COLUMBUS, Miss. (CMSD) - It’s really no surprise Dr. Mario Miller chose education for his career. You could say it’s in his blood, after coming from three generations of educators.
As Dr. Miller grew up, he saw his mother helping and educating special needs children in Rankin County for 40 years.
“It became a passion for me. I believe that those students are valuable too, and I just found a lot of enjoyment and a lot off fulfillment.
Dr. Miller has worked as a special education teacher and director.
He’s also worked in human resources. That’s where he finds himself now, as the Director of Human Resources for the Columbus Municipal School District.
Dr. Miller believes his role of “standing in the gap for kid” makes a smooth transition from a classroom to a board room as director of HR.
“You just do it at a greater level. You know what the needs are. You know that children need an algebra teacher, they need a chemistry teacher, which is what we really need right now. I’m still standing in the gap for those students. They must have those teachers, and you do whatever you can do to make that happen for them. Because at the end of the day, we’re responsible for making that happen for those students,” said Dr. Miller.
The Jackson-born educator also has a passion for teachers.
“We help teachers understand how important they are and nurturing them as well. I’ve been a teacher, and I know the challenges they face. Unofficially, I call myself a motivator. I’m sincere in letting educators know they can come to me with any issue. My door is always open,” said Dr. Miller.
Dr. Miller recognizes his position is based in policy, but he has always found empathy in education.
“I want to make sure they (employees) feel like their questions were answered when they come in this office. It’s my hope they leave with the knowledge that they did not have before, and they have a greater understanding of how policy driven this office is, while being empathetic to everyone’s particular situation,” said Dr. Miller.
If you would like to learn more about available jobs in the Columbus Municipal School District please go to our website www.columbuscityschools.org