Support staff schools' unsung heroes
By Earl Horlyk | Posted: Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Sioux City West High School financial secretary Leslie Dake goes over invoices at the school Monday. (Staff photo by Tim Hynds)
SIOUX CITY -- Counting quarters deposited in a pencil machine the day her school takes the Iowa Test of Educational Development may not seem like the most important of tasks. But it's just one of the many responsibilities that falls on the shoulders of West High School finance secretary Leslie Dake.
Beginning her day before most of the faculty members or students arrive, Dake checks faxes to see which teachers are absent and which classes will need coverage. Later on, she'll make payroll, pay the bills and count the take made at the previous night's sporting event.
"If a teacher calls in sick," she said, "the school will survive. If an administrator calls in sick, we'll also be fine."
"But if the school's support staff calls in sick? We'll have to close the place down," Dake said jokingly.
Representing nearly 400 of the district's 1,700 employees, secretaries, instructional assistants and other support staffers are among the unsung heroes of Sioux City's schools, according to Superintendent Paul Gausman.
"Children don't look at job titles," he explained. "They look at leaders. Children look for people who'll put their interest first and lead them on the road to student achievement."
That's why Sioux City schools will recognize education support professionals Wednesday as a part of the National Education Association's 87th annual American Education Week.
"(The support staffers) are a such a dedicated group of people," West High School counselor Amy DeGroot said. "They often go under our radar, but they're an integral part of the school district."
As a way to ensure the work of support professionals doesn't go unrecognized, Dake, one of nine secretaries in the office at West, became president of the Sioux City Education Support Professional Association. A member of the Iowa State Education Association's political action central committee, she regularly lobbies legislators to secure a livable wage and ensure affordable health care for school support professionals.
In July, Dake was elected one of 10 at-large members to serve a three-year term on the Nation Education Association's board of directors. Dake, the sole education support staffer in Iowa's three-member NEA delegation, said her new position will mean lobbying U.S. senators and House members in Washington, D.C., four times a year.
"It's great for the state to have three distinct voices representing Iowa at the NEA," she said, noting that she shares the honor with two teachers. "But I'm glad that one of the voices is sticking up for education support people."
After five years as a secretary at North High School, Dake moved to West three years ago. And with her own kids now grown, Dake is happy to be around another group of kids: West High students.
"You really do develop a strong relationship with the students," she explained. "Sometimes, a kid's school life is more normal than his home life is. Knowing that you're making a difference and helping to shape their future is what keeps me going."
American Education Week
For the 87th year, schools around the nation are spotlighting the important of quality public education and those responsible for providing it.
Monday: Open House Day.
Today: Parents Day.
Wednesday: Education Support Professionals Day.
Thursday: Educator for a Day.
Friday: Substitute Educators Day.
Source: nea.org
Beginning her day before most of the faculty members or students arrive, Dake checks faxes to see which teachers are absent and which classes will need coverage. Later on, she'll make payroll, pay the bills and count the take made at the previous night's sporting event.
"If a teacher calls in sick," she said, "the school will survive. If an administrator calls in sick, we'll also be fine."
"But if the school's support staff calls in sick? We'll have to close the place down," Dake said jokingly.
Representing nearly 400 of the district's 1,700 employees, secretaries, instructional assistants and other support staffers are among the unsung heroes of Sioux City's schools, according to Superintendent Paul Gausman.
"Children don't look at job titles," he explained. "They look at leaders. Children look for people who'll put their interest first and lead them on the road to student achievement."
That's why Sioux City schools will recognize education support professionals Wednesday as a part of the National Education Association's 87th annual American Education Week.
"(The support staffers) are a such a dedicated group of people," West High School counselor Amy DeGroot said. "They often go under our radar, but they're an integral part of the school district."
As a way to ensure the work of support professionals doesn't go unrecognized, Dake, one of nine secretaries in the office at West, became president of the Sioux City Education Support Professional Association. A member of the Iowa State Education Association's political action central committee, she regularly lobbies legislators to secure a livable wage and ensure affordable health care for school support professionals.
In July, Dake was elected one of 10 at-large members to serve a three-year term on the Nation Education Association's board of directors. Dake, the sole education support staffer in Iowa's three-member NEA delegation, said her new position will mean lobbying U.S. senators and House members in Washington, D.C., four times a year.
"It's great for the state to have three distinct voices representing Iowa at the NEA," she said, noting that she shares the honor with two teachers. "But I'm glad that one of the voices is sticking up for education support people."
After five years as a secretary at North High School, Dake moved to West three years ago. And with her own kids now grown, Dake is happy to be around another group of kids: West High students.
"You really do develop a strong relationship with the students," she explained. "Sometimes, a kid's school life is more normal than his home life is. Knowing that you're making a difference and helping to shape their future is what keeps me going."
American Education Week
For the 87th year, schools around the nation are spotlighting the important of quality public education and those responsible for providing it.
Monday: Open House Day.
Today: Parents Day.
Wednesday: Education Support Professionals Day.
Thursday: Educator for a Day.
Friday: Substitute Educators Day.
Source: nea.org
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 2 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
run the school wrote on Nov 18, 2008 8:22 PM:
Without the support staff, teachers wouldn't know what to do. Hence the word "support".
Ask any of them "
Spartacan wrote on Nov 18, 2008 9:40 AM: