Mercy College Annual Report 2009

Mercy College Alumnus Anthony Mullen ‘02 Named 2009National Teacher of the YearAnthony Mullen ‘02 was named 2009 National Teacher of the Year and honored byPresident Obama at a White House Ceremony this April. A special education teacherat the ARCH School, an alternative education branch of Greenwich High School(Greenwich, CT), Mullen he earned MS degrees in both elementary education andspecial education at Mercy College.A Bronx native, Mullen served as a New York City policeofficer for 20 years. Working with troubled teenagers, herealized that many were destined for prison unless theyreceived the benefits of a quality education and positiverole models. Determined to provide troubled youngpeople with the crucial help they need, he enrolled inMercy College to obtain the graduate degrees in educationrequired for him to make a contribution towardssubstantially bettering the lives of at-risk youth.Photo credit: Ron SachsThe National Teacher of the Year Program, a project ofthe Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), isone of the oldest and most prestigious national honorsprograms that focus public attention on excellence inteaching. Anthony Mullen is the 59th National Teacherof the Year, and will serve as a national and internationalspokesperson for education.Anthony Mullen ’02 accepts 2009 Teacher ofthe Year Award from President ObamaAnthony Mullen ’02Shares Insights withStudentsL. to R., Provost Sperling, Anthony Mullen ‘02Anthony Mullen ’02 sharedhis experience with teachingdisadvantaged teenagers withMercy College graduate educationstudents and student teacherson December 10. He urged themto focus on one child at a time inorder to make a difference in theone million American studentswho drop out of high school everyyear. He attributes his successin reaching at-risk teenagers totaking the time to learn each oftheir stories and providing themindividual attention.Mercy College Annual Report 2009 • 7