Featured Faculty: 6/1/12
At one point, every Berkeley High School student will make a visit to the counseling office, to ask questions and to make requests. Because of this, having someone who can answer all of your questions or point you in the right direction is vital. Robert Stiles, sitting at the main desk in the counseling office, is that someone.
As the program assistant, Stiles helps counselors and vice principals with whatever is needed, but the main part of his job is helping all the students that come to his office, which he likes to call “a big information booth,” whether that means printing a transcript, helping a student if their counselors are not available, or signing them up for a class at Berkeley City College.
When you first step into the counseling office, you’re greeted by his friendly and approachable personality, and it is guaranteed that all your questions will be answered. In addition, a big part of Stiles’ job is making the master schedule for each school year; this schedule decides which classes go where and who teaches them. Anyone who has interacted with Stiles can tell you just how helpful and informative he is.
Stiles grew up in Portland, Indiana, where he was schooled and had his first jobs in a greenhouse and at a museum. Then, with some college friends, he came to Berkeley where he waited tables at a restaurant on Telegraph Ave.
Three years ago, Jim Slemp, former principal and friend of Stiles, asked him to work at BHS for one week during the summer. Three more weeks were tacked on, then he became a substitute, and finally Stiles realized that he enjoyed BHS too much to leave.
When asked what his favorite part of BHS is, he answered, “it’s always changing, every day there is something new, someone new to help.With 3,500 students there are always many problems, which I am exited to fix.” He also added that his favorite quality of the students of Berkeley High is their hope for the future; “every single one of them has it.”
Stiles also showed great pride in his record collection, which is made up of over 2,500 records, and he claims that he has listened to each record once. His collection has grown to such a size that he calls it his “roommate.”
If you haven’t met Stiles yet, be sure to go say hello in the counseling office. He is yet another one of BHS’s quality faculty members, and next time you have any questions about basically anything at BHS, he is the man to ask.
Robert Stiles is not only friendly, informative, and kind, but a perfect fit into the BHS community. He is invaluable to the administration, students, and teachers.
Comments
Post new comment