A school secretary is an administrative professional who works in a school, usually in an elementary, middle, or high school setting. This person will work in the front office and will be one of the first people people see when they enter the school; in fact, greeting visitors and directing them to the appropriate location is one of a school secretary’s main responsibilities. This person may also be responsible for answering phones, processing mail, and keeping track of student absences, among other things. Some secretaries will only be employed during the school year, while others will be employed all year.
Although high schools often have a number of secretaries for different departments, the jobs of an elementary, middle, or high school secretary are generally similar. This may not be necessary in smaller schools. A school secretary’s primary responsibility is to assist school administrators, as well as parents and students. As a result, this person is well-versed in the school and its personnel, and can respond to questions directed his or her way. Students who are sent to the office for misbehavior or other reasons may first need to see the secretary, so it is critical that he or she be familiar with the school’s rules or code of conduct.
Knowing how to operate various types of office equipment, particularly a computer, is essential for a school secretary. In addition, he or she will most likely need to use a fax machine, copy machine, and multi-line phone, among other things. Most secretaries spend the majority of their days multitasking and must be able to keep track of multiple tasks at the same time. In the mornings, a school secretary, for example, might be responsible for recording student absences and preparing reports, in addition to all of the other administrative tasks.
A school secretary may work exclusively for upper-level administrators in a school, such as a principal or a district superintendent, for example. This type of secretary will not interact with students as frequently as others, but will instead provide administrative support. This could include things like scheduling, setting meetings, drafting letters or memos, and other tasks that help with the school’s day-to-day operations. These are the secretaries who are frequently required to work year-round.