At Homestead High School, the office is more than just a workspace: it is the center of student life for the hundreds of students that come through the doors every single day. Over the past year, dedicated office staff have created close relationships not only with their colleagues but also with students.
For Dana Orozco, administrative assistant to the principal, after settling into her new role two years ago, she quickly realized that her colleagues and students created the environment that she loved.
“My favorite part of my job I would say is a mixture of the people I work with and all the kids that stop by and say ‘hi’ and help them through their day,” Orozco said.
Kathy Blume, administrative assistant in the attendance office, also felt an immediate sense of belonging with her department.
“I would say the relationships in our department is something I would have never expected. I’ve never had a job where I immediately clicked with my colleagues as quickly or as closely as I have here,” Blume said.
Blume’s connection is bigger than her coworkers; it extends to the students that she helps every day.
“I am not new to working with young adults, but the environment here at Homestead is truly amazing. I love being able to do all I can to support the students and get to know them, laugh with them, and to just see them succeed is so inspiring,” Blume said.
Katie Burton, assistant for attendance, remembers the early days of the team, when the office had a lot of new, friendly faces.
“We have an incredible group of people working in the office to support the students. Everybody has a piece to offer and we are able to come together and support one another and count on each other,” Burton said.
For Catey Moroder, administrative assistant in the student office, the department dynamic to her feels less like a workplace and more like a family.
“Our entire department is like one big family; we all get along super well. We all have similar interests, but what truly unites us is our passion for working here and supporting students and being in an educational environment [where] we are able to help students. My favorite part of the job is supporting the students. It’s why we’re here at the end of the day. We all love working with the students and helping them be successful day to day,” Moroder said.
Together, the office staff have built more than a team. They have created a community rooted in friendships and a shared goal of helping students as they navigate the challenges of school and life. Their dedication shows that the impact of caring goes far beyond the office walls and they continue to shape the lives of the students long after the walk through these halls.
