Hillgrove Clerk Earns District Honor

front office clerk Natalie Feller never anticipated that she would be winning an award as the Cobb County School District’s top high school-level classified employee.

Feller was one of four employees to recently win 2011 Classified Employee of the Year awards by the district at a luncheon held at NorthStar Church in Kennesaw.

Each of the winners received a commemorative crystal bowl and a cash award from the Cobb Schools Foundation.

“I was completely surprised and then my husband’s parents came out from behind the stage,” said Feller, who has been Hillgrove’s clerk since the school opened in August 2006. “My mom doesn’t keep secrets and I cannot believe she didn’t tell me. They knew, I think, for a couple weeks.”

Feller said she makes it a point to help visitors feel welcomed when they step into the front office of the Powder Springs high school.

“As you could guess I’m kind of a people person,” Feller said. “I feel like when people enter a school they should always receive a warm welcome. They might be coming in because their kid is in the principal’s office, but they still deserve a smile."

“I try to treat people kindly, civilly and gently, and that’s how I approach it,” she continued. “I’m fortunate to have great co-workers and parent volunteers that support me. Our parents support all the activities at Hillgrove and make me look good every day.”

Feller grew up in Cincinnati and graduated with a psychology degree from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. She and her husband of 26 years, Mark, have two grown sons currently enrolled in college. Ryan attends Southern Polytechnic University and Ethan goes to Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville.

Prior to coming to Hillgrove, Feller worked as a preschool teacher for seven years.  

“Some of my former 3-year-olds are all grown up and attending Hillgrove now,” she said. “It's been fun seeing how they have changed over the years. I feel as if I started them off in school and I'm going to see them finish, too!”

Feller feels at home working as Hillgrove’s front office clerk and can’t see herself “anywhere else but Hillgrove.”

“I like what I do,” she said with a smile, “because I get to interact with the students, the parents and the staff. Some places you’re just the clerk and here you’re part of a team. … It’s just a family. I try to keep our office friendly and upbeat.”

The district recognition—Feller's first award—still is hard to believe for her.

“I couldn’t believe they chose me because there are so many good people in this county,” she said. “I was just so surprised because so many people in this county go above and beyond their job description every day.”

Although Feller may have been surprised by being named the 2011 Cobb County School District High School Classified Employee of the Year, Hillgrove Assistant Principal Ehsan Kattoula wasn’t.

“She started from the first day (Hillgrove) opened and from that day, she started to honor all the kids at Hillgrove,” he said. “She pushed for all the kids to be recognized at each level, both academic and athletic. She’s always pleasant in dealing with students and parents.”

In addition to her Hillgrove clerical work, Feller is one of the founders of the football Mom-a-Hawks; has been the president of the school's Academic Booster Club since its inception in 2006; and co-chaired Shop with a Hawk in December 2007 and again in 2010. When the Hillgrove Foundation formed in July 2010, Feller was asked to be co-treasurer. 

“The foundation supports the activities of Hillgrove High School above the resources provided by Cobb County School District,” Feller said. “Our first goal is to complete our stadium with visitors' stands.” 

Feller and her husband enjoy attending sporting events at Hillgrove, especially football, basketball and baseball.

“We also enjoy the drama productions and concerts as well,” she said. “I always say, ‘If it weren't for Hillgrove, we'd have no social life at all!’”