SEPTEMBER
AWARDS AND COMMENDATIONS
EXCELLENCE IN EDUCATION AWARD
Each month, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors recognizes an outstanding school, student,
staff member, or parent or community member for a display of excellence, achievement, and
innovation that may serve as an example to our school district and the entire Milwaukee
community.
This month, the Milwaukee Board of School Directors is pleased to present the “Excellence in
Education Award” posthumously to:
CLARENCE BERNARD MULL
MPS General Aide, Mentor, Role Model, Coach & Volunteer
Clarence Bernard Mull served as a strong supporter of students enrolled in Milwaukee Public
Schools and truly exemplified two of the most important MPS Core Beliefs: Children come first,
and The classroom is the most important place in the district. Mr. Mull lived a successful and selfless
life and made countless contributions to advance and support the lives of students enrolled in
Milwaukee Public Schools. Staff, students, families and members of the community universally
loved him.
Clarence Mull was a special member of the Phillis Wheatley School family. A proud MPS student
himself, he attended the school (formerly known as 20th Street School), and after high school at
West Division, started working for the breakfast program at his old elementary school. His
service to the district and its students, which spanned more than three decades, included
dedicated service as a general aide, volunteer, and coach. Through his exceptional work at Phillis
Wheatley School, Clarence’s many contributions helped form a positive school culture in which
all individuals work together to support the students and their families.
Clarence Mull was a successful athletic coach who stressed the importance of education to each
student. As a general aide and volunteer, he shared his love of education and exceptional math
skills to support individual students through their education. Due to his exceptional skill in
coaching soccer, basketball, wrestling, and football teams, his teams always placed first. Some of
the teams he coached were organized through the Social Development Commission, Career
Youth Development, COA Youth & Family Centers, Athletes for Youth, and Northcott
Neighborhood House. In addition, Mr. Mull was the founder of the Athletics for Youth League
and provided a wide range of recreational opportunities to all students enrolled at Phillis
Wheatley.
Friends and family members had many positive and touching stories to share about Clarence’s
life, including the following:
Clarence would go anywhere and ask anyone to do anything for young people.
And if they said no, they wouldn’t sleep that night, because Clarence would give
them a story. They would end up giving twice what he asked.
— Charlene Hardin
Milwaukee Board of School Directors
District 4
Clarence Mull’s love spanned 30 years of young people. This man dedicated
himself to our school. Even when his job was gone, he still came every morning.
Mr. Mull did his job. We have to do ours.
— Edith Bivens
Principal of Phillis Wheatley School
The Milwaukee Board of School Directors and the entire school community recognize and
memorialize Clarence Bernard Mull for his dedication, outstanding leadership, and commitment
to excellence on behalf of the students of the Milwaukee Public Schools.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Resolution in Honor of
MARY HAGOPIAN,
Court Reporter,
on the Occasion of Her Retirement after 40 Years of Dedicated Service
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian has served the Milwaukee Board of School Directors and the
Milwaukee Public Schools as a court reporter since 1968, when she was a freelance
reporter, and continued after she had become an official court reporter for the Milwaukee
County courts; and
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian, as a court reporter for the Board, had the responsibility to transcribe
accurately and in real time every word spoken at every meeting of the Board and its
committees to which she was assigned; and
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian, a graduate of Kagel school and South Division High School, was
only the second court reporter to work for MPS; and
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian began her career in the days before personal computers and word
processors, when transcripts were typed out on a typewriter; and
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian eventually took on the added responsibility of coordinating all the
court reporters hired by the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, ensuring that all of the
meetings of the Board and its committees were covered by a court reporter, often at short
notice; and
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian has spent thousands of hours recording and transcribing millions of
words, creating an important legal and historical record of the work of the Milwaukee
Board of School Directors; and
WHEREAS, Mary Hagopian, after almost 40 years of reliable and trustworthy service to the
Milwaukee Board of School Directors, has retired from court reporting to spend time with
her stepdaughters, Katherine, Diane and Marjorie, and her two grandsons, Michael and
Jacob; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Milwaukee Board of School Directors express its deep and heartfelt
appreciation to Mary Hagopian for her many years of dedication to the District; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Milwaukee Board of School Directors, on behalf of the entire
District, extend its congratulations to Mary Hagopian for a job well done; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, That this Resolution be spread upon the permanent Record of this Board,
and that an engrossed copy of this resolution, suitably signed and sealed, be prepared and
presented to Mary Hagopian on behalf of the Milwaukee Board of School Directors.
OTHER AWARDS AND R ECOMMENDATIONS
SCHOOLS
Wisconsin Superintendent of Schools Elizabeth Burmaster has issued her annual list of New
Wisconsin Promise Schools of Recognition, this year honoring 182 schools for the 2008-2009 school
year. Six MPS schools are on the list: Cooper, Fairview, Garland, I.D.E.A.L., Milwaukee Spanish
Immersion, and Morse Middle School. Three of the six schools — Cooper, Garland, and
Milwaukee Spanish Immersion — are marking their fourth consecutive year as New Wisconsin
Promise schools. I.D.E.A.L. and Fairview have been on this list twice, while Morse Middle School
is celebrating its first designation.
Schools must meet certain criteria to earn the recognition. The criteria include performance in
reading and mathematics that is higher than state averages, Title 1 funding, and a high-poverty
population. There is a ceremony planned for October 13 in Madison for the New Wisconsin
Promise Schools. School representatives will each receive a plaque and a check for $1,500 to be
used in the school.
STAFF
Dr. Rogers Onick, principal of Samuel Morse Middle School for the Gifted and Talented, was
nominated and selected for the Milwaukee Urban League Young Professionals’ “Bridging the
Intergenerational Gap Leadership Award.” The award was presented during the organization’s
White Linen Gala, which took place on August 23. This award is presented to the community
leader who has demonstrated a commitment to the young professionals in their efforts to assume
leadership roles in the future. Dr. Onick provided exemplary support, leadership, and
encouragement for young professionals and served as an example for other community leaders.
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