[StBernard] Chalmette resident to help lead school

[Westley Annis]

We are so proud of you Shellie!!
As a former parent of your Mom's class I knew you could do it!!
 Good Luck!!

Angela & Lonny Serpas



>-----------------------------------------------------

>Chalmette resident to help lead school

>Gauthier appoints assistant principal Thursday, June 12, 2008By Annette

>Campo

>Chalmette resident Shellie Hilton said, "Someone once told me that 'you

miss

>100 percent of the shots you don't take. To accomplish any goal one has to

>start with the decision to try.' " 

>

>Hilton, 27, was recently named the new assistant principal at J.F. Gauthier

>Elementary School. Hilton has been an educator in the St. Bernard Parish

>public school system for five years. 

>

>"I actually found out that I had the job as I was watching the (school

>board) meeting on TV with a friend of mine," Hilton said. "Our chins

dropped

>and I was speechless." 

>

>Hilton applied for the administrative position under much "coercion"

because

>she wasn't sure she wanted to leave the classroom. And she believed her age

>and lack of years in the school system would hold her back. 

>

>"There is a totally different relationship with the students in the

>classroom," she said, "but once I applied, I knew that I would still make a

>difference in the lives of children, just in a different way." 

>

>Hilton knew she wanted to eventually work in administration, so she

recently

>completed a masters program consisting of a group of about 25 teachers from

>different parishes. 

>

>"When I entered, the cohort I did it with thought that 15 or 20 years from

>now I could move up to a supervisor or central office position," she said.

>"I never thought I would get into administration this quickly. But as the

>need for leaders grew in the parish, my intent to be one also grew." 

>

>Starting out at Gauthier Elementary before the storm, Hilton is excited to

>be going back "home." 

>

>"Although there have been many changes there since the storm there is still

>a wonderful faculty and outstanding students who I am looking forward to

>working with," she said. "But at the same time I am sad that I will be

>leaving the faculty and staff that I had grown so close to over the past

two

>years at Andrew Jackson." 

>

>Hilton knew shortly after the storm that she wanted to return to teach and

>live in St. Bernard Parish. 

>

>"From the moment the storm hit I knew I wanted to be back here despite what

>anyone told me," she said. "My mom dragged me to other job fairs and

>interviews. I would go into them hoping that I wouldn't get hired. I

>couldn't bring myself to work anywhere else." 

>

>Hilton made it back to the parish as soon as they started hiring teachers,

>without friends, or family at the time. 

>

>She is excited about the opportunity to influence so many teachers and

>students as assistant principal. 

>

>"I know there is a wealth of knowledge out there regarding my position that

>no college course or professional development could provide me with," she

>said. "I think my interaction with other leaders and the experiences that I

>encounter will provide me with more knowledge than I expect." 

>

>Congratulations, Shellie Hilton. Shine On! 

>

>. . . . . . . 

>

>Annette Campo lives in Chalmette and writes about people and events in

>Chalmette. She can be reached at (504)250-6248 or Chalnettie at gmail.com.