Meet Melissa Bamberg, Hillbrook’s Director of Enrollment Management
Connecting with new families? Strategizing about our new high school? Building relationships with the Hillbrook community? And still finding time to raise a one-year-old? It’s all in a day’s work for Hillbrook’s new Director of Enrollment Management Melissa Bamberg, who we were delighted to welcome to our community this summer! Though her days are busy as we gear up for the coming school year, Melissa had time for a quick Q&A to share with the Hillbrook community.
How did your career in education begin?
Looking back at my experiences as a young adult, I always found myself working with children. My early jobs included lifeguarding, coaching, and teaching swim lessons in the summer. Post-undergrad, my intention was to jump into the marketing world, but I landed in a position working in the admissions office at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton. I never thought I would end up in education, but I love working with families and helping them navigate the journey of choosing a school for their families. In my time at Sacred Heart, I focused on supporting families relocating to the Bay Area and got to know families really well. It was there that I realized finding community is integral to a child’s educational experience and began to think about this role as a long term career for me.
A great day at work looks like…
Creating relationships with prospective families. From the time a family first sets foot on a campus, it’s my goal to make sure they walk away feeling cared for. I understand the admissions process can be daunting, and my hope is for the enrollment management team to create as much ease as possible in this process, and have families walk away from the year feeling satisfied with their experience with Hillbrook, whether or not they decide to enroll.
Were there any educational experiences, teachers, classes, etc that shaped or contributed to the way you approach your work?
When I reflect on my own educational experiences, the adults that played supporting roles (coaches, advisors, club moderators) to my academic success are the ones that I have the fondest memories of. In my years as a student athlete, I learned the strength of working as a team and valuing each individual’s particular set of skills. My work style mirrors that, and I seek the support and collaboration of my colleagues and community each day to work towards a common goal. The beauty of working at a place like Hillbrook is that each student, teacher, and administrator is valued for individuality and celebrated for their unique perspective.
What was your first impression when you stepped onto the Hillbrook campus? What was your first (or favorite) memory from that day?
I was lucky enough to visit Hillbrook on a Friday morning and have Friday Flag as my first Hillbrook memory. Seeing the JK students feel comfortable enough to jump on stage and tell jokes with Mr. Silver validated the sense of care and community I felt.
What excites you the most about the school year to come?
Observing students and classes! I’m coming from a school that didn’t have students for the last two years, so this fall will be my first time seeing students in action in a long time.
Hillbrook’s high school is a significant undertaking for the school – what excites you the most about the months ahead?
The opportunity to take part in the founding of Hillbrook’s high school was a deciding factor in my decision to join the Hillbrook community. I’m looking forward to developing the admissions process for our founding class and navigating the challenge that comes with building a program from the ground up. We are so fortunate to have the flexibility of defining and creating our upper division program from a blank slate, while having the traditions and norms of a longstanding JK-8 community to center our work.
When you’re not at Hillbrook, what do you do to relax and have fun?
My most recent obsession has been following Formula 1 racing and my family had the opportunity to take our first major post-Covid trip to attend the Montreal Grand Prix. I am a water baby, so I also love anything to do with water – swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving! I also have a one year old so our family is adjusting to our “new normal” with a toddler. Watching her experience life through her eyes has been the most exciting adventure for me. I’m counting down the days until she can join Hillbrook and experiment in the JK/K mud kitchen!
Hillbrook’s Core Values are Be Kind, Be Curious, Take Risks, and Be Your Best. Which one resonates the most with you and why?
Be Curious. Everyday that I’ve been at Hillbrook I can see the curiosity in students’ eyes and joy in their faces as they discover something new for the first time. I love that Hillbrook pushes students to ask questions and be curious.