The Greenwich teacher named National Teacher of the Year is being honored by President Barack Obama at the White House Tuesday.

Anthony Mullen, known as Tony to his students at the Arch School in Greenwich, is the first Greenwich teacher to hold the honor. Mullen has been a teacher at the school, which is described as an alternative route for high school special education, for seven years. Superintendent Dr. Betty Sternberg says Mullen used to be a New York City detective and always had a passion for the at-risk student.

?He doesn't find reasons for them not to succeed,? says Dr. Sternberg. ?He helps them find reasons to succeed, where everyone before them had somehow given up on these kids.?

The superintendent will present Mullen to the nation during Tuesday?s ceremony.

Greenwich Public SchoolsPress ReleaseThe Arch School