Springtime in the Front Office: A School Secretary’s Role at Island City

On a Friday morning Turning Point Podcast episode, the hosts talk with Island City head secretary Ms. Perry (with Mr. Carpenter) about her path from office administration work to stay-at-home parenting, then returning to school as a para and eventually becoming head secretary. They discuss the springtime rush in a school office, including field trips, awards, state testing, kindergarten roundup, year-end rollovers, Q files, and ordering supplies, while also planning the next school year. Mr. Carpenter describes how administrators and office staff manage overlapping school years, budgeting, staffing, negotiations, and district cuts. Ms. Perry explains the pressure of arranging substitutes, the learning curve of the role, confidentiality, supporting students and families ...