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Telephone duty builds character
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Lloyd Elementary third-graders Ethan Cochran, left, and Blake Kusky man the phones during their lunch period each day. Students in each of the Austintown School District buildings are chosen to help answer phones at their respective school. Ethan said it’s one of the most sought-after student jobs at Lloyd.
By Elise Franco
efranco@vindy.com
Austintown
Administration in the Austintown School District is going above and beyond the call to build students’ character and teach responsibility.
Superintendent Vince Colaluca said teachers from each of the district’s seven buildings annually recommend students who are given the coveted job of answering phones in their school’s main office.
Colaluca said allowing children, especially younger ones, this experience helps them grow.
“You’re teaching social skills and interaction with other students and adults,” he said. “It doesn’t hit a wide range of students, but it’s kind of a reward to give them the opportunity to do that.”
Colaluca said he doesn’t know exactly how long the district has used student secretaries, but he said the practice predates faculty who have been around for 15 to 20 years.
James Carchedi, Watson Elementary principal of 17 years, said student- secretaries in the elementary schools learn responsibility and communication because they’re tasked with not only answering phones, but also taking messages and running minor errands within the building.
They have to make decisions at some point as to whether they can handle the message or if they need to get an adult, he said.
Carchedi said this year the job is rotated among three third-grade girls. He said they are in the office, under adult supervision, for 30 minutes daily, giving the office secretary a chance to have lunch.
He said of all the student-helper jobs at Watson, answering phones is the most popular.
“The second-graders coming in to third know in order to be one, you have to be a good student who is well-mannered,” Carchedi said. “They’ll actually write letters of interest. I would say this is the most prestigious position.”
Third-grader Ethan Cochran, who is one of two student secretaries at Lloyd Elementary, agreed.
“When they asked me, I said, ‘Sure, sure. I’d love to,’” he said. “All my friends were jealous and asked me if I could help them get picked next.”
Blake Kusky, third-grader and Lloyd student secretary, said his friends were green with envy as well.
“They all kind of frowned at me,” Blake said. “Ethan was supposed to pick someone to do it with him, so I begged him to pick me.”
Lloyd Principal Tom Lenton said the program gives the secretaries an opportunity to have a lunch break and teaches students responsibility and communication skills.
Kathy Novak has been a secretary at Lloyd for seven years and with the district for 25. Novak said the students do have to follow certain rules when answering the phones for their safety and the safety of their teachers and classmates. She said an adult is never far, and someone is usually in the office.
“No. 1, they can never give their name out. They say, ‘Lloyd Elementary, student speaking,’” she said. “Also, they know where we are at all times.”
Though Watson uses just three students in a year, Novak said this year Lloyd will use about 18 — two kids every four or five weeks.
“The kids really feel like it’s a privilege, and they’re very good at it,” she said. “And I’ve had really positive comments from parents who have called in saying that the kids do a great job.”