Family, friends and Hillside staff, present and past, gathered recently for an afternoon of reflection on the 36 years of service that retiree Margaret Johnson gave the Hillside School and Learning Center.
Johnson was hired as a front office secretary who moved to administrative secretary and financial officer before scaling back to part-time and returning to her role as the front office secretary who “knew how to do everything,” as Bob Frank, the school’s current director put it.
Bob Dannenhold, who founded Hillside in 1971, flew down from Seattle with his wife, Kathy, for the event at the Montrose Town Kitchen & Grill. Both gave a brief history of the school and how Johnson came to start her 36-year career there with some humorous stories.
Frank and Cyndi Hatcher spoke to the wonderful qualities that made Johnson so unique and special for the job.
During her career, Johnson saw several directors who managed Hillside, each with individual styles and characteristics. Dannenhold was followed by Liz Campbell, with Descanso Pediatrics managing general and fiduciary policies during those times.
Frank assumed the reins in 1991 and moved the facility to its current location.
Johnson discussed all the changes she witnessed, from a small one-room storefront to a three-building elementary school, to the current high school and educational support programs serving nearly 500 students each year.
