Inspired by Time magazine’s People of the Year, The Highlander presents McLean’s People of the Year. While standout athletes, gifted musicians and beloved teachers are often celebrated, the individuals working behind the scenes are those who truly sustain our school community. Here are the stories of five Highlanders and their vital contributions to McLean.
Francisco Quintanilla
Head Custodian
Behind every pristine hallway, freshly mowed lawn and polished window is an invaluable yet underrecognized team.
Building Supervisor Francisco Quintanilla manages 16 custodians as they engage in steadfast efforts to keep McLean a clean, healthy place for students. Quintanilla has done custodial work for 22 years, seven years being at McLean.
“We’re working for the children,” Quintanilla said. “That’s what I love, because when everybody comes, the school is going to be already clean.”
Quintanilla, who moved from El Salvador at age 14, works for about 12 hours every day between his job at McLean and his second job at a private cleaning company. He has four children—three adult sons and one teenage daughter.
“I used to work more because of the weekends too,” Quintanilla said. “I used to work overtime to support [my son] because I was a father. You have to.”
Though his job can be demanding, Quintanilla takes an optimistic approach to his work.
“As hard of a worker as he is, he’s an even better human,” Director of Student Activities Greg Miller said. “He’s one of those people that you’ve never heard anybody say a bad word about.”
Mistreatment of school property has worsened this year. Students have torn soap dispensers off walls, flushed paper towel rolls down toilets and done significant property damage. Quintanilla reports that nearly every year, students unlatch the toilets and urinals from their mounting on the walls. Quintanilla’s job is already difficult, but students keep adding tasks to his list.
“I hope one day everything’s going to be different,” Quintanilla said. “If you’re going to the bathroom and everything is broken, what can you do? If I go there and I break the bathroom, I’m not doing it to myself. I’m doing it to everybody.”
Quintanilla’s sacrifices for students go far beyond the cleaning he does every day. After students recently detached soap dispensers from the boys bathroom wall, Quintanilla took his own dispenser from the custodians’ office and installed it so that sports game attendees could wash their hands. The unseen selflessness of McLean’s custodians is what keeps the school running behind the scenes.
“[Custodians] are the unheralded heroes of this building,” Miller said. “People don’t see all the work that goes on before school and after school. You obviously see them during the school day, but a lot of work goes into the operations of the building.”
While some students disregard the custodians by vandalizing and littering, others are grateful for their contributions to the school.
“[Quintanilla] is someone I deeply respect because he works tirelessly throughout the school day to ensure that McLean remains a clean and welcoming environment,” junior Kareena Pasha said.
If Quintanilla could tell McLean students one thing, he would encourage them to care for their school as it is a product of his hard work and dedication. “Take pride,” Quintanilla said. “This is my second house.”
Grace MacCracken
TheatreMcLean Makeup Head
While TheatreMcLean’s award-winning musical Claudio Quest left audiences in awe, its magic extended beyond the stage. Behind the curtains, senior Grace MacCracken’s makeup brought the characters to life. Now, as the head of the makeup crew, MacCracken reflects on the production as her favorite creative achievement.
“I got to draw little, colorful bubbles on the girls’ eyes every single day,” MacCracken said. “For that show, [in addition to the leads], every character in the ensemble had colorful makeup, so it was definitely my favorite.”
MacCracken has loved makeup since she was young, but her love for theater developed even earlier.
“I’m a huge theater kid, and I always have been since I was really little,” MacCracken said. “It’s such a gift to be able to be around so many people and spend so much time with friends, doing something that you like to do. That forced family becomes kind of like a second family.”
Beyond the camaraderie, MacCracken finds joy in designing each makeup look and determining the makeup style of each show.
“I usually get full creative liberty when it comes to [designs],” MacCracken said. “It depends on the show when it comes to how long it takes me. If it’s going to be something really intricate and exciting, it’ll take me longer to figure out colors and designs that go with the vibe of the character.”
MacCracken has worked as the head of makeup since her junior year. In addition to leading the makeup artists behind the stage, she collaborates with actors in the Theater 3-4 class.
“You don’t want to have that big separation between actors and tech, and a big part of her is that she is a huge bridge between [them],” TheatreMcLean teacher and director Phillip Reid said. “She is always communicative not only to her crew members but also to all the actors.”
