Mr. Ron Millar - MHS

If you went to Monterey Hills Elementary School, chances are you know Mr. Millar. Even if you never had him as your teacher, he’s one of those teachers everyone knows. I had him through the Monterey Hills Student Council program, and I was also lucky enough to know him outside the classroom as my softball coach, since I played alongside his daughters. No matter where you knew him from, Mr. Millar always had a presence on campus, forming lasting bonds with all students on campus.

What surprised me most while interviewing him was learning that teaching wasn’t always part of his plan. Before becoming a teacher, Mr. Millar lived in Santa Barbara and worked as a DJ. He did it all from club gigs to being a program director at a radio station. He said being a DJ was a completely different lifestyle, with his lively nights full of music and his days spent sleeping. Looking for something more stable, he decided to try substitute teaching, as he thought it would be an easy way to make some extra money. 

While subbing in elementary schools, he realized how much he loved working with kids and how naturally he was able to connect with them. For Mr. Millar, his “temporary job” as a substitute teacher, quickly turned into something he could see himself doing long-term. That realization pushed him to go back to school, earn his teaching credential through Northridge, and officially become a teacher.

After finishing his credential, it was difficult for him to find a teaching job in Santa Barbara. Fortunately for him, he was able to reconnect with his previous teacher from South Pasadena. Mrs. Anderson, who many of us know from South Pasadena, had once been his teacher. She reached out and told him that South Pasadena elementary schools were hiring and requested that he come down and interview for a position. After interviewing, he was offered positions at all three elementary schools and chose Monterey Hills, where he has been ever since.

Mr. Millar chose to teach fifth grade because he enjoys working with older, more independent students. He has enjoyed being able to push his students academically and have more in-depth conversations, without worrying about the little-kid logistics that come with younger grade levels.

Of course, teaching hasn’t always been easy, even when doing it long term like Mr. Millar. One of the hardest parts of his career has been losing former students later in life. He shared that a teacher isn’t supposed to outlive their students. For him, he expressed that when he has learned that a student he once taught has passed away, it is incredibly painful. The connections he builds with his students never fully go away, even years after a student leaves his class.

Even with challenges, the most rewarding part of teaching for Mr. Millar is when former students come back and tell him he made a difference in their lives. He said, “With so many students over the years, you don’t always get to see how their stories turn out. But when you do, it means everything.”

One of his students in particular stood out to him, as the student had struggled academically, socially, and at home. Mr. Millar was genuinely worried about what that student’s future might look like. He chose to be consistent and structured throughout his classroom and teaching plans, even when it was difficult. Years later, that same student returned as an adult to thank him. That moment confirmed that sometimes the impact teachers make doesn’t show up right away, but the impact is most definitely still there.

Of course, you can’t talk about Mr. Millar without mentioning his iconic classroom tradition: Millar Dodgeball. It is a classic memory that comes up, even now, as the students from Monterey Hills reminisce over our childhood years. It’s been a favorite for years and is still something students talk about long after fifth grade ends. 

Through traditions like Millar Dodgeball, he consistently creates a fun and memorable environment for all his students. When I was in elementary school, I was constantly told about Mr. Millar and his tricks and traditions that make him such a character. I remember him always giving students silly nicknames, that other students used to tease each other, his silly birthday traditions for his students, and him always connecting with all students on campus. I always heard about him, until I was finally able to have him as my student council advisor. I looked forward to student council meetings, as I knew that we were benefitting our school while Mr. Millar created such a humorous and fun environment to share ideas and build a community. Outside of school, he was also my softball coach for my little league team. With experimenting so many sports, softball seemed like it could be one that I could stick with, due to the environment that Mr. Millar created, as he encouraged and supported me in my first year of playing the sport. To know Mr. Millar is to love and laugh with him. He is truly such a character, and is someone I am grateful to have met throughout my years of education.

When asked what advice he would give students, Mr. Millar encouraged them to enjoy their twenties and not feel pressured to have everything figured out immediately. He shared that he switched majors multiple times in college and didn’t find his path right away, and that those years of exploring helped shape who he has eventually become.

From DJ booths to dodgeball courts, Mr. Millar’s journey shows that sometimes the best paths aren’t always planned from the very start. At Monterey Hills, his impact goes far beyond academics, and that’s why he’s a teacher so many students remember long after leaving his classroom.