School Secretary - Jefferson Elementary

Muscatine Community School District•Muscatine, IA

13h•Onsite

About The Position

Muscatine Community School District is hiring an 8-hour-per-day School Secretary for Jefferson Elementary. The secretary provides clerical and administrative support to the Principal, staff, and students and supports the school’s day-to-day operations. The position is full-time and year-round; effective July 1, 2027, it will be reduced to a 10½-month position. The Principal assigns the normal work schedule according to student and building needs. The starting wage is $19.04 per hour. The secretary works with the school’s administrative team under the Principal’s direction, serves as a liaison between the school and families and the community, and is often the first point of contact for callers and visitors. The role involves maintaining confidential student and family records, using school and district databases, supporting budget and purchasing tasks, handling payments and deposits, helping with visitor and volunteer check-in, and completing administrative tasks for the Principal and teachers. The secretary may also provide practical nursing support when the nurse is absent, assist with student discipline matters, arrange transportation for school events, and help with summer registration. The position is based at an elementary school. The work environment is usually quiet, primarily indoors, and may include outdoor supervision of students. Work may extend beyond a typical 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. day. The employee may work in varied positions and locations, including at desks, near the floor, standing, and moving while supervising activities. The role requires managing workload and stress while working with large numbers of students, parents, and coworkers. The district is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Prior experience completing data entry and word processing.
Attend training on, and demonstrate proficiency in, school databases and software, including PowerSchool, Google Suite (Docs, Sheets, Mail, and Calendar), finance/HR database, Absence Management, and the Visitor/Volunteer management system.
Maintain confidentiality at all times.
Ability to answer phones, listen, understand, and direct callers efficiently and effectively.
Excellent written and oral communication skills and a friendly, approachable disposition.
Know assigned school boundaries, attendance and transfer policies, and applicable court orders concerning visitation and custody rights.
Ability to work well on a team and with a diverse group of people.
Ability to work under pressure, organize multiple tasks, and set priorities.
Ability to learn district databases.
Superior interpersonal skills when working with a diverse population.
Ability to work under stress with large numbers of students, parents, and coworkers; mental acuity and mental and physical ability to manage the workload are required.
Physical ability to perform the stated duties, including frequently standing, walking, handling objects, squatting, stooping or kneeling, reaching, bending or twisting, and frequently lifting or moving up to 50 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Associate’s degree or higher.
Prior experience working in an office environment.
Bilingual skills.
Certified to dispense medication.
Mandatory Reporter certified.

Responsibilities

Support the Principal, staff, and students with clerical and administrative work in the school’s main office.
Work with the administrative team under the Principal’s direction on the school’s day-to-day operations.
Serve as a liaison between parents, guardians, and the community and school faculty, staff, and students.
Use student information, finance, and other software systems and databases.
Answer the multi-line phone system, direct calls, take messages, and greet and assist visitors.
Track and update student records; send and receive records for new and transferring students; and maintain confidential student and family records.
Assist the Principal with the school budget by entering requisitions and following up on purchase orders.
Collect money and make deposits, including credit-card payments and student fees.
Manage visitor access through the secure door and assist with visitor and volunteer check-in using the management system.
Sign in substitute staff and direct them to their assigned classroom or location.
Provide practical nursing assistance when the nurse is absent, including taking temperatures, providing ice packs, contacting parents about illness or injury, and dispensing medication with parental consent as prescribed by health professionals.
Complete administrative tasks for the Principal and teachers as requested.
Arrange busing for field trips, activities, and other school- or district-wide events.
Assist with student discipline matters when students are sent to the office, including directing them to the assistant principal or in-school suspension room as appropriate.
Assist with registration services over the summer.
Coordinate building volunteers.
In the Principal’s absence, assist and direct staff, students, and visitors.
Perform other duties of a similar nature as assigned.