MacCracken spends weeks preparing for each production, balancing creativity with leadership to ensure the process runs smoothly.
“We spend about a month and a half before the show practicing the looks, and I teach them the makeup,” MacCracken said. “I’ll usually make the designs and go to tech head meetings, where all the heads meet and talk about design ideas for the show.”
Her ability to manage the team while maintaining a positive attitude has left a lasting impression on all the members of the crew.
“She’s such a positive person, and it can get really stressful when we’re in tech week, but she is always there with a smile and willing to help,” Reid said. “I’ve never seen her get frazzled, and she’s always coming at it with such a positive attitude.”
Though MacCracken does not plan to pursue theater makeup as a career, her talent and positive leadership will continue to show in whatever path she takes.
“She’s just genuinely really fun to work with. It’s always been great working with her throughout these past three years,” senior actor Aldo Silva-Suarez said. “She knows how to put a smile on people’s faces and just brings good energy whenever she’s in the room.”
Noah Hood
McLeader
Senior Noah Hood’s favorite moment from his high school journey wasn’t a victory on the field or a trophy at a competition—it was the thundering cheers of the crowd at a pep rally he spearheaded. As the gym filled with energy, Hood stood in the background, watching his vision turn into a reality.
Hood has become a cornerstone of McLean culture through his role in McLeadership—a class responsible for planning school events. His involvement began in sophomore year.
“I saw all the people at the pep rallies, and I wanted to be that person [who] was really
involved with the school,” Hood said. “That was my motivation.”
In past pep rallies, students were merely members of the audience. Hoping to bring out better engagement, Hood introduced a new aspect to last year’s winter pep rally: a glow-in-the-dark theme. With the glow sticks, students became part of the production.
“The glow-in-the-dark theme was a huge success. We haven’t had a pep rally with that many kids in a long time,” Hood said. “It was definitely hard to get together, but it ended up really [great] in the end. That [energy] transferred over to the fall pep rally we had this year because this was one of the biggest pep rallies we’ve had.”
McLeadership teacher Karen McGraham describes Hood as the “leadership king” for his creativity and logistical planning.
“[For] all of the decorations for our Tangled [homecoming] theme, he helped organize what was going to be in each space: the lanterns hanging down, the purple fabric all along and the lights,” McGraham said.
Hood’s leadership extends beyond planning events and spirit days—he emphasizes the import
ance of welcoming underclassmen to form an inclusive atmosphere.
“He’s one of our most patient leaders to the underclassmen,” McGraham said. “He is always willing to listen to the other kids and he’s always positive.”
Despite Hood’s contributions and commitment, much of McLeadership’s work often goes unnoticed by students. Hood’s goal isn’t just to orchestrate large-scale events, but to make school a place where students feel excited to engage.
His current project, a hot cocoa social during the week before winter break, stemmed from this idea.
“I want to show how much fun [school spirit] can be, and [that] it’s not weird,” Hood said. “[McLeadership is] all about bringing everyone together.”
As Hood prepares to graduate, his legacy at McLean has been made clear: he’s shown that McLean isn’t about taking on excessive challenges, but about finding ways to make school enjoyable for everyone. Hood has contributed to a vibrant school culture he hopes will continue long after he leavesMcLean.
“He really is a bright light and a force to be reckoned with,” McLeadership teacher Cara Mosley said. “Everybody that’s around him just enjoys him, and it’s a really great experience just to know him.”
Michael Tierney
Head Athletic Trainer
Athletes at McLean claim the spotlight, representing students and raising school spirit with each game and victory. But few realize that their success hinges on the care and expertise of Michael Tierney.
Tierney, McLean’s head athletic trainer, oversees all athletic injuries, from scrapes to ankle sprains to concussions, ensuring every student can play at their peak.
“The athletics program would not be running without [his] help,” said junior Lucy Nuzzo, who shadows the athletic trainers. “[His] schedule is packed with games and practices, and I’ve seen him handle everything, teach kids about their injury and even [build] relationships with the athletes.”
Unlike athletes and coaches, Tierney’s work is not in the spotlight on the field, but his contributions are no less important. Athletes from various sports find themselves in his office for evaluations or treatments or see him at practices and games, where he works from the sidelines to ensure their safety.
