When counseling secretary, Julie Curry, announced her retirement over the summer, Shawnee Mission East needed a replacement. The school needed someone organized, who would keep track of the countless appointments and college visits. It needed a new, smiling face to greet visitors. It needed someone who was as passionate about their job as Curry was. East found someone to fulfill the counseling secretary position: Carolyn Cahill.
Although she says her job as the new counseling secretary is difficult, Cahill loves working with the people around her and helping the kids. She schedules appointments for counselors, and makes sure students see who they want to see, from the computer clerk, to the registrar, or one of the counselors. She also schedules the college visits for students, organizes the private shadows and keeps the files updated.
Cahill has lived in the Kansas City area since she was born, attending Shawnee Mission schools growing up. She then went on the Kansas City Kansas Community College. Cahill has since worked in the district for 18 years. She started off in the district as a para-professional. From elementary, to middle, to high school, Cahill has work experience with every age level.
“I was volunteering at a kindergarten classroom at my child’s school, and the teacher told me I should apply to be a para professional because I was good at working with the little kids,” Cahill said.
Before she left, Curry left notes to keep Cahill on track, making it easier for Cahill to learn and access files. Cahill describes Curry as “very organized, and had a lot of knowledge and background information [about being secretary]”.
“It has been a lot of new things to learn, but I’m enjoying it a lot,” Cahill said.