School secretaries: pros/cons

[KingofJapan]

If my asthmatic kid was put in special ed, I would not be a happy parent. I have no idea what tvguy says 3/4 of the time. He argues for the sake of arguing.

Oh, and his kids went to private school with higher tuition that the State Universities (so he says) so I would have expected they could have bankrolled a secretary.

Hahaha. Higher education than the state universities. I actually heard he lives in Calisota so that makes sense.

 

[sukhakuli]

He lives in California. We have school nurses and secretaries here, and don't pitch every kid with asthma or diabetes in special ed. Maybe his wife always took care of the kids' schooling, so he really doesn't know how it works?

 

[JanaDee]

Tvguy, you do realize the 911 system was started in the 60's, not the 90's. Also I have no idea where you live but unless you live in the middle of no where, a school always has a secretary and will never segregate those kids with an illness from the others....very illegal Iand unethical.

My friends wife is a school secretary. She says the pay is not that great but has the same benefits as the teachers which are excellent and loves working with the kids. Oh and guess what, they even have a secretary and a.......nurse

The town where I lived didn't get 911 until mid-to-late 80's and the school I grew up in never had a nurse (still doesn't) and the school my kids go to has never had a nurse.

 

[KingofJapan]

911 was developed in the 60's. I was referring to what to guy stated. So does your kids school call 911 for a scrape on the knee or for a splinter. Do they throw the "special kids with illnesses" like asthma with the special education kids.

 

[DopeyDame]

I laughed out loud at the thought of the little league coach calling 911 because a kid slid into home plate and scraped his knee and needs a bandaid.

OP, my kids' school doesn't have a nurse, and my daughter does have asthma. Her meds are in a cabinet in the office and the school secretary is trained in administering medication, allergy response, and some basic triage skills (in addition to all the staff being first aid and CPR trained, of course). My impression is that she knows every single kid in that school by name, but certainly doesn't know most of them on a deep level like their day to day teachers do.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Original question:

School secretaries please tell me about your job. What skills do you use the most? What skills does it help you develop? What do you like the most and least about it?

Response to original question:

I don't think a single school my kids went to (1992 to 2009) had a secretary. They went the way of the school nurse when schools got voicemail systems.

Yikes. Cut to the quick telling a guy whose living the past 40 years has been dependent on writing clearly. I thought I had answered the question, sorry.

So, no. You answered a question she didn't ask. She wants to know ABOUT the job, not whether such a position exists.

 

[yoopermom]

The best school secretaries make it look easy. You know the old saying about a duck bobbling along slowly on the water, while his feet are paddling madly underneath? That's a good school secretary! At least in this area, a lot is expected for a little (pay).

First and foremost, you MUST be professional, and extremely discreet. Secretaries know where all the skeletons are buried, and have to make sure they stay that way . Seriously, though, you will have access to all sorts of data, student records, etc, and none of it can be shared without permission, even casually or to be "helpful".

Second, you MUST be a multitasker. You probably have huge long and short term projects on the computer due in the next days/weeks/months, and yet you will rarely get any amount of uninterrupted time in a row to work on them. In the same vein, you must be good at prioritizing, because every "fire" will think it needs to be put out first . If you are lucky, you will get training when technology is updated/changes, if not, you will be expected to learn it on your own, around everything else that you already do.

Third, in a small school district you will tons of different hats (whether or not you have any training in them). You may be called on to do any other support staff work that there is a need for, you will probably run interference for the administration, you may well be the athletic department's "right hand man", etc, etc. This can be fun, and make work diverse, but don't forget those reports that need to be turned into the state by next week!

As a classroom aid, you have probably developed some very very close relationships with some (if not all) of your students, for good or bad. Although you will "know" all of the students as a secretary, you will not have time to chat and make friends with them the way you did in the classroom. There just isn't time!

I've known school secretaries who are absolutely worth their weight in solid gold, even at today's prices . Unfortunately, with the added pressures, higher expectations, and lower pay that we are seeing today, we're also seeing more turnover than what we have in the past. If you are in a good school district, that values it's secretaries, and you think it would be a good change of pace, go for it!

Terri

 

[tvguy]

Original question:

Response to original question:



So, no. You answered a question she didn't ask. She wants to know ABOUT the job, not whether such a position exists.

Just remember, this is a discussion board, not a question and answer board.

 

[tvguy]

I laughed out loud at the thought of the little league coach calling 911 because a kid slid into home plate and scraped his knee and needs a bandaid.

.

The representative from the fire department at our safety class made it clear, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for any injury, no matter how minor it seems.
And while my training was all before the Natasha Richardson incident, I'll be honest, I will never hesitate to call 9-1-1 no matter how minor it appears.

 

[KingofJapan]

The representative from the fire department at our safety class made it clear, do not hesitate to call 9-1-1 for any injury, no matter how minor it seems.
And while my training was all before the Natasha Richardson incident, I'll be honest, I will never hesitate to call 9-1-1 no matter how minor it appears.

Don't forget to call if your cat is stuck in the tree

 

[tvguy]

Don't forget to call if your cat is stuck in the tree

Call me too, we cover all those. And yes, they still go on those calls here too.

 

[Allison]

Just remember, this is a discussion board, not a question and answer board.

Correct. But your direct response was that you thought you had answered the question. The other poster was pointing out that you hadn't.

 

[Aladora]

Just remember, this is a discussion board, not a question and answer board.

True, but you said that you thought you had answered the question.

See, right here is where you said that:

Yikes. Cut to the quick telling a guy whose living the past 40 years has been dependent on writing clearly. I thought I had answered the question, sorry.

 

[KingofJapan]

True, but you said that you thought you had answered the question.

See, right here is where you said that:

tvguy just does not get it. States everything that comes from him are facts.

