While most 16-year-olds are just trying to survive their next math test, Ms. Trigg was already looking at the front office and planning her future. That early spark eventually led her to the classroom, but after several years of teaching, she realized her goal of helping students had outgrown a single room.
Determined to move into leadership, she spent the last six years earning the certifications needed to trade her teacher’s desk for an administrator’s office. “I started knowing I wanted to work in schools when I was 16 years old and never looked back,” Ms. Trigg shared. “I wanted to have a bigger impact and work with more students.”
Now that she’s officially a Hawk, that “bigger impact” means her schedule is never the same twice. On any given morning, she might be high fiving students at the entrance, and by lunch, she’s deep in meetings about school safety or student schedules. “Every day is different. Some days are slow, some days are not..there is always something new on my plate,” she noted. For Ms. Trigg, the unpredictability isn’t a downside-it’s what keeps the job exciting.
Even when the pace gets hectic, she doesn’t lose her cool. While some people dread the “tough” side of administration-like handling discipline or paperwork she sees it as a necessary part of the puzzle. When asked about her favorite part of the role, her answer was simple: “I love every part of the job, even the hard parts.”
The hardest of those “hard parts” usually involves people rather than paperwork. Ms. Trigg explained that the biggest hurdle isn’t managing the building, but managing change. She identified the most difficult part of her work as “helping people change their mindset, because that’s not something everyone is willing to do.” For her, being a leader means showing others that a new perspective can lead to a better school culture.
As she finishes out her first year at Urbana, Ms. Trigg is focusing on keeping students grounded. Her advice for those looking to excel at UHS is a mix of grit and self care. “Do your best and don’t be a burnout,” she advised. “Make the best decisions for you and your future-not what everybody else is doing or what everybody else wants you to do.”
