Behind the Scenes Heroes: They're Administrative Assistants, What's YOUR Superpower?

I grew up with a mom who was a secretary for more than 25 years. I've always known and appreciated the power of an amazing administrative assistant, because I saw her value and importance in so many people's lives first hand. So through that lens, and my role as a high school administrator over the last 23 years, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude and admiration for the exceptional individuals who contribute so much every day to the success of our schools. 

Tomorrow, we will observe National Administrative Assistants Day - dedicated to acknowledging the invaluable role these professionals play in ensuring our school's smooth operation.

I want to highlight the essential qualities and contributions of our administrative assistants and emphasize the significant impact they have on our educational community, because simply recognizing them one day a year will never do justice to how I feel about everything they do for us.

Our administrative assistants are known for their exemplary organizational skills. They efficiently manage multiple responsibilities, from overseeing correct attendance, discipline, health and academic records, building schedules and events to handling budgets and maintaining open communication with parents, students, and staff, oftentimes under time or disgruntled "customer" pressure (whether it's students, parents, teachers, administrators or members of the community).

Their ability to keep everything in order allows our educators to focus on teaching and students to concentrate on learning. Without them our mission would never get done properly.

Fostering a Welcoming Environment

In an increasingly fast-paced and technology-driven world, the human connection in a school community is of utmost importance. Our administrative assistants typically serve as the first point of contact for our school community, consistently providing support, empathy, answers, and assistance. Their knowledge, support and genuine concern for others all contribute to creating a nurturing atmosphere within our schools.

Maybe the number one superpower that administrative assistants possess is an innate ability to tackle challenges with resourcefulness and adaptability. When faced with a problem, they invariably demonstrate creative thinking and determination to find solutions to often complex or confusing issues, whether securing a last-minute substitute teacher or addressing unforeseen maintenance issues. Their problem-solving prowess is truly indispensable. 

The ability to collaborate and communicate effectively is another key attribute of our administrative assistants. They ensure that information and solutions to issues that arise move seamlessly among and between staff members, fostering a sense of unity and camaraderie, acting as true partners to enhance our students' educational experiences.

By facilitating a smoothly functioning school environment, our administrative assistants work keeps our educators from being tied up with the many problems that pop up over the course of a day or a week in a school that could derail us and that work lays the foundation for future generations to lead successful, fulfilling lives.

As we observe National Administrative Assistants Day tomorrow, let us remember to take a moment to recognize and appreciate the remarkable individuals who contribute so much to the success of our school. Thank you so much for your dedication, your intelligence and problem solving, your hard work, your invaluable contributions, and your lasting impact on our educational community as a whole. We could never do this without you.