Page 4 - The EDGE Spring 2020

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
BY NATE BOWLER
BY NATE BOWLER
A Day in the Life of a School Business Official
Back to School, Back to Work — It’s a New Year!

Nate Bowler
What a great summer! I hope
you took some time to get away
So what does a day in the life of a school business official
from the office, spend time
look like? If it’s anything like mine, no two days are alike.
with family, or just unplug. I
have teenagers at home so my
When I first started working in school districts I was hired
summer consisted of shu ing
as a Budget Technician. My job was to help schools with
kids from one activity to
their budgets moving funds from one line to another so they
another. Maybe your time away
could spend money on the appropriate account code. When I
from the office this summer
applied for the position, I had no idea what a school district
consisted of the AASBO Annual
Budget Technician was, what they did, or that they even
Summer Conference! If you did
existed for that matter. I thought that schools taught kids.
attend the conference, I hope
There are teachers, a principal, maybe a bus driver, a lunch
that you were able to come back
lady, a janitor and a crossing guard, right? That is sometimes
motivated and charged with
all that people see in schools. Most people rarely think much
some new ideas, new friends,
and skills to take back to your There are times when you may be discouraged because
past that. Who buys the supplies? Who pays those teachers
districts. people don’t see what it is that you do. Here are some things
their paychecks? Who maintains and fixes those busses?
As we move forward to a new
Who takes in all the money and maintains budgets? I have seen that can help you to keep yourself encouraged
school year, many of us look to and motivated to keep doing the good things you are doing.
get into the swing of things again
You do!
after the summer break. Teachers • Visit schools – Take time to go to your schools. Getting
returning, new sta meetings and
You are the unsung hero of the behind-the-scenes workings of into schools will help you see that the things you do
of course, students coming back.
schools. What does your day look like? Is it full of questions Carnegie’s “How to Win Friends and In uence People,” or
are impacting kids.
is time of year is also a good time to start some new habits
like this? “What is this thing on my paycheck called ASRS?
and set some new goals. Maybe this list can help give you some Jim Collins’ “Good to Great” are good ones to start with. I
Can I opt out of that?” You’re there when a teacher comes • am not the most avid reader, but I think you will nd that
Take Time – Take the time when someone calls for
ideas as you start the new year.
Do a self assessment. What do you want to be better at this you will enjoy these types of books more than you thought
to you asking if you can help them with their field trip and help. They don’t live every day like you do. If you
year? Maybe you would like to upgrade that budget process you would.
take time now, it will pay dividends later and they will
doesn’t know where to start. Or when the principal wants
you have been meaning to implement. Maybe you want to Take a risk. If you have a weakness or something that
to know if they have money to spend on a student council
be there for you later, too.
learn that software that you have been saying, “I need to learn intimidates you that you would like to try, take that risk. ere’s
event. Or when a student needs to be dropped off the bus at
that.” Or maybe you just want to automate that spreadsheet or an old saying, “Good decisions come from experience, and
Put yourself in other’s shoes – We often don’t realize
•
their house and the parent/guardian is running late and is not
process that you have been saying that you will get around to experience comes from bad decisions.” Tell yourself it’s OK to
there to receive the kiddo. There are countless stories like what others do as well. People who teach 25 5-year
that one day. Pick one thing and make time for it. take some risks once in a while. How did you learn to walk? By
this that happen to school business officials like you every olds all day or a principal who takes parent phone calls
Take time for relationships. Many of us have so many things falling. is will allow you to see where you need to improve,
day. We sometimes are not seen and do not have a direct (those are almost never good phone calls) may just
going on that we feel we don’t have enough time in the day. correct it and continue to grow.
impact on students every day. Indirectly, we have a huge e key is continuous improvement. Don’t get discouraged.
need you to sympathize with them on why they need
We have meeting stacked on top of meeting on top of meeting
impact on the lives of kids! your help. A little empathy can go a long way.
or deadline after deadline. Yet, we have lives and the people Take one small step at a time. Be proud of yourself. Take a look
who we work with have lives as well. Studies have shown that back at what your accomplishments are. When you accomplish
As we are coming to the end of this school year and into the
building relationships can be one of the most productive and something, reward yourself! Note what you have learned and
“You are the unsung hero final stretch, just remember that you do make a difference!
enjoyable things we can do in our jobs. Take time to get to know how you have grown. Are you using these habits, skills and
people. It will pay o many times over in the future. You are like the operatives in a “Mission Impossible” movie
strengths that you have acquired to your advantage? You may
ank you. Don’t we all love to hear those two words? not notice it but you probably are growing and improving more
of the behind-the-scenes where the world gets saved almost every day and no one
anking people for what they do can make people feel valued than you think you are. Share your successes with those around
workings of schools.”
knows about it. Except you are saving Arizona school
and can strengthen your relationships. Write thank you notes, you. We all want to get a little better every day and every bit of
say thank you, or send thank you emails more often. students. Beat that, Tom Cruise.
encouragement that we can get from each other goes a long
Read or listen to an inspiring book this year. Stephen way. I wish us all a fabulous and successful school year. Let’s go
Covey’s “Seven Habits of Highly E ective People,” Dale make a di erence in the lives of kids!
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4 THE EDGE SPRING 2020
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