“If
you were to walk into my classroom, you would see a constantly changing
tableau of positive energy ranging from productive chaos to engaging
Socratic dialogue. You would hear more questions asked than answered
and see more doors opened than closed. …You would see me…demanding
100 percent engagement from 100 percent of the students.”
—Chris Mullin
Chris Mullin, in his sixth year of teaching AP European History, AP
United States History, Latin, and AVID at Santa Ynez Valley Union High
School, was named 2003 Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year. The
announcement was made by County Superintendent of Schools Bill Cirone
at a press conference convened during the monthly meeting of the Santa
Barbara County Board of Education May 2.
Mullin, one of a number of outstanding countywide nominees for the honor,
was selected by a five-person committee including representatives of
teachers, administrators, PTAs, and school boards. Three Distinguished
Educators were also named and will be announced at the June board meeting.
Superintendent Cirone expressed congratulations for Mullin’s professionalism,
enthusiasm, creativity, and successes in the classroom and in the community.
Mullin holds a B.A. in classical languages, Greek and Latin from U.C.
Berkeley, a master’s degree in education from U.C. Santa Barbara,
and single subject teaching credentials in social science and in Latin,
both from U.C. Santa Barbara.
He began his teaching career at Santa Ynez High School in 1996, and
over the past five and a half years has taught: World Cultures, United
States History, Government, Latin I, II, II and AP Latin, AP European
History, AP United States History, and AVID I and II for students ranging
from 9 – 12th grade.
Mullin is a Met-Life Fellow with the Teacher’s Network Policy Institute,
a nationwide teachers group dedicated to conducting action research
in the classroom and affecting educational policy. His action research
has focused on:
• teacher recruitment and retention
• the effectiveness of staff training in technology, and
• the use of technology to encourage Socratic dialogue and encourage
content acquisition among English Language Learner students.
He has also been a fellow and facilitator for the California History
Social Science Project (CH–SSP), spending three weeks each summer
guiding K-12 social studies teachers in the development of highly interactive
lesson plans that make use of primary source documents to teach social
studies. Last year he represented the group at the UCLA Technology Research
Institute Project.
Mullin has also been instrumental in his school’s Digital High
School Committee, writing the grant proposal and helping guide colleagues
through the Level I and II proficiencies. He has made numerous presentations
at conferences throughout the state.
His awards have been numerous. He has received four Impact II awards
for a simulation of the Rain Forest, the Marshal Plan, Virgil’s
Aeneid, and a Gilded Age Simulation. He has received certificates of
recognition from U.C. San Diego and U.C. Santa Barbara as the teacher
who most affected an incoming freshman. He has received a certificate
of recognition as an exemplary AVID teacher and has twice been featured
on the county’s Innovations in Education television program.
He has also volunteered scores of hours for nighttime study sessions,
has taken students on summer trips to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, and Colorado,
and has led field trips to the Getty Museum and the UCLA campus. He
has served as student council advisor for three years, and has even
coached freshman girls volleyball.
Wrote a former student, Lindsey Kennedy: “I believe that Mr. Chris
Mullin is a forerunner of creativity and innovation in this generation
of teachers…I would liken Mr. Mullin’s style of teaching to
that of a finely crafted gourmet meal — his presentation of history
is colorful, embodies all of the senses, and leaves the taste buds of
the mind tingling for more…I now have a deep understanding and
love of history that I may not have ever gained had it not been for
the ‘creative genius of teachers,’ Mr. Chris Mullin.”
Wrote Santa Barbara County Education Office’s Administrator for
Curriculum and Instruction, Robin Sawaske: “Chris Mullin is truly
one of the most outstanding and dedicated teachers I will ever know.
His skills as an instructor and his knowledge of content in his discipline
are exemplary…He is continually developing and reshaping his curriculum
to meet the diverse needs of his students…his ability to share
his [research] work in an articulate, meaningful manner has been highly
regarded by both local and national educators and policy makers.”
Wrote Vice Principal Jerry Swanitz: “Chris…has great rapport
with students. He has a charismatic personality marked by warmth, charm,
and wit. He is always upbeat and enthusiastic about this teaching…He
has a tremendous depth of knowledge academically. He is…a scholar
and a learner and his classroom is truly a learning community. His knowledge
and love of learning are apparent and his students are inspired to achieve…He
employs a wide variety of instructional strategies aimed at different
learning modalities. He frequently has class activities that involved
dinner, dress-up, and role-playing. These events are real highlights
for students and they bring real meaning to their learning.”
Mullin’s nomination will next be reviewed for consideration as
California Teacher of the Year in the fall. The California winner will
then proceed into consideration for 2003 National Teacher of the Year.
As Santa Barbara County Teacher of the Year, Mullin will be available
to speak countywide, and can be reached at Santa Ynez Valley Union High
School at 688-6487, or at the County Education Office, by calling Carol
Gregor at 964-4711, ext. 5281.
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