Over the course of his 22 years in IUSD, Paul Mills has developed and implemented a vision for alternative education, based on the core principle that all students can succeed. And his work hasn’t merely impacted Irvine. Mills has shared his knowledge with colleagues, burnishing a reputation as an influential leader in his field.
Paul Mills
So it's no wonder why Mills, IUSD’s director of Alternative and Adult Education, was selected this week to receive Administrator of the Year honors by the Association of California School Administrators. Having recently been recognized at the regional level, Mills was named Continuation/Educational Options Administrator of the Year by the statewide organization, which champions public education by supporting the work of more than 16,000 educational leaders in California. Mills, who is also principal of Creekside High School, aligned a number of loosely connected educational programs in IUSD to create a vital network of opportunities for students. Superintendent Gwen Gross has characterized him as “a pillar of leadership, ingenuity, tenacity and problem-solving, inspiring his colleagues and our student population to strive for excellence.” The Administrator of the Year Awards will be presented during ceremonies at ACSA’s 2010 Leadership Summit, scheduled for Nov. 4-6 in San Diego. Mills and his fellow recipients will also be profiled in upcoming editions of EdCal, ACSA’s weekly education newspaper.