Meet the Principal

Dear Big Hollow Primary School Community, 

My name is Rachel Mullen, and I am honored and thrilled to serve as the new principal for the upcoming school year. 

Having served as the assistant principal for Big Hollow Primary School for the last two years, I have had the privilege of getting to know many of you and witnessing firsthand the dedication and passion that define our school community. It is with great enthusiasm that I step into this new role, building upon the strong relationships and foundation we have established together. 

I wanted to share a little bit about myself.   I bring with me a wealth of experience in both teaching and administration, having dedicated 17 years to the field of education. I started my career as a classroom teacher serving students in 3rd, 5th and 6th grade. During this time, I developed a deep understanding of the challenges and rewards of teaching, and I worked diligently to create an engaging and supportive learning environment for my students.  My strength as a teacher was creating lessons that were engaging and personalized to meet the differentiated needs of the diverse student population I served. 

After my time as a teacher, I transitioned into administration at Cambridge Lakes Charter School, serving as principal of a first and second grade building followed by Director of Teaching and Learning.  In this role I focused on curriculum development, ELL programing,  teacher mentoring, staff professional development, and local and state assessments.  My strength as the Director of Teaching and Learning was providing support to staff specific to providing personalized learning to students they serve. 

For the past four years, I have had the pleasure of serving as the assistant principal at Big Hollow Middle School and Big Hollow Primary School. This experience has given me invaluable insights into our school community and the unique strengths and needs of our students, staff, and families. I have enjoyed collaborating with our dedicated teachers and staff to enhance our educational programs and support our students’ growth and success. 

When I am not working, I love spending time with my husband and two young boys, Keegan (9) and Emmett (6).  The boys tend to keep me pretty busy with their adventures, eagerness to play games, and sports. Both boys are involved in wrestling, and we will spend several weekends out of town each year at various tournaments. I also enjoy keeping busy with things around the house, and when I have some quiet free time, I love floating in the pool and listening to audiobooks. 

As I step into the role of principal, my vision for Big Hollow Primary School is to build upon our strong foundation and continue striving for excellence. I am committed to fostering an inclusive, supportive, and engaging learning environment where every student feels valued and empowered to achieve their full potential. I believe in the importance of collaboration and look forward to working closely with all members of our school community to achieve our shared goals. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, concerns, or ideas you may have. My door is always open, and I am excited to hear from you and work together to make this school year successful for all. 

Warm regards, 

Rachel Mullen