But the head of the Kaikorai Valley College science department is definitely thrilled after being named one of two New Zealand teachers to be granted a 2016 Fulbright Distinguished Award in Teaching.
Dr McMillan and the other award recipient, Sarah Kennedy, head of special education at Waimea College, in Nelson, will head to the United States for four months later this year. They will be hosted by the School of Education at the University of Indiana, in Bloomington.
Dr McMillan said that while there, they would enrol inclasses, design and complete an inquiry project, and conduct seminars in local schools.
‘‘It's a thrill to get the award.
‘‘It gives me a real chance to develop my own teaching and be able to delve deeper into some of the skills that are required to extend students and make them more responsible learners.
‘‘I'm really looking forward to it.''
Dr McMillan said he had been the past recipient of a Royal Society Fellowship and a Sir Peter Blake Environmental Educator Award, but believed in terms of being overseas and the scope of meeting people from different countries and different education systems, this award was in a different league.
‘‘It's very prestigious.
‘‘I guess you get to 55 and these things are still exciting. It's just a real thrill to do something like this.''
Education Minister Hekia Parata congratulated the winners. They were chosen following a rigorous selection process.
She said the awards were a special opportunity for the best New Zealand teachers to study and participate in intensive professional development in the United States.
She believed they would return with innovative ideas to further strengthen teaching practice in New Zealand.
‘‘New Zealand and the United States both recognise the importance of education exchanges and the long-term benefits that programmes like Fulbright can provide.
‘‘Our two countries already have strong education ties, as confirmed by the United States Acting Secretary of Education John King Jun, whom I met at the International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Berlin.
‘‘This programme deepens those ties.''
