Mr. Eli Phillips is the new Administrative Intern at HHS this year.

This is Mr. Phillips’s first year here at HHS, the last year being in the Middle School.

He says things at HHS are “higher stakes.” For example, when students are falling behind you can’t simply make it up as they did in middle school, it’s something that requires intense remediation.

“Our school specifically is unlike anything that I’ve ever had the pleasure of experiencing,” Phillips said.  “It’s the school that I’ve always wanted to work at, and I didn’t know it existed.”

His time here so far has been impactful and motivating. He said his goal is “to create a safe, calm, lovely learning environment for everyone.” He wants to help build skills for people to get and keep jobs for their future.

Phillips thinks he’s a strict administrator.

“I have very high expectations for our students because I think our students are wonderful and we can meet them,” he said.  His goal with consequences is to not just throw detentions or suspension at a student but to change behavior. “I want to see the behaviors I want to see.”

He has a few things that matter a lot to him like showing up to school on time, being respectful to students and teachers, and keeping our school a lovely place.

He had been applying for jobs for five years and finally got the perfect job at HHS where “everyone thinks and knows he belongs,” Ashley Perez (12) said.

“I loved being a classroom teacher, but I was ready to make the jump and I was ready to make the jump for a while,” Phillips said.

Phillips is quite an unpredictable person in his life outside of work. His favorite music genre is “boomer music.”  Elvis Presley is one of the artists he listens to.

But currently, he’s been a fan of Oliva Rodrigo. He said that it takes him back to his peak pop days.

He also plays piano in his free time and cooks.

“Cooking is probably my biggest hobby. I’m pretty darn good at it,” Phillips said.