Whether her students understand exactly what she's saying is beside the point for Dilworth Elementary special-education teacher Noreen Mullen.
Even if they can't respond, she treats them as if they can.
"You want to talk directly to people, not about them or above them, whether they're verbal or nonverbal," Mullen said.
It's safe to say the Pennsylvania native's techniques have earned her a spot on her boss' good side.
"I have to say I've been here [as principal] for a year and a half, and I've seen miracles happen," said Dilworth Elementary Principal Kenneth Limb, who has watched Mullen's students make huge strides physically, socially and intellectually.
"I've seen kids go from lying on the floor to eventually ending up walking," Limb said.
However, Mullen -- who has lived in Utah for the past 20 years -- insists there's nothing supernatural about her work.
"I'm not a miracle-worker," Mullen said. "Let me make that perfectly clear."
Miracle worker or not, Mullen was recently named Salt Lake City School District's Special Education Teacher of the Year for 2010. She pocketed $1,000 for the honor.
What makes Mullen so good?
"She focuses on [her students'] abilities rather than their disabilities," Limb said. "She takes them where they are, and just marches forward."
Mullen integrates her students into the general population and encourages them to participate in grade level activities. She invites regular students into her classroom to help build friendships. She also holds graduation ceremonies, detailing the progress each child has made during a school year.
For Mullen, it's about taking baby steps. She knows her students might never learn to read, but they can live more comfortable, more fulfilling lives.
"You find out where a child is," Mullen said, "and you work hard to get them to the next level. And when you get them to the next level, you figure out what the next step is and work on that."
Despite raves from her principal, Mullen is quick to deflect praise, preferring instead to credit her team of "para-educators" (assistants), medical personnel, therapists -- including physical, occupational, language, vision and hearing -- who each play a major role in her Salt Lake City classroom.
"It's an honor of a lifetime," said Mullen, mother of Sarah, 28, and Lucas, 25. "I want to keep repeating that this is such a team effort. Who has been honored is our entire team."
Mullen sees herself as captain of a group of people working toward improving the lives of 11 students, ranging in age from kindergarten to sixth grade.
The veteran teacher -- who met husband Joel while serving in the Peace Corps in Ecuador -- has taught for about 30 years, but has no plans to slow down anytime soon and never seriously considers leaving her post.
Although, she does have days when she thinks: "Today would be a good day to retire."
By the next day, she invariably finds her resolve. With patience and kindness, she once again crouches to meet each student at eye-level, treating every individual with respect.
