Celebrating Great Hearted Administrative Professionals

Wednesday during the last full week in April is recognized as National Administrative Professionals’ Day, where we celebrate the professionals who keep our academies running smoothly. Today, we recognize the work of Front Office Coordinators, Registrars, Office Managers, Operation Managers, and other administrative support professionals that are central to success of our academies.

These individuals work hard for our schools, our staff, and our families. They are organized, professional, highly productive, and often multi-tasking as they support the purpose of Great Hearts to pursue Truth, Goodness, and Beauty. We recently interviewed the front office team at our Phoenix Home Office, Silvina Horvath and Jackie Labadie. They embody the heart of an administrative professional as they expressed their desire to serve everyone in the organization. Their hope is that every academy is touched in some way by her commitment and hard work. “Working here is great because I feel like I am helping the mission of Great Hearts.  It’s great to work for something that you believe in,” said Horvath.

“I have the pleasure of working with our Office Managers and front office staff for 10 years and I am always in awe of their spirit and attitude to get things done to help the schools,” said Senior Vice President of Business Operations, Marilyn Papke. “They are the smile when you walk into the building, and they are the smile you see when you leave.  They wear so many hats and are responsible for so many tasks and they connect the dots for so many families.  They are a treasure for the schools, and they do an amazing job!  So glad we get to celebrate them on this special day. Thank you to every one of you for the job you do every day!”

These professionals work with our school communities every day on multiple levels.  We all depend on them heavily but are often unfamiliar with everything these “unsung heroes” do for our schools. We asked Kathy Lund, Great Hearts Director of Business Systems, and her team to describe just a few of the duties that these hard-working individuals take care of. While this is not an exhaustive list of what they are responsible for, it can give us an idea of the sometimes “thankless” services these professionals provide for us on a daily basis.

Lund says the Front Office Coordinator is usually the person that students and families are most familiar with. “The Front Office Coordinators are important to the school,” said Lund. “Coordinators keep everything moving at the school and know all the families and students.  They manage attendance, volunteer and visitor check in and check out, and are always helping the school run smoothly.”

We wouldn’t have great academies without enrolled scholars. Every student has had to register for Great Hearts or reenroll at some point and that is where the important work of our Registrars comes in. “The Registrars keep enrollment moving. They enroll all the families and reenroll our current families.  They really sell the school, make schedules, and ensure all new families feel welcome and have all the information to start at their school,” said Lund.

Lund could not say enough about our Office Managers. “They oversee the front office and keep everything up to date. They also oversee the business operations of the school and are paramount to the school’s success. Office Managers have a pulse on upcoming needs and planning for the school. The Office Manager is one of the most important roles at the schools. They know all the families, students, teachers, administration, and vendors.”

Last, but not least, Lund talked about the Operations Manager. “They are responsible for planning and executing events, field trips, and overseeing facility needs. They work with their administration team to help faculty, the office, and admin with daily operations.”

Be sure to identify these individuals at your academy this week and find a special way to express your appreciation and gratitude.

Do you have a story or know of a story that you would like to see featured at Great Hearts?  Please contact jmoore@greatheartsamerica.org.