“I hope [students] look up to me,” Tierney said. “I hope they see that I am knowledgeable, and I am here to help them.”
Tierney is also responsible for informing students of their athletic limitations. Though he understands how difficult it can be for students to accept restrictions, he knows that his decisions are necessary for their ultimate success.
“Sometimes kids see a Langley game and think, ‘I have to play,’ but [they] aren’t ready, so I have to make that tough decision. I hope one day they recognize that I was just looking out for them,” Tierney said. “I’m not trying to be a hindrance to their athletic career. Whether they believe it or not, it’s all for their long-term health.”
Through his work, Tierney develops close connections with athletes, helping them both physically and emotionally throughout their treatments.
“Mr. Tierney helped me a lot during the football season, and that’s when I really got to talk to him a lot,” sophomore Henry Williams said. “I’m a swimmer, and he used to swim, so he and I connected through that. He understands what I’m talking about, so that’s really helpful for me.”
Growing up, Tierney played multiple sports, including crew, basketball, soccer and many more. But he didn’t always want a job in sports medicine. Initially, he wanted to be an anesthesiologist. During his college career and his job at a physical therapy clinic, he began to gravitate towards physical therapy and athletic training.
“I get to combine two things: sports and medicine,” Tierney said. “Athletic training is a lot more fun. It’s a lot more on my toes and a lot more critical thinking.”
Tierney’s love for athletic training comes from his own athletic experiences on the field. From his office to the sidelines, he has the unique ability to help a wide scope of athletes at McLean.
“It’s fun to watch them progress, [even] with their injuries,” Tierney said. “They are always so motivated, and it’s one of the most fun parts [of school] to be involved with.”
Brandon Lu
Sports Photographer
Every sport, season and game brings something new to McLean athletics— whether it be a dramatic spike, buzzer beater or game-changing touchdown. Yet one constant remains on the sidelines, camera poised, ready to capture the defining moment. Since his freshman year, junior Brandon Lu has photographed over 400 school games and events.
“During the fall, I go take photos for at least three games every week,” Lu said. “Half of it is for the yearbook, but half of it I do just for fun. It’s interesting, and I [get to] know everyone around the school by talking to people while taking pictures.”
Lu’s journey as a photographer began at the age of 6 when his mom gifted him an old Sony camera. Over time, his love for the hobby developed.
“At Longfellow Middle School, there was this basketball event and I thought, ‘Why not take some photos?’ Then in freshman year, I began taking photos for football, field hockey and all those sports,” Lu said.
He now leads the yearbook staff as a chief photographer.
“Brandon’s role is critical to our staff,” photojournalism teacher Meghan Percival said. “He’s the outside observer, not looking for a perfectly posed or filtered photo of an event. [He] shows the range of all emotions and actions and documents what it’s like to be a teenager at McLean.”
Lu’s dedication demonstrates itself through his detailed persistence. Each game, he takes about 1,000 photos, of which he selects around 40 as final photos. Beyond the game, the editing process takes him several hours.
“I can’t just focus on one perfect photo,” Lu said. “I have to focus on the game.”
Lu’s contributions, though less celebrated, are equally impactful as those of athletes.
“In freshman year especially, there weren’t a lot of photographers,” Lu said. “It was just me with a crappy Nikon camera, doing my best to photograph their performance.”
Many athletes have expressed gratitude for Lu’s work, as they frequently use his photos for posters and social media posts. But his most memorable sign of appreciation came unexpectedly.
“I got paid by the varsity girls lacrosse team last year as a thank-you at the end of their season. All the parents signed the note card just to say thank you,” Lu said. “I was completely surprised. I wasn’t expecting them to pay money.”
Photography has become a core aspect of Lu’s growth throughout high school.
“The main lesson I’ve learned through photography is that it’s okay to get bad shots. Even if I take 1,000 shots and most are bad, I’ll get at least one good one,” Lu said. “It’s just important to not give up.”
Lu’s dedication ensures that with every click of the shutter, McLean’s community stories are told. His commitment doesn’t go unnoticed. “
The other day, I was walking down the hall, and a staff member said to me, ‘Oh Brandon, he’s your photographer! I just love that kid,’” Percival said. “There is a recognition from our coaches, fans and school community that Brandon puts in the time and the effort. And I love that he represents us so well.”
