Christina Cantwell: The Back Bone of Fair Grove Middle School

Middle School Secretary, Christina Cantwell. (photo provided by Christina Cantwell)

Christina Cantwell is the Administrative Assistant to Mr. Marc Green, the middle school Principal, also serving as the secretary and many other roles in the middle school. 

Before her current position, Cantwell was a substitute teacher at Fair Grove. Mrs. Cantwell stated, “I was extremely fortunate enough to be able to stay home with our son for the first five years and I wouldn’t trade that time for anything, but once he started kindergarten, I was ready to dip my toe back into the workforce and subbing was a perfect segue. From there, when I realized that Fair Grove Middle School was my ultimate jam, it made sense to apply for the secretary’s position because I am in no way cut out to be a teacher!”

Mrs. Kristie Lepold, the Middle School Counselor, expressed the school’s love for Mrs. Cantwell, “Tina is the backbone of our entire school. She takes care of our students, families and staff like none other and with fun and humor (and possibly a wee bit of sarcasm).”

Mrs. Cantwell is in charge of various tasks throughout the middle school to help make sure everything stays organized and runs as smoothly as possible. She is in charge of helping with new students, helping guests, and much more. “Her duties include assisting with registration of new students, lanyard preparation (she would tell you this part is never ending), lunch duty, the myriad of calendar events, answering the phone, you name it….Mrs. Tina is here for it!  Oh, and she is the keeper of the candy…let’s not forget that!” continued Mrs. Lepold. 

Mr. Green stated, “Mrs. Tina has years of experience in many high pressure situations. She is a professional at working with many different types of people and represents our office and building with professionalism.”

She gets many of her years of experience with high pressure situations from being a paratrooper in the Army for seven years. Mrs. Cantwell spent many years of her life partaking in adventurous trips with the Army that the students love to hear all about.

“The parts of my life that you crazy kids think are cool, or at least more interesting than watching paint dry, include being a paratrooper in the Army for seven years, “visiting” some interesting places like Kuwait, Iraq, and Afghanistan, and, of ultimate interest for some reason is that I was a basic training drill sergeant with the funny hat and everything. And yes, in retrospect it was quite fun,” expressed Mrs. Cantwell.

Mrs. Cantwell is one of the first faces visitors see when walking through the middle school doors. She has an ecstatic level of professionalism, cheerfulness and welcomeness that she radiates off to anyone who comes in. 

Mrs. Cantwell has a character that stands out to many students and staff in the middle school, “LOYAL. Once you’re her friend, you know she is absolutely going to have your back and be there for you,” stated Mrs. Martin.

Mrs. Cantwell continues in her third year of being the middle school secretary and supporting the middle school in its entirety as the 2023-24 school year goes on.