Unknown Labels: Know Me Before You Label Me

Dr. Perry D. Mills, Sr., is a retired U.S. Army Veteran who proudly served his country for 20 years. Upon his retirement from the military, he decided to embark upon a new career in education. This decision was based on how the school system was trying to label his son based on a misunderstood incident in which he was involved as a first grader. Dr. Mills began his career as a classroom teacher at a local alternative school. After just three short years in the classroom, he was promoted to assistant principal of a neighboring school district. The very next year, he was promoted again to become the principal of the alternative school in that same district. Dr. Mills served that school for eight years before becoming principal of a charter high school then later moved to a neighboring district to serve as Director of Federal Programs. This position allowed him to support schools and students in low socioeconomic neighborhoods with state and federal funds geared directly toward providing opportunities for their academic improvement. He currently is Chief Program Officer of the South Carolina Public Charter School District. Many years of working with disadvantaged and misunderstood students also led Dr. Mills to pursue and complete his dissertation on alternative schools: "A Program Evaluation of Alternative Schools in North and South Carolina: A Companion Dissertation." His passion and love for this population of students through the years led him to write this book in hopes that educators will use it as a resource to better reach and support the youth of tomorrow. After all, they are our future.