- Oxford School District
- Archive
- 2009-2010
March 8, 2010
Lori Barnes
Office Manager
Oxford High School
“There’s not a part of my job I don’t like. I love coming to work.”
One look in her desk drawer lets you know why Oxford High School Officer Manager Lori Barnes is so good at her job: lots of blue ink pens, a bottle of liquid paper, a “found” watch and cell phone, breath mints and the all-important lipstick. Everything is in its place and nothing is there she does not know about. Her desktop is equally well-organized with folders categorizing her many duties: one for subs, one for field trip forms, one for teacher leave requests. The phone rings “at least a hundred times a day” with people wanting to know information from “Are we having school today?” to “What’s the phone number for Bramlett?” to “What do I need to do to check my child out to go to the doctor?” Between phone calls, Lori listens to teachers and jots down notes about clogged sinks, slow toilets, and crock pots. A student runs in and asks for a twisty tie to hold up his pants.
She handles each chore with a smile and a laugh.
Lori has worked in the district as a receptionist and attendance clerk for four years with younger students before making the move to the high school where her son is a junior. Even though she’s only been at the high school since August, she says she’s grown to love the staff who is “one big happy family.”
“Everyone really cares about each other,” Lori says about the staff.
Even though she says working with high school students involved learning a whole new set of rules, she has enjoyed the opportunity for change.
“There’s not a part of my job I don’t like,” Lori said. “I love coming to work.”
Assistant Principal Kathy Burnham says, “Lori Barnes is a bundle of energy from the moment she arrives at 7:00 a.m. She works hard during the day attending to all the needs of our teachers, parents, students and administrators. Many times before you finish asking Lori to do a task she is already starting on it! We're fortunate to have Ms. Barnes working at OHS. She is an integral part of our office staff.”