 

[phorsenuf]

tvguy just does not get it. States everything that comes from him are facts.

Well, he is the media so we all know how that goes.

 

[spacemountainmom]

I work in a Suburban High School with about 1800 students. We have a principal and 3 assistant principals, the principal and each AP have a secretary. There is an additional secretary in the main office that handles many of the financial items. There are four guidance counselors and two secretaries that handle that department. The Activities Director also has a secretary. Monitors (my department) handle the front desk (security check-in) and other areas on a rotating basis. Each of the secretaries and monitors are up to their necks busy pretty much every minute of the day. We do have an RN and LPN in the building during school hours every day.

Our district is going through a huge budget deficit and there are many cuts for the next school year. We are losing an AP and secretary, a guidance secretary had her hours cut in half and the monitor staff is being reduced by two. It is going to be crazy there next year. Everyone who is staying is dreading it. I cannot begin to imagine a school without secretaries or office staff.

 

[tvguy]

Well, he is the media so we all know how that goes.

LOL. And I am the one at work who questions EVERYTHING on Facebook and Twitter. But I am very human. I do see I omitted one important word in my posts, in "elementary" schools. Secretaries and nurses were eliminated in elementary schools here. And the school my brother teachers at, an elementary school, a parent volunteer comes in 3 days a week for 4 hours a day to be the recess monitor does some light office work, so at least there someone is helping out.

 

[PrincessElena]

You have to be good at multi-tasking. Phones, e-mails, teachers, support staff and principals will all be coming at you at the same time. It might require finding a sub for someone who just called in sick, helping students when they come in with questions, etc. You need to be forward-thinking. Are you responsible for a teacher luncheon, test set up, graduation, etc? Special event planning is also a hat you will wear. Also, you might order the office supplies and get special requests from staff for certain items. You may also be tasked with updating the website and keeping clear lines of communication open with the staff via e-mail. Often times, there is interaction with the parents who like to come in frequently to drop off lunch, medications, and other forgotten items from home. In many districts, there is either a part time nurse or none at all. You may have to perform simple first aid duties or be the one to give out the medications. There may be money mangement duties as well. There is usually someone tasked to do the weekly deposits of money from sporting events, registration, book fees/fines, test fees, etc.

Watch out for some dying secretary jobs. The #1 to be cut will be the attendance secretary. This will all be fully computer automated in the near future. Many schools are already partially set up this way.

The downside is not getting paid over the summer. If you are good at your job, however, many times the district will ask you to help out in some way whether it's in summer school, sports, ACT/SAT test proctoring, etc. You just need to find out about these special events ahead of time and get your name out there.

http://www.forbes.com/2011/01/18/jobs-outlook-decline-forbes-woman-leadership-careers_slide.html

This is a great link to a Forbe's article on dying professions. I really only see this being the attendance secretary if your school has a specific person just for this role.

 

[Hrhpd]

LOL. And I am the one at work who questions EVERYTHING on Facebook and Twitter. But I am very human. I do see I omitted one important word in my posts, in "elementary" schools. Secretaries and nurses were eliminated in elementary schools here. And the school my brother teachers at, an elementary school, a parent volunteer comes in 3 days a week for 4 hours a day to be the recess monitor does some light office work, so at least there someone is helping out.

Current ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SECRETARY staff list of the San Juan Unified district, which I believe is in your area? Certainly looks like every elementary school has a secretary. I deleted the last names for privacy, but the staff directory is public information on the district's webpage and the names can be verified.

1) CRISTINE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: GREEN OAKS

2) PATTI
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: CARMICHAEL

3) MARGIE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: CAMERON RANCH

4) SUSANNE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: CAMBRIDGE HEIGHTS

5) MARGUERITE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: SIERRA OAKS

6) JOANNE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: COYLE

7) ELVERA
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: NORTHRIDGE

8) VINITA
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: COWAN

9) FRANCES
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: DEL DAYO

10) JODI
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: CARRIAGE

11) JOY
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: PERSHING

12) LORETTA
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: DYER KELLY

13) TERI
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: GRAND OAKS

14) MICHELLE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: THOMAS EDISON LNG INST

15) JILL
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: DETERDING

16) PEGGY
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: MARIPOSA

17) PAMELA
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: RALPH RICHARDSON CENTER

18) KATHY
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: TWIN LAKES

19) LEANN
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: LAUREL RUFF

20) DARLENE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: OTTOMON

21) RUTH
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: MARIEMONT

22)MARJORIE
ELEM SCHOOL SECRETARY
Location: SCHWEITZER

To stay on topic, all our elementary schools have a Principal's assistant and a secretary. We do not have RNs as school nurses, just specially trained Para-professionals.

Our secretaries do everything. But they have little contact with the children, although due to processing attendance, they do know each child. They do get to know the children that get sent to the office frequently. But our schools could not function without the secretaries. They do way more than just answer phones. They are worth their weight in gold. And in our school district, they get paid ok.

We can't have parent volunteers in the office due to too much confidential information. The secretaries process time sheets for the non contract people such as the janitorial staff, talk to parents (other parents should not overhear,) health plans for the children when the nurse paras are not there, processing test information, etc, etc, etc.

 

[marlynnp]

I don't think a single school my kids went to (1992 to 2009) had a secretary. They went the way of the school nurse when schools got voicemail systems.

LOL. And I am the one at work who questions EVERYTHING on Facebook and Twitter. But I am very human. I do see I omitted one important word in my posts, in "elementary" schools. Secretaries and nurses were eliminated in elementary schools here. And the school my brother teachers at, an elementary school, a parent volunteer comes in 3 days a week for 4 hours a day to be the recess monitor does some light office work, so at least there someone is helping out.

Wow!!! How many years were your kids held back that they spent in total 17 years there?