Forest Hills High School’s Principal, Mr. Wilbur carries hefty and well-known responsibilities regularly. But who works behind the scenes as Mr. Wilbur’s right-hand-woman, his go-to person, the one making sure FHHS is functioning on a daily basis?
Upon entering Mr. Wilbur’s office, you’re likely to be greeted by two smiling faces. To the right, you’ll see Ms. Hatchett, our school’s business manager. And straight ahead is Ms. Clinton. Ms. Clinton is Mr. Wilbur’s secretary and has been working at FHHS for eight years. This is the first school she has worked in.
Eight years ago, Ms. Clinton made the choice to begin working in a school setting because as a new mom, she wanted to be available for her daughter. “When my daughter was three years old, and this opportunity came up, it seemed like the appropriate next step: being a new mom and having the availability to be around for my daughter. Being on the same schedule as her is so helpful,” she says.
Ms. Clinton demonstrates a maternal instinct that not only extends to her own offspring, but to students here at FHHS. Senior Samuel Chau shares his fondness for Ms. Clinton. “She has been there for me and helped me through hard times. When I was lost, both physically and mentally, she helped me.”
She is spotted regularly building connections with staff and students throughout the day, lending a helping hand to all. “Being in the principal’s office, we get everybody. Whether it’s a new student, a student coming for a tissue, or a student wanting to talk about a class,” she says. She supports our school community in ways we may not consider.
Although Ms. Clinton’s sole title is Secretary to the Principal, she wears many hats in the school building. She’s a little bit of a teacher, a little bit of a guidance counselor, a little bit of a therapist at times, and even a little bit of an administrator. She is a strong resource of information. She adds, “An example is a student who is constantly late. What can we do to help you get here on time? Or is there something going on at home?”
Before carrying this impactful role as Principal’s Secretary, Ms. Clinton had another role within the FHHS community. “When I started working here, I was a secretary for the college office and I also assisted the seniors with college applications and college visits,” she explains.
It seems as though her nurturing nature has not diminished, but only increased throughout the eight years she has been working here at FHHS. Ms. Bermudez, a college counselor states, “Students would often go into her room and use computers. It was a safe space for them. She is a really great person and has a friendly face.”
Ms. Clinton’s presence consistently fosters an environment where students feel supported and safe, regardless of the location. “One of the things I loved about working upstairs at the college office was the constant interaction with students, and that was one of the things I was scared [of]. I was going to miss being down there, but it is almost the same [here]. They always seem to find a safe space to come to.”
Mr. Wilbur and Ms. Clinton are a powerful and crucial duo that keep stability at FHHS, and essentially are the people to get things done. “I really enjoy working for [Mr. Wilbur],” she shares.
The other half of the team, Mr. Wilbur, concurs. “She is generous with her ideas, time and humor with our colleagues, our parents and me. Forest Hills functions better and nicer because of how she approaches the daily challenges that come our way.”
