LIBRARIAN:
Mrs. Eline Hill, School Library Media and Information Specialist/Teacher
ASSISTANT:
Ms. Barbara Putzer, Library Clerk
SCHOOL/CLASS:
Monticello High School Library
TELEPHONE & E-MAIL INFO:
1-845-794-8840 X 6/ Inhouse X 10980/ e-mail: ehill@k12mcsd.net
September 2006
About Mrs. Hill
Brooklyn, New York, my birthplace, is the home where I spent most of my
youth growing up with my parents, my younger sister and a cat named Tibby.
As children, most of us have read stories about the little old lady who owns
so many cats that they're everywhere in her house. My Tibby had been a gift
from such a lady whose name was Mrs. Post. I loved Mrs. Post and all of her
felines and wrote a poem about them that maybe I'll include in a future
update.
In my early teen years, I attended a private boarding school in upstate
New York where I lived with and was taught by very strict Dominican Sisters,
and after my parents sold their home in Brooklyn and relocated to Warwick,
New York, I returned to public education and graduated from Warwick Valley
High School.
I'm married and have three grown children, six grandchildren and a
little white Chihuahua named Lily. As many of you know, Heidi, our other
little white Chihuahua turned 18 years old in 2007(that's approximately 126
years old in people years); she first came into our lives when she was five
months old, and has been such a joy and a wonderful pet that we were very
fortunate to be her parents. Folks, it's really all about commitment and how
the giving of oneself to another can be so rewarding. Commitment and
responsibity are not casual undertakings but should be made with serious
thought, because once we commit to various endeavors, we become honor bound
to see these charges through.
[Note* March 2007, our dear little dog Heidi succumbed to age and illness.
We miss her greatly and cherish the wonderful memories of our little family
member.]
In 1976,I began working for the Monticello Central School District,
informally, as a volunteer, providing remedial assistance in Math and
Reading at the Chase Elementary School. Working with students was such a
pleasure and it was so rewarding to watch the children bloom in
understanding with just a little additional tutoring; it was like the
proverbial icing on the cake; I was hooked. Next, I began substituting for
the teacher aides and in 1978, I was hired full time as a teacher aide and
remained in that position for four years. In 1982, I became the Chase School
Librarian/Clerk. Operating all the necessary aspects required in running a
library was an enormous task which also included developing information
literacy programs for the students. I loved the work, and it was at this
point that I decided I was going back to school to become a teacher. When
my children were grown and living on their own, I returned to college.
Returning to college when you're older can sometimes be a difficult
experience as it was for me. After receiving my bachelor's degree and
beginning my graduate program, my husband became disabled and in order for
us to survive and make ends meet, I had to work two full time jobs for four
years. Working two full time positions made it impossible for me to continue
my graduate work, so believe it or not, I almost gave up the idea of
becoming a teacher. Thankfully, things began to level off, and after
four years, I was able to give up my second job, and with great
determination, I resumed my studies and finally earned my degrees as a
teacher specializing in School Library Media and Information Science. Folks,
if you have a dream, no matter how difficult it may be, never, never give
up! It's today's dreams that create tomorrow's universe.
My recommendation to students who think about quiting school is that
unless you're ready for your life to be a struggle, stay in school and work
hard to graduate while you're still young and more easily able to.
My interests include being with family, reading, and lighthousing.
It is the Library's mission goal to help students learn the skills that will
encourage them to develop a love of reading and a desire to become lifelong
learners by using the Library as an informational resource; a resource that
can arm young men and women with the wherewithal to take on roles as
productive members and leaders of our communities who in turn will aim to
instill a love of learning in their own future families.