The job was notably a convenience in those early years, given its location and work hours mirroring her children’s school hours. “I thought I’d never find a job closer to home with the same hours that my kids have.” Since then, she’s grown to love and appreciate her coworkers and an office environment that always provides a little levity among the hustle and bustle. Not only does she love the kids’ humor, but her office mates are a couple of cut-ups.

 

“We have a wonderful staff,” Roxanne says fondly. “I work with a really good team in the office.” Her duties may seem straightforward to a civilian outside campus, but the logistical magic cooking in the Newton Elementary School office is far more complex. On a standard day, she takes building-wide attendance, organizes and relays important memos to staff, and communicates with the transportation office to finalize who is and who isn’t on the bus, among many other responsibilities. It’s a lot of wrangling, numbers, and headaches, and through her efforts, she’s saved administration and faculty from their own migraines.

 

Her children are now grown up, leading their professional lives in Indiana, ranging from high school math teachers to mechanical engineers and farmers. Roxanne takes pride in how they’ve turned out and looks forward to spending more time with them during retirement. Her plans are manifold: relaxation, family visits, quilting. However, she insists on one strict requirement: “I’m not going to set my alarm clock.”

 

Reflecting on her career in the district, Roxanne agrees that the greatness of our school district is rooted in its multi-generational families and compassionate staff. “What I love most about our school is our staff cares so much,” she says. “They want so much for our kids. I love that we care.” She’s recognized familiar faces over the years, the sons and daughters of parents she served as school secretary or attended school with. Family, she says, makes this place great.

 

She’ll miss that family, whether it be the kids who can make her laugh in the grayest of mornings or the co-workers who have her back in the thick of it all. Missing, at times, can indicate to us what’s most valuable. We think what Roxanne will miss is a strong indicator of what makes our schools “our” schools. That’s the bright side, and we’d prefer to focus on that as we say “farewell” to a district family member and “good luck” to a well-earned retirement (and then some).