- July 19, 2026
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When Mike Mullen heard Principal Dustin Dahlquist was leaving his position at Lakewood Ranch High School, he definitely was interested who might be filling the position.
In 2019, Mullen and Dahlquist were both in the final three to take over that job as principal, with Dahlquist ultimately filling the role.
Seven years later, after being away from Lakewood Ranch High since 2022, it is now Mullen’s turn.
“When you're young, you think you have all the answers,” Mullen said. “You realize when you're older that you didn't have the answers and that you weren't ready. Now I'm calm, I don't argue with people, I don't get upset. I'm more calculated, I'm a better listener, and I’m much more patient. That all comes through experience.”
Mullen wants to continue to build and challenge students’ abilities whether it be in a classroom, on the field, in an art room, or in a theater.
“This was a place I've always wanted to return to,” Mullen said. “The staff has changed a lot over the years, but this was my family. I was grateful for what all these teachers did for me as a teacher (at Lakewood Ranch High) and even in my quest to return, they've supported me. I'm grateful to work with them. There's a culture of excellence here.”
He has spent the last four years as principal at Martha B. King Middle School, where he initially felt like a fish out of water because his wheelhouse is teaching at the high school level.
His experience with Lakewood Ranch runs deep. He has been a testing coordinator, a classroom teacher, a varsity head baseball coach and an assistant principal.
Mullen said he is not one to simply stand in the corner of the courtyard or stay in his office. He wants to be visible, out there talking to people whether it be students, staff or families.
“I want people to feel connected,” Mullen said. “I want them to feel like this is their home and that this is their second family. It’s not just a place where they send their kids from 7:30 to 2:30 and not just a place where they come to work from 7 to 3. I want them to feel they're appreciated and valued.”
Mullen credits his journey as an educator in part to Don French. They met in 1987 when French was Mullen's government teacher and baseball coach at Southeast High School. Eventually French later recruited Mullen back to Manatee County as an educator and they worked together at Bayshore High School.
"He made learning an experience using detailed stories, laughter, humor, and truth," Mullen said. "He lit up the room when he was in it."
Mullen said what makes him a leader doesn’t come from his master’s degree in educational leadership, but from his experience.
“Not everybody's going to believe in everything that you say or do, but if they respect you, they'll follow you,” Mullen said. “At the end of the day most people, after seeing how genuine and committed I am, will respect that I'm doing it in the best interest of students and teachers. There's no paper or degree that makes you a great leader.”
Mullen said we live in a society where we want immediate gratification, but he knows his impact on the school will not be measured in the first day,
“I take care of today's business today and then I focus on tomorrow,” Mullen said. “As long as I'm doing the little things and making decisions that are in the best interest of kids and the betterment of the school, then my impact on this community should be pretty positive down the road. I'm not here to ride it out, I'm here to steer this ship north.”
