Interim Principal Mr. Harry Gilliam

Phone:

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Mr. Harry "Chuck" Gilliam

Harry Gilliam is proud to have been of service to the Boston Public Schools for the past 25 years. During this time, he has worked tirelessly to ensure improved access to and quality of educational opportunities for all learners.  Mr. Gilliam graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology, as well as a citation in Romance Languages and Literature. He conducted research in Panama with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and worked to classify new species of holothurians in the Caribbean. He continued his studies at Queens College, Oxford University focusing on the impact of Geologic History on Darwinian Evolution and Population Genetics.  He returned to Harvard University and earned a degree in School Leadership/Administration from the Graduate School of Education. 

Mr. Gilliam first started working in Boston in 1992 at the Boy’s and Girls club of South Boston.  He has also worked for the Children’s Defense Fund and the Black Community Crusade for Children operating Boston’s first Freedom School.  His first placement in BPS was at the Mason School, where he was part of the team that earned a National Blue Ribbon School status. He moved to the Mather school where he worked closely with the strand for students with Emotional Impairment and developed an Out of School Time (OST) program focusing on students with specialized learning and English Language learning needs.  

Mr. Gilliam joined the Richard J. Murphy School in 1999 where he started as a general elementary educator and transitioned to middle school teaching in the subjects of Math, Science, Health, and Spanish. He was a part of the team which expanded the Murphy from a K-5 to a K-8 and worked to develop an award winning before and after school program which was recognized by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as a Demonstration Site.  He remains focused on Hands On/Project Based Learning and infusing the arts into OST programming.

For two years, Mr. Gilliam served as the Director of Operations at the Richard J. Murphy School where he has worked diligently to build strong connections and vibrant partnerships with community-based organizations in Boston to better support the school and all learners.   He continues to share his love of learning and knowledge with all of the students and families of the Murphy School.

Phone: 617-635-8781

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Mr. James Likis

James Likis has had the privilege of serving Boston Public Schools students since 2010. After completing the Boston Teacher Residency, he taught Mathematics at the Jeremiah E. Burke High School. In September 2014, the Burke became the first high school in Massachusetts to successfully exit turnaround status after seeing significant gains in student growth and proficiency rates. In addition to his teaching role, Mr. Likis co-facilitated the Instructional Leadership Team and cross-sector collaborations with local charter and parochial schools and coordinated academic interventions for all 9th and 10th grade students. These efforts helped to ensure that each student got what they needed to make substantial academic growth. 

After six years at the Burke, Mr. Likis became a Data Inquiry Facilitator in the Office of Data and Accountability. In this role he coached and supported continuous instructional improvement grounded in student outcomes across elementary, middle, and high schools. This allowed Mr. Likis to work with and learn from many different school leaders and school communities.

Mr. Likis spent the 2022-23 school year as the Director of Middle School at Orchard Gardens Pilot School before joining the Murphy Family last year. Mr. Likis lives in Dorchester with his wife, who teaches in BPS, and their two sons.

 

Phone: 617-635-8781

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Mr. Fedlyn Philippe

My name is Fedlyn Philippe, and I am honored and excited to serve as the new Assistant Principal at the Murphy. I am a proud graduate of Lincoln University which is the first historically black college and university. I previously worked at Roxbury Prep holding a number of leadership positions for the last six years. Most of my experiences have been at the middle school level which continues to drive me to do this work. 
 
 Professionally, I am beyond passionate about finding ways to individualize instruction for students. I promote project-based learning that gets students excited about learning new things and encourages them to engage with other students. I believe that a culturally responsive, project-based learning environment helps remove barriers to learning. 
 
I made this move to The Murphy because I know that I can make a positive difference here and provide stability in leadership. I am committed to this community and plan to be here for years to come. I am a supportive leader who is hear to listen to the needs of students, families, and staff members. I fervently believe that students should succeed and view education as a life-long process. Most importantly, I bring a belief that students are at the center of all school-related decisions, guiding my approach to leadership and collaboration. By focusing on their needs, well-being, and success, I ensure that every action taken by educators and staff serves to enrich the student experience. Whether through fostering a positive school culture, promoting academic excellence, or addressing social emotional development, my goal is to create an environment where every student feels supported and empowered to reach their full potential.  

Phone: 617-635-8781

Email:

Degrees and Certifications:

Ms. Elizabeth Castellana

Elizabeth has been working as a school administrator in the Boston area for 16 years.  Her passion for student-centered learning began at Thompson Island Outward Bound where she was both a student and an instructor. In her 17 years in schools she has focused on developing meaningfully inclusive learning for all students in all manners of general and special educational programs.  She is a parent to two young children and loves to visit her family in Italy whenever she can and to volunteer for COLAGE.