Kelly Mills named Blaine County Superintendent of Schools
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Kelly Mills began his new duties as Blaine County Superintendent of Schools on June 1. Last school year the Arkansas native was the teacher at North Harlem Colony and the head coach for the Harlem/Turner football program. Kelly, and his family, currently live in a church parsonage at the Fort Belknap Agency. He replaces former superintendent Terry Brockie who resigned the end of April to take a position with Island Mountain Development Group, located in Hays.
Mills and his family moved from northeast Arkansas at the beginning of last school year. His wife, Jennifer, is a kindergarten teacher in the Harlem school system. The couple's two daughters, Halee and Kaleigh, are students in the Harlem school system.
How the family came to Montana is a story all by itself. Kelly explained, "In 2013 I came on a mission trip to Fort Belknap. I helped Bruce Plummer, a local pastor, with various tasks to support his ministry." Plummer is involved with a summer camp, Camp Beaver Creek, and Mills spent time helping at the camp. He added, "At the end of the summer I felt this was where God wanted me to be. I went back to Arkansas and told my family. They had some concerns about cold winters, sparse population, the whole 'leaving the city' thing."
The next year the entire Mills family came on a mission trip back to Fort Belknap. Kelly said, "I stayed two weeks and my family stayed a week. At the end of their week's stay they didn't want to leave." Both experienced teachers, Kelly and Jennifer began to explore possibilities for teaching positions, places to live and getting moved to Montana. They both found positions, for the 2015-2016 school year, in the Harlem school system-Kelly as a football coach and Jennifer as a kindergarten teacher.
Kelly returned to Montana before school began so he could get to know the team he would be coaching. There wasn't a teaching position available for him at Harlem but he learned North Harlem Colony was still looking to replace their teacher and Kelly was the teacher at North Harlem Colony for the 2015-2016 school year. He said, "The students at the Colony are great and the parents are very supportive of the teacher. I enjoyed my time with them." Since his teaching credentials were for high school, he could only hold that teaching position for one year. Kelly began looking for another teaching post.
Asked how he got interested in the County Superintendent of Schools position, he explained, "Terry Brockie (the former superintendent) knew me and my situation. He encouraged me to apply for the job." Mills had the required Montana Teaching Certificate and more than enough years as a teacher, he had taught in Arkansas for 15 years before moving to Montana.
As he sat at his desk, having been on the new job less than an hour, he said, "I'm glad to be here. Our family had a good first year in Montana. My wife had a good teaching experience and our girls have adjusted to a new school. We feel like we are where we need to be."
The "Journal" congratulates Kelly Mills on his new position and wishes him continued success in this part of Montana. And welcome Jennifer, Halee and Kaleigh.
