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Smithtown Times Woman of the Year in Education: Arlene Mullin
Woman of the Year in Education: Arlene MullinPrincipal is devoted to educating Kings Park's kids |
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Principal Arlene Mullin at a Nov. 15 school board meeting with Fort Salonga Elementary School students Ryan Menier and Melissa Kaminski, whose art were displayed at “Color of Long Island” art exhibit. Photo by Matt Calamia
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December 28, 2011 | 01:42 PM
Teachers have often struggled with the balancing act of keeping learning fun and engaging while also presenting challenging topics for their students. Principal of Fort Salonga Elementary School in the Kings Park school district, Arlene Mullin has found a niche; evolving lesson plans to fit a need and integrating technology into the classroom. Because she has thought outside the textbook, Arlene Mullin is Educator of the Year for The Times of Smithtown."She has made a profound difference in the education for the students at Fort Salonga and the whole district," said Ralph Cartisano, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and personnel in the Kings Park school district. "When you really visit the school where she's spent her time here, you see that. It's embedded in the culture."
Cartisano said Mullin, along with Park View Elementary Principal Jeanne Devine, have spearheaded a program called Envision Math, which is used in Kindergarten through grade 3, and blends traditional learning methods and new forms of technology like computers. The program also meets New York Common Core Standards, which prepares students for later grades.
In addition to Envision Math, Mullin has also been one of the leaders in the Schools Attuned program, which compiles research on how students learn and what types of learners they are. The program identifies strengths and weaknesses in students, allowing teachers to focus on those areas to help students learn better.
According to Cartisano, Mullin has received national success for her work in the Schools Attuned program, as her work was cited in a book released by All Kinds of Minds, the company behind the program called "Schools for All Kinds of Minds."
"I'm proud of the work that she's done and the whole staff," Cartisano said. "It's a wonderful accomplishment, professionally and for the kids."
Kings Park school superintendent Susan Agruso said Mullin's success could be attributed to her devotion to the school where she has been over the last two decades. "She has really molded that school into a place of excellence," Agruso said. "It's a delightful place to be."
Agruso said the students at Fort Salonga understand at an early age what types of learners they are, and said that is because of Mullin. "The children can talk to you about how they learn as individuals and each strategy they all use to master something better and faster," Agruso said.
Mullin has also had success outside the classroom, breaking through with parents as well. Debbie Danley, co-president of the Fort Salonga PTA, said, "I've seen first hand her approach to education. Children are very individualized at Fort Salonga because of Ms. Mullin."
Danley, who has had two children pass through the school with another still a student there, said Mullin is always willing to discuss events the PTA has planned, as well as assist them in purchases they make for the students.
She said two years ago, the PTA had about $5,000 to spend on the school, and Mullin offered to do research on possible gifts that would benefit the student body. Danley said Mullin suggested buying Amazon Kindle e-readers for several classrooms. Danley said the PTA couldn't have been happier. "The kids read age appropriate books, highlight words and pronounce the words for them," she said. Danley added that thanks to inspiration from Mullin, she purchased a Kindle for her 5-year-old daughter to use at home daily.
In addition to the Kindles, Danley said Mullin has been instrumental in getting Smart Boards into the classroom. She said Mullin understood getting the devices in every classroom was not possible with the state of the economy, so she dedicated a room in the building with Smart Boards for teachers to bring their classes to. Danley said the goal for the PTA is to raise money to purchase the boards for each classroom.
"Anything that the PTA does, we do for our children, and because she supports us, our children are the winners at the end of the day," Danley said.
Another parent, Linda Henninger, said she "never met an administrator that knew so much about programs and good teachers," and added Mullin has "an instinct on what works and what's cutting edge."
Henninger said although she didn't always agree with the decisions Mullin has made, she was pleased that Mullin would always listen to her. Henninger added she has always respected the principal for putting the interests of the students before the interests of the parents and the district. "I knew she was doing what she knew was the right thing," Henninger said.
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