Students and athletes may have noticed a new face helping keep the athletics department running smoothly this year. Recently hired Athletic Secretary, Shaina Alexander, has quickly become an important part of the school community.
Before stepping into this role, Shaina worked in a completely different environment, a flower shop. Looking for a change of pace and a less stressful job, she was encouraged by a friend in education to consider working in a school. When the athletic secretary position became available, she decided to take the opportunity. “I was just looking for something different,” Ms. Alexander said, “This job came up and I thought it sounded interesting.” Although she didn’t play sports extensively growing up, she still found ways to stay active, even noting that in her high school gym class she loved badminton.
Now, her role plays a key part in the daily operations of school athletics. Ms. Alexander manages bus schedules for sports teams, ensuring transportation is organized and on time. She also helps monitor student athletes’ attendance and makes sure they are in class before participating in sports.
One of the most challenging aspects of her job is handling transportation logistics. “The bus schedule can be stressful,” she explained, “Things change a lot, especially with weather, so there are always last-minute adjustments.”
Despite the challenges, Ms. Alexander says the best part of the job is the people she works with. “I really like the people here, especially the coaches,” Ms. Alexander said, “They all have great energy, and you can tell they really care about the students.”
Another unique thing about Ms. Alexander’s experience is working at the same school as her mother, who works in the Guidance Department. While working alongside a parent might seem unusual, both say they have found a healthy balance between family and professionalism. “There are always mom moments, but for the most part we keep things very professional at work,” Mrs. Andrea Alexander, Shaina’s mom, said. Because they work in different areas of the building, they are able to stay focused on their responsibilities without distraction. However, their roles do occasionally overlap. “We do connect on students,” Mrs. Alexander said, “Since Shaina is fairly new, she sometimes has questions about procedures or how to find information.”
Even with busy schedules, they make time to see each other during the day. “We usually take a brief walk and have lunch together every day, which I love,” Mrs. Alexander said.
Ms. Alexander agrees that having her mom at the school has made the transition easier. With support close by, she has been able to settle into her role more comfortably.
So far, she says she loves her new position and is excited to continue growing within the school community. “Its mainly the people here that have made it such a great experience,” Ms. Alexander said.
As the seasonal sports alternate throughout the year, students can count on Ms. Alexander behind the scenes to keep everything organized and running smoothly.
