Ellen Pillsbury has made a career out of helping others find their own.
Pillsbury, 65, a career specialist who has worked at Foxboro High School for the past 24 years, is retiring next month. She said her interest in working as a career specialist came from her desire to help young people and communities.
“Some students have a passion for a certain field, but sometimes they don’t know how to find people locally who do that job. It’s rewarding,” she said. “Or there are kids who don’t know what they want to do. You can expose them to a career field, which is also rewarding.”
During her 24 years at Foxboro High School, Pillsbury initiated and managed several projects, including the Credit for Life Fair, Career Days, Certified Nursing Assistant Program, Teacher Training Program, Women’s Engineering Program, Transition Nights, Construction Career Days, and College. Did. Tour, Internship, Job Shadow, Future Educator Day.
Pillsbury said the relationships she has nurtured and built with students at Foxboro High School will continue to be cherished.
“Working with freshmen and watching them grow, apply to college, and succeed in their careers is very rewarding for me.
Over the years of her dedicated career, Pillsbury said she has many success stories that come to her mind:
Jess Todd is a Sports Reporter and Anchor for KFVA 12 in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, after joining senior projects at Foxboro Cable Access as a Sports Reporter and Video Editor.
Joe D’Antona, Jason Garanti, Brian, Grenier, Harry McComb, and Colin Sweeney all participated in senior firefighting projects and continued to pursue firefighting careers at Foxboro.
For her senior project, Lily Marcelonis chose the area of occupational therapy that she is currently working on.
Another senior project that stood out for her was done by Guy Quarterrone, who has a passion for breeding and training racing pigeons and now has a business doing just that.
“It is exciting to me to see the success and happiness of the students I have had in their careers here at Foxborough High School,” said Pillsbury.
According to Pillsbury, Foxboro High’s Certified Nursing Assistant program encourages many students to pursue careers as doctors and nurses. She said about 65 students have participated in the program so far.
“I really enjoy working with the students, the facility and the community because of my work. I would also like to thank the staff at Foxboro High School for always supporting me in any way I needed. I would like to thank you,” said Pillsbury.
Pillsbury said her position in high school was important. Because the programs she has built allow students to experience opportunities they would otherwise not have. Students will get hands-on work experience and learn the skills they need in the workplace and how to write a resume. Exposure to careers they are interested in pursuing is an added bonus.
One former student Pillsbury helped was 27-year-old Sasha Greenhalgh, who owns Sasha Greenhalgh Photography.
“It’s hard to find words to adequately describe someone as wonderful as Ellen Pillsbury, but I will do my best to do her justice. “It was only in fourth grade when I was making a senior video for my class. When I first met Ellen, I had no idea what impact she would have on my life,” said Greenhalf.
Greenhalgh credits her yearbook advisor, Pillsbury, with the support she gave her during that time, which helped her feel comfortable setting career goals during her gap year. That gap year helped her on her journey to becoming the business owner and successful photographer she is today.
“When I say I wouldn’t be who I am today without her, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Few people have the privilege of helping us navigate.
Pillsbury said many people have already asked about her retirement. She plans to spend a lot of time with her family and follow her passion for baking.
“I plan to spend more time with my new grandson, Owen, who lives in upstate New York. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to bake. Contact America’s Test Kitchen. I want to be their test baker, and then I can take it back to high school and get feedback,” Pillsbury said.
Pillsbury also said she would like to work with dogs on rescue sites and in other ways.