Clarke Central High School Secretary Jennifer Hollman sits in the front office on Feb 2, 2023. Former Associate Principal Dr. Cindi Lowe recognizes the hard work support staff do and wants the CCHS community to notice the work they put into the school and how effective and helpful they are. “If the support staff were not able to do the job that they are tasked to do, the building would not run. There would not be a Clarke Central having classes every day.” Lowe said. Photo by Isabella Westrich
Clarke Central High School’s support staff help and display a good community as well as succeeding in their job position.
From cafeteria workers to front desk secretaries to security personnel and custodians, it takes a village for Clarke Central High School to operate properly.
These members of the CCHS community – termed the support staff – work daily to plan events, keep students fed and clean the school environment – all
things any school needs to function.
“The people who work in those departments have jobs where their sole responsibility and goal is to make sure that teachers can teach and students can learn. As long as those things are happening behind the scenes, you don’t notice them but that is what keeps Clarke Central running and makes it where we can all be here,” former CCHS Associate Principal Dr. Cindi Lowe said.
However, these support personnel often work thanklessly behind the scenes. More recognizable figures like CCHS Principal Dr. Swade Huff or CCHS Family Engagement Specialist Christian Barner fulfill high-level administrative roles, but Head of Food and Nutrition Cherry Buckley spends much of her time running CCHS’ cafeteria behind its closed kitchen doors.
“She is the type of person that realizes she’s working for a school of young people and wants to do what she can to help the school run,” Lowe said. “I’ve never seen her to be anything but wanting to help cooperative coming up with ideas and (is) very solution oriented. She’s wonderful to work with (and) does an excellent job.”
When hungry students rush to the cafeteria for lunch, the nutritional specialists are ready to serve them. When students are getting checked out of school, the front desk secretaries receive them and send them on their way. When the last teachers have trickled out of the building in the evening, the custodial staff works on.
“When you see (the support staff ) in the hallway, make sure you appreciate them because you may not notice what they’re doing, but it’s vital. It’s absolutely necessary for the building to run and everybody to be here and being able to do what they do,” Lowe said
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