An Exceptional Teacher

I’ve talked a lot here about how important sensitive teachers are to the school experiences of military children, whose frequent moves and parental deployment can make life (and learning) difficult.  This week a teacher in San Antonio, Texas provides an example of what these children--and all others--need.  

Charli Mullen, a fifth grade teacher at Fort Sam Houston Elementary School received the KENS 5 SACU Golden Apple ExCEL Award.  KENS5 is a news station in San Antonio; SACU is the credit union co-sponsoring the award.)"I want them to be lifelong learners and to love learning. I am not here to dump things in their head every day. It's an active participation. I tell them I'm here 100 percent (and) I want you to be here 100 percent, and together we are 200 percent and think of all the awesome things we can do with that," Mullen said in her interview on KENS5 (see the link above).

Mullen is especially sensitive to how it feels to have a loved one deployed, because she is experiencing it herself.  Her husband, a Marine Corps officer is currently away on duty. "It makes me understand when they get upset or maybe their hurt feelings turn towards negative behavior. I can deal with it more appropriately," Mullen says.

"She knows how to make learning fun," says on student.  Tellingly, another of her students says, “Of all the seven teachers I've had, Mrs.Mullen is the best one.” Fifth grade, seven teachers.  If this wasn’t your school experience, try to picture starting over more than once a year.  Everyone needs teachers like Charli Mullen, but some students are clearly more vulnerable than others, and we are blessed that she is having such an impact on these few.

With my posts this week about the possible closure of on-base schools, it’s time to think long about attracting more teachers like Mullen to schools serving the children who are serving too.  Follow the link in this post to see this lovely, radiant young woman in action with her students.