LifeChanger of the Year Nominee Profile

Gregory Mills was nominated by his spouse, Andrea Billen.

Mr. Mills became a secondary education teacher after spending 20 years working in healthcare (clinical and anatomic pathology). The pay drop was steep, but in return, his sense of self-fulfillment, reverence for others, and benevolence towards everyone resurfaced after being "lost" in the corporate world. What changed him is simple: students.

Mr. Mills has always been a teacher of scientific knowledge. In pathology, he made sure accurate results were given from his lab to primary physicians.  In five years of teaching, he has read many books on education theory and tried many techniques to bring the "why" and "how" out of his science students. His favorite subject to teach is biology, but he has also taught two Advanced Placement courses in biology and environmental science. Additionally, he chaired an Academy of Health Sciences and taught health careers exploration, anatomy and physiology, global health, biology, and AP Biology, all in the same school year!

Mr. Mills has been a champion for all students. He even took a stand to protect a ninth grade female student with epilepsy from being bullied by a group of five male students! He works with a variety of students, ranging from regular education students and ESL learners, to students with IEPs and 504s. If he can get every student of his to learn at least one thing every school day, then he has done his job as a science teacher.

Greg spends a significant amount of personal funds each year to adequately stock his science supplies. He insists that all biology students practice process skills by dissecting frogs each year.  One of his proudest moments was seeing a student of his master the cutting, labeling, and dissecting of a frog.  This student was a "frequent flyer"; they were frequently in school, but just as frequently taken out of school for poor behavior. Mr. Mills was thrilled to see him learn how to dissect a frog, and in his opinion, this student has better cutting skills than a licensed pathologist!