New secretaries have been added to the staff this year while other secretaries in the office switched positions. The three current front and center secretaries are receptionist Sue Rouse, attendance secretary Laura Lemmons and secretary of all personal Twyla Ricke.

Rouse started working as the receptionist the first day back this semester. Previously, she had been a special education para for four years.

“I love working at the high school,” Rouse said. “So when an opportunity came to work full time instead of part time I took it. I get to meet more students this way.”

Rouse’s favorite part about her new job is the people interaction.

“I love getting to wish kids well on the phone,” Rouse said. “There are lots of great people in the office to work with as well as lots of energy that makes the day go by fast.”

The most difficult part of Rouse’s new job is keeping track of everything.

“The telephone is constantly ringing,” Rouse said. “You have to try to complete one task before moving on to another, which sometimes doesn’t happen.”

Rouse plans to stay a secretary as long as she can.

“My goal is to work for three more years, and I’d like to do it here,” Rouse said.

Lemmons started at the high school in August, but has been a secretary for six years, formally working at Hodgeman County High.

“I was a receptionist at first, which consisted of greeting and answering phone calls,” Lemmons said. “I am now the attendance secretary. My job is to make sure everyone’s where they need to be and that all the students are accounted for. All of my job positions have been great.”

Lemmons favorite part of her job is getting to interact with all of the students, but the most difficult part of her job is keeping track of all of the students.

Ricke has been working at the high school for 17 years.

“I started out as the library secretary, and I was that for 10 years,” Ricke said. “I’ve been in the office ever since then.”

Ricke was the attendance secretary when she first moved to the office. She now is the secretary of all personal, and finds all of the substitute teachers for the district. She also is the ID administrator for the district.

“I loved getting to interact with the kids every morning,” Ricke said.

She now enjoys her new job position, but finds it challenging to keep up with changing staff.

“My favorite part about my job is watching students grow from freshman to senior year,” Ricke said. “It’s so interesting to see their personalities and interests change.”

17kbrooks@usd489.com