What are the top five reasons that kids go to the RHS guidance office?

5. To meet for course selection.
4. To lounge on cozy new furniture.
3. To pet therapy dogs.
2. To skip class.
1. To see Lisa Gilman.

In addition to scheduling, and assisting guidance counselors, Ms. Gilman has created a bright environment for the guidance office. Between her bulletin boards and riddle candy she gets groups of students visiting almost every period of the day.

Ms. Gilman started at Rhinebeck High School in January of 2020. Since she started right before Covid, she didn’t know what a normal year was like at RHS until 2022-2023. Ms. Gilman said she wanted to work in guidance because she likes computers and she likes kids, so it was the perfect mix.

She had never worked at a school before, but previously she had worked at a home for kids for 10 years and in an accounting office too. But Gilman says her current job “is by far the best.”

Her interactive bulletin boards began when we came back to school from lockdown. They aim to inspire. Gilman hopes to motivate people to think outside the box and be kind to others.

Another fun thing Ms. Gilman does is the “riddle candy.” She used to have candy in her office and people would ask for some. She said “well you gotta do something for it,” so she thought of giving people riddles. On average she gets 15+ kids a day coming into her office for candy and just to talk to her in general.

Come to Guidance’s sweet spot!