Walt Whitman HS Educator Named NYS Assistant Principal Of The Year

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — Dr. Scott Muller, assistant principal of Walt Whitman High School, was named the 2025 New York State Assistant Principal of the Year by the School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS), the South Huntington School District announced.

This award is given annually by SAANYS and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) to a middle or high school assistant principal who has "set the pace, character, and quality of education for the students in his or her school."

Nominees are administrators who are committed to students, parents, and the community, and have shown "exceptional contributions to the educational process," according to the district.

Muller has been assistant principal at Walt Whitman High School for 19 years. For him, that role is all about connecting; how he’s interacting with the many different components that keep a school running successfully: the principal, the staff, the students, the families, and the community.

"The main goal is to support the vision of the principal, but also to make sure you're connecting with kids and families," Muller said in a news release. "You need leadership and you need management in a school. And a lot of the management usually falls on the assistant principal and the leadership falls on the principal. But there are many times that if you have the right principal who allows you to shine with your leadership, and if you have the right person as assistant principal, then you can bring out that leadership aspect as well."

That collaboration has been an "asset" for Walt Whitman High School, according to the district.

Muller was nominated for this recognition by the principal he has worked closely with for the last 10 years, Dr. John Murphy.

"Dr. Muller’s compassion and empathy towards all students, and in particular, our special education population and our ENL students, is a huge part of our success," Murphy said. "Even though we have a diverse school, he makes sure that every one of those students feel important, valued and reach their fullest potential. And he gives the support to teachers to make sure that happens. He’s always available no matter what the time of day and he’s always willing to make sure that our building and our community are put first."

As seriously as he takes his job to make a difference in students’ lives, Muller is always willing to poke fun at himself, and his students love it, the district stated. Every year, Muller participates in several student-run productions, including Video Yearbook skits and Senior Follies, where the seniors perform "Saturday Night Live"-type sketches about their teachers and life at school. He is also always more than willing to take part in the annual PTA Lip Sing for Scholarships battle where teams of administrators, teachers and staff from each of the district’s seven schools lip sync to costumed and choreographed numbers to win money that goes toward district scholarships.

"That’s just as important as the academics," Muller said. "Those connections make the kids feel valued and safe. Because when you feel valued, you feel connected. Those kids who saw me at Lip Sing and were at Senior Follies, and were there with me for Senior Car Paint Night, it builds trust. If they can trust me and I can trust them and we can develop that relationship, then we're golden."

Muller received his bachelor of science in biology from Binghamton University, his masters of science in elementary education from Dowling College, his post-master’s certification in school district administration from SUNY Stony Brook, and his doctorate of education in educational administration and supervision from St. John’s University.

He is scheduled to be presented with his Assistant Principal of the Year award at a special ceremony in Albany on May 2, and he’s looking forward to the chance to say more than a few words about the community he loves.

"I want to praise South Huntington," Muller said. "I love the communication between the school and the community, and that we’re always looking for ways to improve. We’re creating the future.
I love that we never think we’re done."