Unfamiliar Faces: Ms. Hull

By AULANI MARLEY | Feb. 27, 2020 | Student Life

photo by Austin Mendillo

Whether it is for being tardy, needing a re-admit, or having some problem, students at Stanton College Preparatory School have most likely been in student services at least once. Mrs. Patricia Hull works in student services, where she offers both forms, solutions, and advice for any individual in need. While students may only know her for when they are running late, or may not be familiar with who she is at all, she provides much needed assistance to Stanton students and faculty. 

Mrs. Hull has lived in Jacksonville, Fla. her whole life, and lived within minutes from Stanton. While she did attend William M. Raines High School, she became familiar with Stanton early on in her life. 

“I grew up around the corner, just two blocks from Stanton. During the summer, I used to come here for summer classes because we could take a class to get extra credit for the fall,” said Mrs. Hull.

By living so close to Stanton, Mrs. Hull already knew the school. Later on in life, she would end up working for Duval County Public Schools, and Stanton itself. 

“I started working for Duval County Public Schools in 2000 and I worked at [Young Men’s and Women’s Leadership Academy at] Eugene J. Butler for about fourteen or fifteen years,” said Mrs. Hull. “I was surplussed here to Stanton College Prep in 2009.”

After being surplussed, Mrs. Hull was again surplussed to Dinsmore Elementary School. After working at Dinsmore for two years, she was able to retire from working for DCPS.

Although Mrs. Hull did retire, she found her way back to Stanton through friendships and connections made with other staff throughout her years working for DCPS. 

“Mrs. Nongongoma Majova-Seana and I formed a friendship on the business level when she was the principal of Eugene Butler at the time I was working there. From that point on, she and I became friends, building a relationship both personal and professional,” said Mrs. Hull. 

Mrs. Hull and Mrs. Majova had a relationship formed from their time at working at Eugene Butler middle school together, and would eventually continue being colleagues at Stanton.

“After I retired in 2018, I saw her and she always teased me asking when I was going to come back to work. I’d always say, ‘you know I’m not coming back to work, but I will work for you,’” said Mrs. Hull. 

Mrs. Hull voiced how grateful she was to be returning to the same school she once worked at with some of the same people in the same office. She even joked about how some of the notes and sheets she put on the wall years ago were still there, and how they remain there to this day. 

“I think it is my calling to work with children. I just love working with children,” said Mrs. Hull, who has had the opportunities to work at multiple schools in Duval County, interacting with different age groups from different areas from all over Jacksonville. 

“I came from inner city schools to this prestigious school. Here and in the inner city schools, there were children that needed personal assistance,” said Mrs. Hull. “If it’s no more than a kind word or a word of advice, a notebook, a bookbag.”

 In addition to operating an ordinary student services office, Mrs. Hull also goes out of her way to help students if they are having troubles or if there is anything someone needs.

“This is student services, but it is also the clinic, the lost and found, the area where you come when you’re in trouble, to sign in, get tardy slips, readmits, early outs, and more,” said Mrs. Hull. “But you can also get free advice here and a shoulder to cry on.” 

Mrs. Hull discussed how her role involves helping students with their school necessities, but also their personal needs, whenever they feel stressed or need someone to vent to.

“I try to turn a bad situation into a good one,” said Mrs. Hull. “I am very caring and I want to help children in any aspect. I try to treat kids the way I want my children to be treated” 

While most students may just have known student services for its lost and found or attendance assistance, it is truly a place where Mrs. Hull resides, hoping to lend a helping hand to any student in need.