The first face students and visitors see when they walk into McIntosh High School now belongs to Hillary Stilwell — and she wants every one of them to feel like they belong there.
Stilwell recently joined the McIntosh faculty full-time as the school's front office receptionist, according to the student news site mhstrail.org. The timing was personal: her son had just graduated high school, leaving her with the kind of quiet that follows years of parenting a school-age child.
A former substitute teacher, Stilwell was already familiar with school life when the front desk position opened up.
When the front desk position opened up I thought, 'Well this is perfect, we'll just see what happens.'— Hillary Stilwell, front office staff, McIntosh High School
What happened, by her own account, has been a warm welcome. Stilwell says she's been struck by the atmosphere at McIntosh — not just the energy of the students, but the attitudes of the staff around her.
I've really been impressed by how happy and content most people are here, it's just a warm environment. And I think that is different from other high schools.— Hillary Stilwell, front office staff, McIntosh High School
For Stilwell, the front office isn't just an administrative post — it's a place where she hopes to be someone students can actually turn to. She's already collecting small moments she says she'll carry with her.
Seeing students laughing, having a good time or sharing a story with each other.— Hillary Stilwell, front office staff, McIntosh High School
Her goal going forward is straightforward: be a reliable, approachable presence for anyone who walks through the front office door.
I just hope that they are happy and that they feel warm and that they know that I'm a safe person to come to, and that I'll do my best to help them.— Hillary Stilwell, front office staff, McIntosh High School
Why it matters — The person behind a school's front desk is often the first — and sometimes most trusted — adult a student interacts with, and Stilwell is shaping that role intentionally from day one.
⚠ Based on a single source (mhstrail.org). Independently unverified — details may change.
Reported by mhstrail.org
Where this comes from
Written by Papalocal's AI from these outlets' reporting. It can miss or misread things; the outlets are the record.