Mr. Gillihan celebrated his birthday yesterday! From his morning declarations of love over the intercom to his ardently supportive presence at our football and basketball games, the ways Mr. Gillihan brings joy to Wheeler are numerous, and on this very special occasion, it’s important to remember why he is worth celebrating.
When asked what his favorite part about being Wheeler’s principal is, Mr. Gillihan’s answer came immediately: the students. His genuine love for Wheeler’s student body is felt by many, including Heidi (12), who described Mr. Gillihan as “really nice”. Heidi fondly told me that every time she passes him in the hallway, he stops to ask her how she’s doing and always responding in kind with “I’m doing fabulous”.
Emma (9) concurred, recalling a moment where Mr. Gillihan noticed her upset after a bad day at practice and comforted her, listening to her vent and telling her to not let a one frustrating practice define her. His connection with the Wheeler’s community allows for these vulnerable moments to happen—and not just with the students.
Mrs. Kuhn, the AVTF (Audio, Video, Technology, and Film) teacher, described Mr. Gillihan as “instantly friendly, talkative, and welcoming”. Their first meeting was full of laughter, jokes, and genuine conversation, and in her eyes, “he just seemed like a friend”.
Becoming a principal was not Mr. Gillihan’s plan when he entered college—or even when he graduated college. But as a teacher and coach, he realized that he loved working with students and found administrative roles fulfilling due to the ability to “support the teachers so they can support the students”. He became the principal of Griffin Middle School, and after being successful there, was approached by the Cobb’s Leadership Office with an offer for the job of principal at a “high-performing school” that he later figured out was Wheeler.
Despite his roundabout career path, Mr. Gillihan runs Wheeler like he was born to do so. Heidi emphasized that she has never heard a single complain about him, which Mrs. Kuhn thinks is because of his “ability to build strong relationships with both students and faculty”. She characterized him as a “caring person” with an “open mind”, explaining that as a teacher, it’s very encouraging to know that your boss is caring and willing to grow and change.
Mr. Gillihan’s compassion and positivity make him a truly unique principal, and as such, he deserves birthday celebrations in kind. Mrs. Kuhn hoped that he was surrounded by his loved ones and did something special with them, like go out to eat, and Heidi wished him a day full of “happiness and joy”. For his part, Mr. Gillihan expressed a desire to keep his celebrations simple, telling me his plans to go to a basketball game and video chat with his sons that live out of state. For him, his birthday is a day just like any other: a chance to bring success and cheer to Wheeler High School.
“He’s, like, cool with everyone,” Emma told me as I was leaving. “He’s like family.”
