A Legacy of Love: Celebrating the Retirement of Our Long‑Time School Secretary

For more than two decades, the heartbeat of our school has quietly pulsed behind the front desk—steady, reliable, and full of heart. This year, we celebrate the retirement of a woman whose laughter, multitasking magic, and deep love for students and staff have shaped our school community in ways that will be felt for years to come.

Her journey began long before she ever sat behind the secretary’s desk. She first joined the district as an elementary para, spending her afternoons supervising recess, managing the nap room, and helping with latchkey. In 2004, she added mornings as the study hall supervisor—splitting her days between “the big kids and the littles,” a balance she loved.

Then came 2007: her first official day in the main office. It was, in her words, “What a day!” The copier broke. A student got sick in the office. And with no school nurse at the time, she and Chris Thompson doubled as the unofficial medical team. It was baptism by fire—but she never looked back.

When she started, the main office was squeezed into what is now the business office—two admin offices, the business office, and desks for both the elementary and secondary secretaries all packed into one small space.

Technology was just beginning to shift, too. Laptops were new. The school relied on bulky desktop towers. There was no Wi‑Fi. And yes—she even used a floppy disk to manage parts of the nutrition program.

Over the years, she watched the building transform. The “new addition” brought a library, lunchroom, offices, and classrooms. More recently, the school added a new gym, weight room, and wrestling room. She has seen the school grow not just in size, but in spirit.

People often see her answering phones, greeting families, or comforting a nervous student—but that’s only a fraction of what she does.

At any given moment, she might be: monitoring elementary attendance, contacting parents, printing and copying for staff, tracking staff absences and finding substitutes, managing the entire school lunch program as the School Food Service Authority, overseeing free and reduced lunch applications, or handling payments and filing state reports.

Her role has always been part secretary, part problem‑solver, part air‑traffic controller—and part magician.

When asked what she’ll miss most, her answer came easily: the people. “They have made me laugh and cry (in a good way)! We have a wonderful, caring staff. I have loved watching them help mold our young people into adulthood. It gives me hope for our future.”

Her colleagues feel the same about her. She has been the calm in the storm and the person who could juggle ten tasks while still making every student feel seen.

Her message to the incoming secretary is simple and perfect: “Get ready to multi‑task!”.

Her first Monday of retirement won’t be spent sleeping in or lounging with a cup of coffee. Instead, she’ll be caring for her mother—continuing the same pattern of service and love that defined her years at school.

When asked what she wants students and parents to know about her time here, she shared a sentiment that captures her entire career: “I started here so I could have the same schedule as my kids, but I stayed for the love.”

That love has shaped classrooms, comforted families, supported teachers, and strengthened the school community in ways that will last long after she steps away from the desk.

Thank you for your years of service. Happy Retirement Jo!!