The Daily Bulletin Archive

By Tony Astran

Buffalo State College welcomes Anthony Mullen, 2009 National Teacher of the Year, to campus on Wednesday, February 3, at 3:00 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall. Mullen’s presentation, “Recovering Lost Students,” centers on the importance of emotional health as it relates to learning, particularly for at-risk students.

Mullen, a special-education teacher at Greenwich High School in Greenwich, Connecticut, is also the 2009 Connecticut Teacher of the Year. Ronald S. Rochon, dean of the School of Education and associate vice president for teacher education, said he is humbled and excited to have Buffalo State host a visit during Mullen’s yearlong speaking tour.

“This event is a way for our community to celebrate teaching and teacher education, and help students see the highest peak of the profession,” Rochon said. “I think his talk will help people better understand the passion, energy, and desire for teaching. He’ll also discuss some of the challenges and current policies that affect our profession.”

Rochon said he hopes Mullen’s discussion will be well attended by faculty, staff, students, and the community. The School of Education has already contacted its partners in the Professional Development Schools Consortium and CEURE, as well as area libraries and learning centers. Rochon said Mullen’s visit underscores the importance of college partnerships with pre-K–12 schools.

“The children taught in those schools will be our future students,” Rochon said. “We can partner with schools to help children understand the importance of becoming young scholars.”

The National Teacher of the Year Program has been administered by the Council of Chief State School Officers since 1952. The winner is chosen from among the State Teachers of the Year by a national selection committee representing major national education organizations and is introduced by the president of the United States in April. He or she is then released from classroom duties during the year to travel nationally and internationally as a spokesperson for the teaching profession.

Mullen, a 20-year employee of the New York Police Department, earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Long Island University in 1990 while on the job. He later changed his career focus and earned a master’s degree in elementary and special education from Mercy College in 2001. He has taught at Greenwich High School since 2002.

In his application for National Teacher of the Year, Mullen described his philosophy of education as being “built upon the pillars of passion, professionalism, and perseverance.” He further stated, “The greatest institution for social change is the school, and the greatest instrument of change is the teacher. Schools are the catalyst for human progress because the dissemination of knowledge has created the world in which we live.” Mullen warned, however, that “if we truly wish to leave no child behind, then a national commitment to address the emotional health of our children is needed.”

The event is sponsored by the School of Education and is free and open to the public. The School of Education is also arranging for Mullen to speak with students before the lecture.