If you’re primarily involved in the high school and middle school, you may have never had the pleasure of meeting Mrs. Heather Millican, the lower and intermediate school librarian.

Millican has worked at Saint Stephen’s for 11 years, having moved to Florida with her family 12 years ago. 

She grew up in a rural town in Ohio, where her love for books began to take root, even in a town without a library. Millican said her family would have to drive hours away to read anything new.

“We were allowed to check out 42 books on our library card,” Millican reflected. “That was the limit, and so I would get 42 books out. And we would go home, and then I would come back and check out 42 more.”

From the love of books grew another love in Millican: a love of teaching. 

Before she had ever stepped into a classroom, Millican knew that she was going to be a teacher, which stemmed from playing with her little sister. 

“When I was four, and my sister was one, I started to be a teacher,” Millican said. “My mom would tell stories about me making my little sister sit down and be my student.”

She graduated from UCF, where she majored in elementary education and reading, and taught for over 30 years in the public school system. Eventually, Millican made the move to Saint Stephen’s partly because her son was planning to attend. 

“Our oldest son, Jared, applied [for a first responder scholarship] and was granted it,” Millican said. “Through that, somebody mentioned I should reach out. They were looking for someone who specialized in reading, and Dr. Pullen offered me the job.”

In Millican’s first years at Saint Stephen’s, she worked in the Center for Academic Success, where she worked closely with select groups of students, grades K-12, and helped them improve their reading and writing skills.

There, her job was much bigger than what one would notice at first glance. 

In that position, Millican was a shining light for many students, including myself: She made students want to improve and helped kids feel safe and supported in a rigorous academic environment like Saint Stephen’s. Her kindness, love, and unrelenting support are what made her such a standout educator in so many students’ minds. 

After working in the Center for Academic Success, Mrs. Millican wanted a change of scenery and the opportunity to touch even more kids’ lives.

“I was looking for a bit of a different role,” Millican said. “I loved [the program] because I could develop these really deep relationships. But I wanted to expand. 
So it was a natural progression when the library role became open.”

Now that Millican has settled in the library, she is able to teach and nurture more children and is surrounded by books every day.

Karli McMahan is a senior teacher’s assistant who works closely with Millican in the library and speaks lovingly of the lower school librarian.

“She’s just a very kind and welcoming person who enjoys making other people feel happy,” McMahan said. “The kids love her,” she added. 

Outside of school, Millican’s family has experienced hardships that most people would never understand, but these challenges have only strengthened her bond with her family and her faith.

“About 6 months ago, my husband was involved in a significant accident, and that has shaped my perspective,” Millican said, referring to an incident in which her husband, a firefighter, was hit by a car in the line of duty.

Following the accident, the family had a long road to recovery, which is still ongoing. Millican was dearly missed on campus, but has now returned to her role in the library with the same love and kindness she has always possessed. 

“Right now, the number one thing for me is doing the best that I can by my family, my faith, and our school.”