Teacher and Staff Appreciation Spotlight | Carol, Tommi and Allison Administrative Assistants
Parents' Association interview with The Orchard School’s amazing Administrative Assistants!
Tommi Reel, Carol Johnson and Allison Troutner are the Administrative Assistants to the Head of the School, the Director of the Middle School and the Director of the Early Childhood/Elementary School respectively, at The Orchard School. They came together to give the Orchard community a little insight into their lives.
Can you describe your role at the Orchard School?
Tommi: Whatever needs to be done - keeping Tom [Tom Rosenbluth, Head of School] on track - meetings etc.; to be helpful to anyone who needs to know where anything is - a resource. I may not have the answers but I know where to direct someone; to be helpful; attend various meetings to be the note taker and to be in the loop.
Allison: To be a resource to teachers and all the students...the parents as well; helping with procedures and processes to make sure the day moves smoothly. First and foremost, I am Hal’s [Hal Schwartz, ES/EC Director] assistant but I also assist the rest of the community. As Tommi said there are times I don’t have the answers but I am able to direct people to the right spot!
Tommi: Communication Central!
Allison: A lot of moving pieces...
Tommi: It’s also a counselor role for people needing to vent. People at all levels need someone to talk to…
Carol: I find that especially so of teachers.
Allison: I try to be a sounding board for Hal and the teachers.
What brought you to the Orchard School?
Carol: Both Jamie [Jamie Napier, MS Director] and my spouses work at Butler University and our families have known each other for a long time. I started consulting for University High School dealing with reporting to the Department of Education. It was complex work as it was difficult to fit University’s model into the confines of the state education system. Later, when Jamie came to Orchard, the position was open and Jamie asked me to apply. My thesis in graduate school was “How Teachers’ Attitudes in Middle School Influenced Parents’ Behavior”.
Tommi: That’s interesting and how appropriate!
Carol:Yes that was fourteen years ago - it's funny how life works.
Can you share a little about your life with the Orchard community?
Tommi: I’m the oldest of four (six years between). That’s where the taking care of people comes from. I was mommy’s little helper. I thought going to Kindergarten was great. I didn’t have to get anyone’s diapers! I have two sisters and a brother and my parents are retired and live in southern Indiana. I have a niece who lives locally and we have weekly dinner dates. I am very close to her. I came to Orchard in October 1996. I interviewed for the job and fell in love with the place. I worked in the corporate world before (in accounting) in San Francisco. I didn’t get the job at first but the selected candidate didn’t have the right skills so I was called back. I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. It feels like a family environment - in tune with who I am. Helping along young individuals who are kind and compassionate.
Allison: I’m married with a baby girl due in March! My husband is a consultant with the urban planning firm, Walker Consultants. My older sister, Brittney, is a 4th grade teacher at Orchard. My younger brother and parents live in Fort Wayne, where I grew up. I came to Orchard after a year abroad in Ireland obtaining my Master’s degree. I have always loved school so working for one seemed like a natural next step!
Carol: I grew up in an Army family. We moved a lot - seven times by the time I was thirteen. I’m the middle child - two sisters. My husband is a Chemistry professor at Butler University and we have three kids (10, 8 and 3).
What are some of the challenges you face in your role?
Allison: I’ve learned a lot about progressive education. My background is not in education, but rather Anthropology. When I encounter new educational lingo, sometimes I have to google words or philosophies that come up in conversations with our teachers. There’s a lot of change in the world and at Orchard. It has been a challenge keeping up with it. How do I make adjustments to make the changes as smooth as possible? Our roles are so much more than what our job description is on paper. We have to wear a lot of hats and remain flexible.
Carol: Balancing the mundane tasks that have to be done (but aren’t particularly interesting) with the larger big picture tasks…
Tommi: Sometimes when supporting leadership you have behind the scenes knowledge that the broader community might not. How to support your person and balance that with affirming and assuring others that there is a bigger plan in place. Assuring people that it is going to be ok while keeping the confidences.
Carol: Another challenge is surviving “Back to School”. The move from being able to finish something. Over the summer I had time to sit and talk with Jamie but once the semester started - we are much busier.
Allison: Yes it’s so busy it’s hard to get that time with your teammate.
Carol: Sometimes it’s hard [for us] to experience Orchard as there is so much to be done. I have to make an effort to walk around. I hope to go on a field trip.
Allison: I would love to be involved in the projects.
Carol: It’s easy to forget why you are working so hard but once you are with the students and the teachers you remember.
Allison: Yes even when they [the students] tell you you have a big belly and your coat is too small! [Allison is eight months pregnant].
How could the Orchard community make your life easier
Tommi: We are all on the same team. Sometimes it’s easy to forget that we are all working for the good of the school.
Allison: I would echo that and everything we do is in the best interest of the kids. We cannot be all things to all people, but we have to try new things - we are not going to get anywhere if we don’t try. Being open to and sharing new ideas, projects, opportunities for teachers. It’s an exciting time.
Carol: I agree with those comments. If there are questions or concerns don’t be afraid to ask. Feel free to come in and sit in some of the MS classrooms. All are welcome and even if your middle schooler isn’t happy to see you there, we are! Reading things we send please, would be really helpful.
What is your superpower?
Tommi: Listening. With what we do that is one of the big things. People feel validated and affirmed.
Carol: Taking big ideas and putting them into action. I’m not so good at coming up with the ideas but I’m excellent at bringing them alive.
Allison: Carol mentioned this...Being in multiple places at once - teleporting..
Carol: You’re a stopgap!
Allison: Whatever it is I’m there - fixing the laminator, filling in for classes, etc.
Carol: Hat changer!
Tommi: [Laughs and agrees]
Allison: I think that we are all probably good at them all!
Letter Boxes are located in the Center; next to the Elementary School Art Room; in the Early Childhood hallway; and near the Middle School Administrative Office. Now you can drop off your letters of appreciation to all of your favorite SUPERHEROES disguised as teachers, administration, maintenance, cafeteria staff, and Kids Connect staff. Letters will be delivered during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, March 12-16.
Click here to read the previous Teacher and Staff Appreciation spotlight.
Letter Boxes are located in the Center; next to the Elementary School Art Room; in the Early Childhood hallway; and near the Middle School Administrative Office. Now you can drop off your letters of appreciation to all of your favorite SUPERHEROES disguised as teachers, administration, maintenance, cafeteria staff, and Kids Connect staff. Letters will be delivered during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, March 12-16.
Click here to read the previous Teacher and Staff Appreciation spotlight.
