Kristie Murin Named Chief Academic Officer

Collierville Schools Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer has announced the appointment of Kristie Murin as the district’s next Chief Academic Officer. 
 
Murin, who currently serves as principal of Crosswind Elementary School, will succeed Leigh Anne Rainey, who announced earlier this year that she will retire effective June 30. Rainey has led the Department of Curriculum and Accountability since joining the district in 2020. 
 
Murin was selected from a group of finalists representing both internal and external applicants. “The interview committee was highly impressed with the strength of the candidate pool,” said Dyer. “Kristie distinguished herself through her proven leadership at both the elementary and secondary levels, nationally recognized academic results, and a demonstrated commitment to collaboration—qualities that will benefit Collierville Schools both immediately and in the future.” 
 
Murin began her career in education as a teacher and professional school counselor in Georgia before relocating to Shelby County in 2006. She continued her school counseling role for eight years in both elementary and secondary settings in Shelby County Schools. In 2014, she was appointed assistant principal at Bon Lin Middle School in Bartlett City Schools. She was named principal of Crosswind Elementary School in Collierville in 2020. 
 
Under Murin’s leadership, Crosswind Elementary has received multiple state and national recognitions for its commitment to academic excellence and continuous improvement. For three of the past four years, the school was designated a Reward School by the Tennessee Department of Education. In 2023, Solution Tree recognized Crosswind as a Model PLC at Work® School. Most notably, the U.S. Department of Education named Crosswind Elementary a 2023 National Blue Ribbon School—one of only 353 schools nationwide and only six in Tennessee to receive the honor that year.
 
Murin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, with a minor in Secondary Education, from Gannon University, a Master of Arts degree in School Guidance and Counseling from Goddard College, and an Education Specialist degree in School Leadership and Administration from Capella University. She and her husband Jack reside in Arlington and have four adult children.