Richard P. Mills

Richard Paul Mills (born November 28, 1944) is an American educator most notable for having served as the Commissioner of Education for both Vermont and New York States.

Early life and career

Mills was born in Paris, Illinois to a former teacher and college professor turned insurance salesman.

He earned a bachelor's degree in History at Middlebury College in 1966 and a master's degree in American History at Columbia University in 1967. He began his career as a history teacher at the Dalton School in New York City and helped found the Elizabeth Seeger School in 1971. He pursued an MBA at Columbia Business School, graduating in 1975, and an Ed.D. at Teachers College, Columbia University in 1977.

He moved to work for the New Jersey Department of Education in the mid-1970s where he held various administrative posts. Governor Thomas H. Kean picked him to serve as special assistant on education in 1984. In 1988, Governor Madeleine M. Kunin selected him to serve as Commissioner of Education for Vermont.

Years as New York Commissioner of Education

In 1995, the Board of Regents appointed him Commissioner of Education for New York State.

Initiatives and State results

Including his calls for high standards. Since 1995 Mills has taken many unprecedented steps including the end of local school boards of education autonomy to grant diplomas through the new mandary......
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