Mrs. Bilbo Interview

Beyond the Books; an Interview with Mrs. Bilbo

By Club Writers, Kelly Plante ('28) & Savanna McCliggott ('28)

This year Bishop O’Connell welcomed many new teachers into the community, one of which being Mrs. Bilbo, an English and Psychology teacher. Mrs. Bilbo is someone who highly values humor and human interactions, aiming to not only teach but to develop lasting relationships with her students. She loves dogs, Marvel movies, and DIY projects, and has a habit of having a handful of Swedish fish at bedtime.

Mrs. Bilbo first visited Bishop O’Connell last year after school when the school was empty. Seeing the size and structure of the building, she remembers thinking that the school would be chaotic when filled with students and the hallways would be packed, loud, and hard to navigate. From her first day working with us, however, she has felt a calmness among the students that stands out to her; not simply quiet, but peaceful. Mrs. Bilbo loves the energetic but organized atmosphere in the hallways during the passing period, the respectfulness students have towards each other, and the eagerness that can be felt in the environment. In that sense, the school contrasts with her past teaching experiences, as well asher background in health care and psychology. 

Mrs. Bilbo did not intend to become a teacher initially. She ventured into medical school after college, as she knew she wanted to help others. Even though her career was not clear yet,, Mrs. Bilbo understood that she wanted to work with people and have a direct impact on their lives. After studying pre-med for some time she turned towards nursing, but at the time she had issues with the healthcare system and wasn’t sure it would be the right fit for her. This was because Mrs. Bilbo once had to help force a patient to take medicine for his cancer, which was an instance that affected the way she saw the job. As a nurse she was helping people, but to do so she sometimes had to violate what the patient wanted. Questioning her path, Mrs. Bilbo decided to study psychology and take some teaching courses, eventually becoming a substitute teacher for Fairfax County and falling in love with the job. 

The interactions Mrs. Bilbo had with students and the constant changes in scenery swayed her into becoming a full time teacher. While substituting she was also working an office job that did not make her feel accomplished and, to her, felt like doing the same motions every single day. Through teaching, Mrs. Bilbo found a path in life where she was influencing others while being a part of something new each and every day. Through experience in the classroom Mrs. Bilbo tries each and every day to bring humor to her lessons, an important virtue she values. In her classroom she wants to develop a culture where students can learn through interactive and funny activities, in her opinion making light of situations helps the day feel a little bit brighter.

After teaching in middle school for some time, Mrs. Bilbo has now been invited into the O’Connell family. One of the first events that made Mrs. Bilbo feel welcomed at the school was through meeting the other English teachers. From the first department meeting, Mrs. Bilbo was introduced to people who loved to analyze writing, appreciate books, and have in depth conversations about novels as much as she did. The department meetings gave Mrs. Bilbo a stronger sense of community after coming from a school where she was one of the only literature teachers. Here at O’Connell, she met people she could relate to and who appreciated teaching and reading as much as she did. As far as school events go, the first pep rally was a fun and new experience for Mrs. Blibo, and it was a good snapshot for her into the spirit of the school, demonstrating the school’s unique sense of unity and integration. Being at events like assemblies and pep rallies brought back nostalgia for her,  and demonstrated how invested students were in the school. Mrs. Bilbo's experience at O’Connell has been one of joy, unity, and learning.

Mrs. Bilbo is a caring teacher who wants to foster relationships with students in her first year at Bishop O’Connell. Hopefully you will have the chance to interact with her and show her how much her induction into the O'Connell Community is valued. As she makes her mark on the school, hopefully Mrs. Bilbo will grow to feel a sense of true belonging and be able to share with her students the literature she dearly loves.