1. What school district do you work for? How many students are in the district?
Jasper Co. BOE. We have more than 2400 students in our district.
2. How did you get into the field of HR in education?
I received my initial training following high school in the US Army in the Adjutant General’s Corp and the Judge Advocate General’s Corp, serving as a Personnel Specialist and later as a Legal Specialist. In these roles I served as a Battalion Personnel Non-Commissioned Officer, then as a Legal Non-Commissioned Officer in Criminal Law, and later as a Non-Commissioned Officer-In-Charge of Legal Assistance. I entered K12 education when I moved to Georgia as a School Bus Driver at Henry Co. BOE in 2001 and then moved to Jasper Co. BOE in 2007. I entered K12 HR in 2010. With a decade of training and experience, I substituted from May-August for the Director of Personnel while she was on maternity leave. In September, I assumed this role when she resigned.
3. Do you have any advice you would offer to people who are new to HR?
Read! Never stop learning!! Share what you learn with others!!! Attend GASPA and other HR related workshops and RESA HR trainings. Regularly read credible HR related blogs and email newsletters to stay abreast of the changing environment. Stay connected to and learn from colleagues through email lists (GASPA Gaggle, etc.) and other networking venues. Learn to utilize all the online resources you can (GASPA, AASPA, SHRM websites, etc.). I am pursuing a MBA with the goal of teaching business students in the future.
4. What is the best part of your job? What do you enjoy the most?
Serving others and supporting the learning in JCCS by getting our administrators, educators, and other employees what they need when they need it. It is very rewarding to be able to provide solutions that lift people and give them hope. There are so many opportunities to touch someone in a special way in the HR role. Whether it is helping plan career goals, meet personal needs, assisting in financial affairs, providing education about employee benefits, or just listening to an employee’s concerns and assuring them JCCS (and I) cares, K12 HR is enjoyable. Add to this attending the GASPA conference twice a year with my family “puts icing on the cake” for me.