By Carter Gabucci
If you are taking chemistry or environmental science this year you may have Mr. Daniel Mills as your teacher. If not, then you may see him outside his class as you walk around the third floor. Born 26-11-1977, or for us in the U.S., November 26, 1977, Mr. Mills was born in Middlesex County, or Enfield, a town in the suburbs of North London. When he was 11, his family moved to the Isle of Wight. He lived with his parents and a younger brother and sister as well. He graduated with a geography degree from University of Chichester, located on the south coast of England. He already has passed the chemistry requirements for teaching and he is currently working on his certification to be a teacher.
He met his wife while she was on vacation in Britain. She was from Shreveport herself and that was a contributing factor to him moving back here along with her desire to be closer to her family once they were married.
Before they moved back to the U.S., a friend set up a job for him in Spain for six and a half years as a teacher. He had a background in administration in Britain before taking the teaching job in Spain. He taught English as a foreign language in Madrid for five years, then the rest in the municipality of Tres Cantos for the remaining one and a half years. He taught at a private academy, Colegio Lourdes, and a high school as well.
After Mr. Mills moved to Shreveport with his wife, he started to work at Walker B. Jacobs Memorial Nature Park teaching about plants and animals, which aligns with some of his passions. He wrote programs and gave educational presentations for children and adults.
While in these other countries, life was different from the U.S.
“When I lived in London, it felt more like a city because everyone lives closer together. And you have more face to face interactions with other people,” Mills explained.
Living in Spain was a different experience, but also more similar to the culture in Louisiana.
“They do a lot more things with their family, like maybe go on holiday together and get together more often. So people meet up with their uncles and their cousins and maybe a bit more than people do here I guess, a little bit like South Louisiana.”
Some of Mills’ hobbies and passions would be gardening vegetables and herbs for medicinal and culinary uses. He also likes to identify and forage wild plants and mushrooms. Another thing he forages for would be materials for dying wool or other dye-able materials. He once found a rare mushroom, photographed it and it got it published in an academic book.
“I kind of fell in love with the job, since it basically was not my plan,” Mills shared.
One of his favorite things about teaching at Captain Shreve is the environment he is in with his fellow teachers.
“So at first I liked teaching and preferred adults, but when I had classes with kids, the kids are just more rewarding because if an adult learns they normally are paying for the lesson so it is expected. If you persuade a kid to improve their English and improve their level of whatever you are teaching them, it’s more rewarding.”
Now Mr. Mills is excited to be a part of The Swamp.