One step into the student activities office releases a cacophony of sounds, from a phone ringing loudly and the copier shooting out papers to students chattering and principals asking questions. At the center of it all is student activities secretary Mrs. Cindy Burch, who assists assistant principal Mr. Travis Fast and athletic director Mr. Mike Roth.
“In a typical day I do a lot of attendance calls, and if there are any discipline issues, I could get involved with that by getting Mr. Fast to speak to a student or, if somebody gets suspended, sending out letters,” Burch said.
Beyond discipline and other grade level activities, Burch also organizes many of the details of sports.
“A lot with the athletic side, I confirm games for the week,” Burch said. “This time of year we’re taking athletes’ physicals, checking rosters, setting up transportation if a student needs transportation.”
Burch manages a wide variety of activity in and out of the office. In addition to her work with Fast and Roth, Burch helps building manager Mr. Jim Bundren with paperwork and answering questions about the building.
“It would be hard to enumerate the number of ways that she contributes,” Fast said. “In terms of her personality, she’s always very considerate and very positive about things that need to get done. I think she’s very patient about all the questions people are asking her at the same time. She’ll have me asking her for help with something, and a student might need something, and then the phone might ring.”
According to Fast, everything that Burch does keeps the activities of the office on the right track.
“The most challenging part of this job is probably just balancing what needs to be done for the athletic side and what needs to be done for the grade level,” Burch said.
Burch began working in the office a year ago, after seeing a posting for the job opening. Burch worked with Roth through football boosters at Parkway West, where he was also her children’s teacher. Burch is glad she found the job
“My favorite part is talking to the kids, interacting with students,” Burch said. “We have office aides every hour, so I like to talk to them. I get to talk to athletes or any tenth graders that might come in, just checking in and out for the day, or even if they’ve had a little problem, I get to talk to them for that, too.”
Senior Pooja Sheevam is one of Burch’s office aides with fellow senior Zack Lazenby.
“Mrs. Burch is literally the glue to the office,” Sheevam said. “Zack and I love talking to her, especially because her son used to play racquetball so we have mutual interests. I feel like without her the office would be chaotic. She knows the ins and outs of the school and everything is super organized with her around. She does way more than just answering phones.”
Fast agrees that Burch does well in connecting with the students she interacts with.
“She’s always very welcoming and positive,” Fast said.