News Releases
 January Employee of the Month:
Lois Southard, Secretary, Plum Grove Junior High School
Students, staff members, and visitors to the office at Plum Grove Junior High School unfailingly receive a warm welcome and friendly smile from Lois Southard, secretary for the school. “Lois is our goodwill ambassador here at Plum Grove,” her nominator said. “Her positive attitude and caring persona create a relaxed and calming environment in the front office.” Lois describes herself as a low-key person, a characteristic that is invaluable in the always-busy office. “I try to be as friendly as possible, because I’m usually the first person you see when you come into our school,” she says.
Now in her seventh year as secretary at Plum Grove, Lois sees her job as a customer service position. “I’m a liaison between students, parents, the community, and the district,” she says. One aspect of her job that she enjoys most is talking with parents whose children are new to junior high. “Parents are always very afraid for their kids. They want to be sure they are safe and well taken care of,” she says. “I try to assure them that their kids will survive!”
Lois grew up in Schiller Park, then her family moved to Arlington Heights where she attended Hersey High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics education (with teacher certification) from Western Illinois University. She worked as a legal secretary in a private law firm and then in the Motorola legal department. After taking time off to be at home with her children, she briefly worked for Fiskars, the scissors company, then came to Plum Grove.
Her two children, Scott, 18, now a freshman at Illinois State, and Marybeth, 16, a junior at Fremd, both attended Thomas Jefferson elementary and Carl Sandburg Junior High. As a Thomas Jefferson parent, Lois served on the PTA board, including the ways and means committee, and coordinated various school events. In her leisure time, Lois is an avid walker, covering approximately 20 miles each week in all kinds of weather. She enjoys reading and is active in her church where she volunteers in a mothers’ ministry.
“Lois is liked and admired by every staff member at Plum Grove, a testament to her giving nature and kind spirit,” her nominator said. “Certainly our building would not run as smoothly and pleasantly as it does if it were not for the capable and caring efforts of our wonderful building secretary.”
Lois will be recognized at the January 11, 2006, Board of Education meeting, to be held at Walter R. Sundling Junior High School, at 7 p.m.
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