My Story

Learn About Dr. Zach Murphy’s Background, Experience, And Approach

A Mississippi educator, speaker, and relentless advocate for learners who have always deserved better.

The Journey

From the Classroom to the President's Office

I spent the first decade of my career building credentials. Moving across states. Earning degrees. Rising through roles. I was doing everything right — from the outside.

But somewhere in the middle of it all, I started asking a harder question: Was the work actually changing anything for the kids who needed it most?

That question led me to Innova Preparatory School.

Today, Innova Preparatory School serves students in grades 1–12. We are the only school in Mississippi graduating neurodiverse students with a traditional diploma. We hold dual accreditation from the Mississippi Department of Education and the Midsouth Association of Independent Schools.

I’m also a speaker, a researcher, a course creator, and someone who has learned that the most important credential isn’t on any wall — it’s the clarity you develop about what you’re actually building, and for whom.

2022 - Present

President & Executive Director
Innova Preparatory School · Hattiesburg, MS · Grades 1–12 · Dual accredited

Education

Ed.D. in Educational Leadership
Four degrees earned 2012–2018. Progressed from teacher to assistant principal, principal, and director of curriculum and instruction across three states.

Speaker

Conference & Keynote Speaker
Neurodiversity · Authentic Leadership · Inclusive School Design · Neurodiverse Employment Pathways

Scholar

Writer
Active scholarly work on inclusive systems design, belonging, and the weight of school leadership.

What Drives Me

"Every learner belongs in a system built for them."

That’s not a tagline. It’s the conviction that got me up every morning when the work at IPS was hard — and it’s what guides every speaking engagement, every course, and every consulting conversation I have today.

Join the Conversation

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