Massachusetts Hall of Fame for Science Educators

Norman Mills (1999)

Norman MillsNorman Mills graduated from Northeastern University in 1948 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. After working at the General Electric Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory in Schenectady from 1948-1951 he graduated from Boston University in 1952 with a M.Ed..

His chemistry teaching career covered three years at South Hadley H.S. and thirty four years at Wachusett Regional H.S. until his retirement in 1989. At Wachusett he was the Science Department Head for twenty eight years. During this time he attended N.S.F. institutes and research participation programs at Tufts, Boston University, Clark, and Worcester State College.

Summer experiences also included positions at Bay State Abrasives, Watertown Arsenal, Springfield Armory, Plastic Coating Corp., and Reed Rolled Thread Die Corp. as well as teaching summer school courses in Organic and Advanced Chemistry.

He was actively engaged in student project work throughout his entire teaching career. He helped start the evening Science Seminar program at Wachusett, which is still running today after forty years. Becoming involved in Science fair activities, he has been a student advisor, Wachusett Science Fair director, committee member and chairman of the Worcester Regional Science and Engineering Fair, and a member of the Massachusetts State Science Fair committee for the last thirty eight years.

Norman has actively participated in science associations, which have included the Massachesetts Association of Science Supervisors, the M.A.S.S. South Central Section, the local section of the American Chemical Society, New England Association of Chemistry Teachers, Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers, and the N.S.T.A..

Special Honors:

  • Several teacher sponsor awards by the International Science and Engineering Fair and the U.S.Navy
  • Teacher award in conjunction with Student Award of Excellence by Tomorrows Scientists & Engineers, NSTA, and Scholastic Magazine
  • Certificate of Honor - Teacher named in Science Talent Search for Meritorious Work with Science Students
  • Cornell Certificate of Recognition as an Outstanding Educator
  • American Chemical Society Northeast Regional Award in High School Chemistry Teaching
  • Science Educator of the Year for Worcester Country by the Massachusetts Association of Science Teachers
  • State Award Winner (Certificate of Honor) in the Presidential Awards program
  • Outstanding Science Educator award by the Massachusetts Association of Science Supervisors
  • Shell Teachers Honors Workshop award by N.S.T.A.

Last Modified: October 7, 2004