Tides of Change Closing Session:“Our evolving role in today’s school setting” - Bob Spengler, Superintendent of Schools, CASD

Or otherwise know as….”What would our bosses do without us??????”

Overview

Historical Perspective Today’s Role of Secretaries &

Administrative Assistants “Spengler’s 7 Habits of Highly

Effective Secretaries & Administrative Assistants”

Historical Perspective

-Or, “How in the world did I get here?”

Who Were the First Secretaries?

Literate scribes and trusted advisors Personal or “private” secretaries Matters of state and commerce Well educated and multilingual Prominent position and status Men only

19th Century United States

Training for merchants and manufacturers

Personal secretaries in business Federal government clerks and

managers Predominantly men Civil War shortages forced change Invention of the typewriter

Women’s Entry into the Office Pre-Civil War

Family businesses Government “piece

work” Social worker

scribes

Civil War and After Government clerks

and copyists (1862) Treasury

Department Private industry Post war expansion

of bureaucracy and industry

Women Become Typists

First typewriter invented in 1867 Manufactured 1874-1878 Advertisements featured “type girls” Copyist to typist By 1900 90% “typewriters” female

“Sholes & Glidden Type Writer”Ilion, NY 1874-1878

“Mere girls are now earning from $10 to $20 a week with the Type-Writer and we can secure good situations for one hundred expert writers on it in counting-rooms in this city.”

Ad placed in a New York City Paper, The Nation, 1875

“Young women are more contented with their lot as private secretaries, more cheerful, less restless, more to be depended on, more flexible than young men.”

Pernin’s Monthly Stenographer, 1883

IBM Selectric1961

“100 wpm”

Secretary Needed

“Brite-eyed lassie to work in a “one-girl office” in the Empire State Building

New York Times, October 16, 1966

The beginning of a new era…..

The transition begins…. Tess:I've never worked for someone

who is younger than me before. Or for a woman. 

Katherine: Well, there's a first time for everything. That's not going to be a problem, is it Tess? 

Tess: No.  Katherine: Good. Why don't you pour

us a couple coffees and come on inside. I'm light, no sugar. 

Professionalism Blooms Advances in office technology National Secretaries Association (1942);

changed to International Association of Administrative Professionals in 2000

Certified Professional Secretaries Exam (1951)

Expanded responsibilities School offices become much more

professional and confidential Schools become more concerned about PR,

perceptions, community involvement

Today’s Role of Secretaries & Administrative Assistants

-or, “We do it all!” -or “Anything Goes….”

Who are the Educational Secretaries and Administrative Assistants of Today?

One of the largest segments of the office workforce

Wide range of titles Shift in traditional clerical roles Handle advanced responsibilities in

today’s workplace More than 95% are women

According to U.S. Department of Labor…. Secretaries and administrative assistants are

responsible for a variety of administrative and clerical duties necessary to run an organization efficiently. They serve as information and communication managers for an office; plan and schedule meetings and appointments; organize and maintain paper and electronic files; manage projects; conduct research; and disseminate information by using the telephone, mail services, Web sites, and e-mail. They also may handle travel and guest arrangements.

What else do we do today? Personal Assistant Manage multiple tasks Technologically savvy

E-mail Internet research First level tech.

Support Copy machines that

have printing, scanning, email, etc.

Keep your supervisor on-time and prepared

Public Relations expert Community relations… Lifelong learning Confidentiality Regularly changing

responsibilities Constant interaction

with varied publics

Skills for the 21st Century Office Project management Integrated software applications, both clerical and

student management Organization and scheduling Internet/Intranet communications and research Document preparation, storage and retrieval Customer service and public relations Community liaison Soft skills: communication, enthusiasm,

punctuality, pleasant nature, working hard and self-motivation

Spengler’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective School Secretaries & Administrative Assistants

Be an Effective Communicator and Organizer…

Relationship with supervisor Direct communication Pleasant and approachable Know where you boss is….”some

things are impossible, I know” Utilize technology where appropriate

for organization, etc.

Keep the Secrets!

Being part of a SECRETary Confidentiality

Personnel Student

Be able to confide in your supervisor Comfort level (2-way street)

Learn, Learn and Learn some more… Personal Development! Technology and application to existing work

flows Take advantage of every opportunity Be a pioneer! As Mark Twain once said, "I knew a man

who grabbed a cat by the tail and learned 40% more about cats than the man who didn't! " Always be not one, but two steps ahead of everyone else.

Tides of Change!

Be a Juggler…

10 tasks at a time… Keep your life and your supervisor’s

life completely organized – “You’ve got to feel bad for my secretary!!!”

Have that personal touch…

Schools are community-based First impressions are lasting

perceptions Friendly environment Everyone wants to be treated nicely

and individually

Network!

Regular internal meetings Avenues of expression and input Seminars, conferences… Tides of Change!

Have Fun! Remember to Laugh…

Keep things in perspective Establish friendship in which you can

“dump” once in a while Start a new tradition!

Closing Comments

My view: -We create our own destinies re: future opportunities, promotions, position perceptions.-You are true professionals!-Proud to be a part of the Lehigh Valley Educational Community-Keep up the great work!

Thank you!