For the past 18 years, Deborah Mullen has been a familiar and beloved presence at Southridge, bringing warmth, humour, and a deep commitment to students both inside and outside the classroom. Throughout her career, she has built meaningful relationships with generations of students while contributing to the vibrant community that makes Southridge such a special place.

Her journey to Southridge began with a desire to spend less time commuting and more time with her young family. "We had just moved to South Surrey, and I was spending up to three hours a day driving back and forth to Vancouver for work," she recalls. "I had an 18-month-old daughter at home, and it felt like such a waste of precious time."

Encouraged by family connections to the school, she applied for a position at Southridge and quickly discovered something much more than a workplace. "I stayed because it truly was a wonderful place to work and a great community to be a part of."

Over the years, Southridge became much more than a school. It became a second home. "Southridge has been a second home to my daughters and me," she says. "They literally grew up in these classrooms and hallways, and I had the immense pleasure of watching them learn and grow here."

As she prepares for what she calls a "soft retirement," she isn't planning to disappear entirely. "I'm only retiring from Southridge because I need more flexibility in my schedule for my aging mom and my girls, who will both be on university schedules," she explains. "I plan to continue working as a TOC and hope to keep my toes in the door for a while longer."

Reflecting on nearly two decades of teaching, Madame Mullen says the moments that stand out most are often the simplest ones. "There are so many moments. They aren't necessarily big or dramatic. They're the small thank yous, the moments when a student finally gets it, and a thousand laughs along the way."

While education has evolved over the years, she believes many things about young people remain reassuringly constant. "Teenagers are still teenagers," she says. "They're still fun to be around and full of curiosity and anticipation about life."

One of the highlights of her career has been the opportunity to connect with students beyond the classroom through co-curricular activities and experiential learning. "Co-curriculars are a fantastic way to see a completely different side of students and your colleagues. They are a must."

Over the years, she has coached, volunteered, travelled, and supported students in countless ways, from Reach for the Top trivia competitions to badminton and basketball teams. "I've had so much fun with the quirky, fabulous, brilliant students in Reach for the Top," she says. "And helping with badminton when my daughter Leila was playing felt like a gift for me."

Among her many travel experiences, one stands above the rest. "The Canadian Battlefield Tours were incredibly impactful," she reflects. "The second time I went, my oldest daughter, Leila, was able to join the trip. Sharing that experience together made it even more meaningful."

Throughout her time at Southridge, Madame Mullen has also been deeply grateful for the colleagues who helped shape her own family. "It takes a village," she says. "I cannot thank enough all of the teachers who helped shape my girls into the smart, funny, clever, and interesting young women they are today."

Her philosophy as an educator has been guided by simple but enduring lessons. "Try to stay understanding in a difficult situation. Try to be kind when others are not. Try to find the positive in a negative mess."

Those values have helped define the relationships she has built with students over the years. If she could choose how students would remember her, she hopes it would be as kind, fair, and fun.

As she enters her next chapter, Madame Mullen is looking forward to having more flexibility for family, friends, travel, and personal well-being. "I hope to have more time to take my mom out for lunch, go to the gym regularly, see friends more often, walk the dogs, and stay connected to my daughters as they navigate university life."

She is also eager to reconnect with a lifelong passion. "Sports were always a big part of my life, and somewhere along the way I let that go. No more excuses."

Throughout her 18 years at Southridge, Madame Mullen has brought kindness, humour, and genuine care to every aspect of school life. Whether in the classroom, on a team, on a trip, or simply in a hallway conversation, she has helped students feel seen, supported, and encouraged to be their best selves.

Thank you, Madame Mullen, for the warmth, dedication, laughter, and countless contributions you have brought to Southridge over the past 18 years.