Teacher of the Month: Christopher Murray
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — After only a year of teaching, McCann Technical School HVAC teacher Christopher Murray has quickly become a favorite among students.
His connection with his students and being able to adapt his expertise in an understandable way has earned him the iBerkshires Teacher of the Month designation. Several students nominated Murray highlighting his dedication, adaptability, and ability to make learning fun.
The Teacher of the Month series, in collaboration with Berkshire Community College, features distinguished teachers nominated by community members. You can nominate a teacher here.
He has 15 years of plumbing experience and 10 years in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, working in all corners of the field throughout his tenure, including project management and estimating, service, sales, and installation.
"Murray exemplifies the dedication, expertise, and passion that define an exceptional educator, making a lasting impact on both his students and the broader community," said Nikolas "Mark" Varellas, a junior and one of the nominators.
He aims to provide students real work and hands-on experience so they are prepared to problem solve any issue that may arise in the field.
"Murray's experience in plumbing is a huge benefit to our HVAC program and our students, because the HVAC field is so diverse in the skill sets that the students needed to develop," Principal Justin Kratz said.
"It really is a huge addition to the program for the students to be able to understand all the different facets of HVAC, and plumbing is a huge part of it."
His background in plumbing also helps demonstrate the expansive opportunities within the industry, as HVAC and plumbing services are often offered together by businesses, Murray said.
"Obviously, there's a huge need for HVAC and plumbing, all trades, really. There was a period, especially kids in my generation. We weren't pushed to the trades, and we are now suffering for it today," Murray said.
There is a shortage of HVAC technicians despite high demand for air conditioning services, and he hopes teaching the course will help bring more skilled workers into the field and reduce wait times for service.
"The plumbing side of HVAC is much bigger than most people make it. It's a big part of the field, and there's a lot more need for it than people really think," Varellas said.
"I wasn't really like an HVAC, at one point, and then he opened my eyes to realize that I might be interested in something else, like plumbing, for example," junior Terrae Fuller said.
Murray changed careers to take a maintenance plumbing job after his twins were born so he could spend more time with his family.
He started at McCann earlier this year and has already made a major impact to his students, by bringing strong energy to the classroom and helping students see the value in what they are learning, Kratz said.
"He talks to our kids from a place of knowledge of the field, and having been in the field recently, he really can relate to our students what it's like to be an HVAC tech right now in 2025-2026," he said.
"So, that's a huge help, and our students definitely benefit from him being a part of our faculty."
His experience as a father, especially with his oldest son studying a trade at vocational school, helps him connect with students and better understand how they learn.
By using pop culture references and everyday examples like sports or cooking, he helps students better understand complex HVAC concepts and processes, said Robert North, the upper class HVAC instructor.
One metaphor several students highlighted was Murray's "cooking an egg" analogy, which he uses to explain the sequence of operations in an HVAC system — heating the glowbar before gas reaches the ignitor so the fuel ignites immediately rather than being wasted.
"He's had a real good impact, because he relates with the kids. That's the best part about him, he relates with the kids and they look up to him. That's why I got him, because he's got that personality," he said.
North knew Murray through the industry, noting that Murray previously worked at a supply house where North regularly shopped before Murray started working for the city.
North has been working for McCann's HVAC program since its establishment about two years ago, helping get it off the ground. Last year, North was also selected for our Teacher of the Month series.
Murray attributes North as the reason he is working at McCann, explaining that North had approached him twice for the role.
"He's got real good experience," North said.
North and Murray work closely together at McCann, often blending their classes based on their areas of expertise and the needs of the students.
The arrangement also allows younger students to become familiar with North before he becomes their instructor, while giving Murray the opportunity to continue being part of his former students' journey.
Murray said he believes connecting with students on their level creates a more comfortable learning environment by reducing stress and anxiety.
"I try to get down to a level that they'll understand, because teaching is not about showing them how much I know," he said.
"It's about getting them to take the knowledge in and understand it in a way that they can be successful."
By approaching lessons as conversations rather than lectures, he helps students feel more open to asking questions and understanding the material at their own pace.
"I have a strong belief that happier people produce more than people that are stressed out or unhappy," Murray said.
"So, I try to make sure that my students are comfortable and they're in a good space to take in that information, so they can retain it. And it's not so much about checking off a box."
Murray highlighted that the HVAC and plumbing trades remain heavily male-dominated, and said he hopes to ensure his female students feel welcomed and valued, emphasizing that their presence would only strengthen the industry.
Sophomore Gavin Carrier said he hopes to one day run his own business with friends or family, and credits Murray for providing the foundational knowledge to help him achieve that goal.
Instead of a rigid classroom where students are assigned material they may not understand, Murray works alongside students as they problem solve and guides them through the process, he said.
Murray has helped teach students the importance of work ethic and staying on task, sophomore Brayden Wiencek said.
"He tries to understand us and our obvious, like experience level, because he was once there," he said.
"Sure, it was many years ago, but he knows what it's like to be in our shoes, and he wants us to know how to do it the right way the first time."
Tags: HVAC, McCann, teacher of the month,
