer of the Year

As a young teacher, Paul Mohr came to the Murphy School District in west Phoenix with his work cut out for him. With 40 percent of the population falling below the poverty line and another 40 percent transient, Murphy presented a serious challenge to a first-year teacher.

After eight years, Mohr had fought through problems like high crime and rampant drug abuse to make important strides in the community, most notably the creation of a state satellite office allowing families’ welfare needs to be handled locally. As these advances won recognition around the state, Mohr was hired away by the nearby Mesa School District and, later, the Phoenix School District.

In 2003, Mohr was invited back to Murphy. Bringing with him the experience of having worked in larger districts, he has installed a series of initiatives that have helped make the Murphy School District a beacon of community-based learning and development. Such pioneering efforts as the Murphy Learning Organization and the Community Welcome Center can be directly attributed to his ideas, and it is for this reason that Paul Mohr is our ReZoomer of the Year, 2006.

All of our ReZoomer stories this year are full of inspiration … individuals in the center of their lives embracing what's next. Whether making small shifts or big changes, ReZoomers are pioneers. They are moving into the unfamiliar with courage.

Congratulations, Dr. Mohr: We’re proud to name you our ReZoomer of the Year, 2006.