Director of Student Activities: Mr. Tillinghast Lands in a New Role

New Director of Student Activities, Mr. Tillinghast, planting a flag on the 25th anniversary of 9/11

By: Foster Curry

For the first time in recent history, Jenks High School will have a Director of Student Activities.

Jenks High School aims to ensure every student has ample opportunity to get connected and involved. As the new Director of Student Activities, Stephen Tillinghast will lead that effort by dedicating full-time attention to organizing student life and overseeing campus clubs.

Tillinghast is currently in his 10th year of being on staff at Jenks. Though most students know him as their middle school Global teacher, leading them on adventurous expeditions throughout countries such as Portugal or Ecuador, and others may recognize him from agricultural programs, this year he's embracing a change.

The sign outside of Mr. Tillinghast’s office with his new title of Director of Student Activities.

Mr. Tillinghast was asked what the transition has been like so far, here's what he had to say:

“It’s been bittersweet in many ways because I do really love teaching,” he noted. “It's been a big change not being able to be in a classroom with students every single day.”

Now this job wasn't necessarily something Mr. Tillinghast was seeking out, but after speaking with the Administration and Faculty, they knew he was the one for the job. 

“Mr. Tillinghast brought a combination of leadership ability, organization, enthusiasm, and a genuine desire to work with students,” said Principal David Beiler. “We wanted someone who could support our student organizations and sponsors, strengthen communication and systems, promote student leadership and voice, and help us continue building a positive school culture”.

Obviously, his not being in a classroom has meant that, instead of coming up with lesson plans and teaching students all day, Tillinghast has had a different day-to-day schedule. Tillinghast does not have the title of a principal, but he is on the administration team. 

Tillinghast acknowledged that stepping into the role has brought a whole new level of busyness and an influx of meetings. However, he emphasized that the best part of the transition is that he still gets to work directly with students.

Mr. Tillinghast multitasking, answering a phone call and reading papers.

Tillinghast mentioned that he still finds ways to interact with students, whether that's through visiting with students about clubs, solving problems around campus, or being a resource for their teachers.

He hopes that this role will create a better opportunity for students to come to Jenks and find areas where they can get involved. Whether it's through sports, clubs, performing arts, etc., he wants students to find somewhere where they feel like they belong, and he believes his role can help them in that area.

Mr. Tillinghast appearing busy while typing on his computer

“So my hope is that with my position student life and campus culture just continues to grow,” he adds. “But I hope that I can also be that fun administrator that's always working with teachers and students on how we can celebrate them and make them feel like their time at Jenks High School is a time they will never forget.”

Tillinghast said that a strong Student Activities program is one that is fully student-led and student-run. A club where students are truly involved in the planning and all that goes into how the club runs.

“When the students have a voice that they feel is being heard and taken into consideration, I think you get a lot more buy-in. If you have a club where students are just showing up and there's a sponsor, an adult, as an example, who is making the agenda, who is coming up with all the plans. Students feel less connected,” Tillinghast said.

With the new addition of this position, students can expect to see a lot of improvements in opportunities for getting involved in student life organizations. 

“I want students to know that this position was created for them,” Beiler said. “We believe the student experience matters.”

Mr. Tillinghast and all of the administration want students to know that they can expect to see change this year and this change gives them a better opportunity to create memories that will last a lifetime here at Jenks High School.

“My guess is that a vast majority of them are going to remember, you know, Friday night with super fans or they're going to remember going on a cross-country road trip with the band,” Tillinghast concluded. “They're going to remember those activities and how those help shape and mold who they are in terms of a person.”