Front Desk Feature

The people at the front desk are a big part of how the school continues to run. They help keep track of every student in the building, help communicate to the whole school, relay information, and support teachers, staff, and students. They’re very busy people with bubbly personalities to welcome every student that walks through their doors.

Ms. Richtsmeier is part of the Activities Office, working as a secretary. She was brought to Northwest High School as she had been working at Waukee High School (WHS) previously in the same position in the activities office and was offered the position to move to Northwest. She wanted to work in the office to be able to do tasks to support the activities, coaches, and staff. She’s able to interact with students and members of the community and added enthusiastically that it was fantastic to work here. “It can be a flip, two sides of the same coin, there are so many people that come through… so you get to interact with a ton of people and sometimes it can get fairly busy, but still it’s great.” Ms. Richtsmeier added that this was her number one choice for a job.

Mrs. Buck, head of the secretary office, has been with Waukee Schools for a while now, having worked at WHS before working at Northwest. “I let my teaching license expire, I really found that I enjoyed this kind of work, and when this opening came up I applied, I can be with both of my kids that are here…” Buck explained. She added that one of the best things about working at the front desk is “the energy and everyone being excited about this year, and [she loves] trying to help people and [loves] the chance we have to build a new culture.”

Ms. Chicoine works as the bookkeeper at the front desk. Chicoine has joined Northwest because she “ saw the book-keeper position advertised and is really close to jobs {she] has done in the past, so {she} was excited to work here.” The reason Chicoine wanted to work as the bookkeeper is that she worked in the front office in Oskaloosa for a few years before moving to Ankeny. She had worked in a high school before and it’s is she enjoys. She likes doing the financial side of things. She added that she loves to work with high school students and that it’s fun. Ms. Chicoine played the trumpet in college and dreamed of becoming a professional trumpet player. Since then, she has learned that financial work is best for her, and school fits with her life schedule

The front desk ladies are important to Northwest High School. They add a great dynamic and can excite everyone about coming into school.