Administrative assistants shine

January 30, 2009 • written by Meagan McDougall, Co-Editor-in-Chief  
Filed under Feature

Nestled behind the doors to the office lies a barrier between outsiders and the administrators. This barrier has a smiling face, a desire to help and an understanding of everything that is happening in the school. The administrative assistants are the heartbeat of the school. Most do not know more about these women other than they are who they talk to when they are getting detention or checking out of school.

        None of these women left college thinking they would hold an administrative assistant career. Tonya Vetter, activity director Curt Jones’s assistant, was an accounts receivable manager in the mental health industry before coming to the high school in April 2003.

        “Mental health was very taxing,” Vetter said. “It’s always very negative. (Principal Gary) Clark always said ‘you’ll have things that surprise you,’ but nothing surprises me now.”

        In her spare time, Vetter enjoys music and has participated in the activity since high school. Before she moved to Fargo, she directed three children’s choirs, and now she is a member of the adult choir at her church. Using her talent, before her husband was stationed in Iraq in 2005, she made a CD of herself for her husband to bring with him.

        “We got really good at being independent while he was gone,” Vetter said. “We just did what needs to be done.”

        Janice Best was an administrative assistant for an insurance agent before coming to the high school 12 years ago. Her main tasks revolve around students who are dropping out and preparing graduation. When she’s not helping students and administrators at school, she scrapbooks, reads, volunteers with veterans, helps elderly friends and acts as an auxiliary member at the VFW.

        “I love my job in the office,” Best said. “It’s not for the pay check. There are great personalities here and we all get along so well.”

        Dixie Miller is new to the office staff, but was previously a business teacher and worked at an insurance company before taking a six-year break to stay at home with her family.

        “I love the whole setting of a school, but it’s nice working around adults,” Miller said.

        She works strictly during the school year, unlike the others who work either 10.5 months or year round, and focuses on student attendance and substitutes.  During the summer, she goes to the lake and relaxes now that her years of watching her kids do summer soccer are over because her children are grown.

        Judy Boutiette has been with the high school for 19 years. Before, she managed the office at Trollwood School of Performing Arts.

        “I love the people and the kids [at the high school],” she said. “The people in the office are fun, and I enjoy working with all of the kids.”

        When she’s not in school, she visits her daughter in Colorado, spends time outside and plays with her two Chihuahuas, whom she refers to as her “grandchildren.”

        All of the women try to bring fun into the office atmosphere by incorporating fun theme days into their everyday work schedules. In the past, they have dressed up as Dominoes Pizza delivery people, graduates, Elvis fans, Hawaiians and members of the reality television show “Survivor.”

        “We’re not afraid to be embarrassed,” Miller said. “The fun stuff is where the memories are made.”