CPS teacher wins prestigious award

April 17, 2009 Holly Mullenix is one of five teachers to win the Mister Holland's Opus Award for excellence in teaching music. The annual prize is named for the inspirational teacher in a hit movie released in 1995.

Mullenix teaches kindergarten and fourth-grade students at the National Teachers Academy in the South Loop.

She earned special honors for the body percussion and improvisation methods she uses in her music classes.

She received a trophy and a $10,000 prize.