lBonita Vista High (BVH), like many other schools, is an institution in which the administration team plays a prominent role in leading the school. From Office Assistants to Assistant Principals (AP), the goal is to ensure that students are able to learn successfully. Assistant Principal Secretary Claudia Roman has been working at BVH for thirteen years and is a valuable aspect to the community. Roman’s dedication and commitment to the school has made her a notable figure within the school’s community.
Roman can be found in the main office, and is the first face one would see when entering the school. She works with AP Carlos Siragusa the most and receives the needed support as she endures the stress of a recent departure of previous AP Jason Josafat.
“My primary job is to assist the Assistant Principals. Typically AP Secretaries are assigned one, but things have changed. Now we are kind of assigned to two or three and we handle anything that has to do with discipline,” Roman said.“We process suspensions, we process expulsions, referrals, anything that has to do with and also help out with attendance coming in.”
Roman describes the enjoyment her job brings and the many opportunities it has to offer. She is able to spend part of summer break with her family, as well as relish the interactions and relationships she is able to have with the BVH staff. Siragusa further expresses how Roman does more than what is required from a secretary as she builds relationships with the rest of the BVH staff.
“She is an office assistant, but she does more than that. She has good relationships with the staff. She knows more than just [her role]. At BVH she does everything more than necessary. So I would say not as a role and more as an asset,” Siragusa said.
Roman has built experience working in customer service over the years and adds she does so because of the connection that it offers to collaborate with other people. Furthermore, Roman has stayed connected to the BVH community and further bonded her connection after going to school at Southwestern college as well as having her kids graduate from BVH.
“I’ve been here all my life. I worked in Mexico for years at a company and crossed the border daily. I worked downtown, was a stay at home mom for 10 years, then I started working here. All my careers actually have been with customer service,” Roman said.
School Administrative Assistant Libia DiBenedetto expresses her thoughts on Roman. Further mentioning how Romans notability in the office greatly contributes to the school and community as she looks to lead the school to success.
“Claudia is kind of like the mom of the office. She’s just very warm. I feel like everyone here has worked with her and there’s always so many positive things they have said. We’ve had different assistant principals come in and out, and she’s assisted all of them who have [nothing but] positive to say about Claudia,” DiBenedetto said.
DiBenedetto describes how Roman’s presence in the office creates a professional and friendly work atmosphere that extends beyond standard work. Noting how Roman contributes to a healthy team and atmosphere of the main office.
“When you work with someone every day for eight hours, you get to know them. I know her family, she knows my family and so it’s become more of like a friendship that has grown through where we can laugh. We can joke about things, it’s definitely important to have a very team oriented environment. She definitely depicts those attributes. So it makes coming to work a lot more pleasant when you have someone with such a great attitude,” DiBenedetto said.
Roman expresses how she enjoys her job immensely, with the relationships she develops and the hours she works, she expresses her gratitude for it. She explains how being able to work with students and others is another aspect of her career that she enjoys.
“I really enjoy helping. I enjoy helping the parents and assisting the students as much as they can and to work every day. I’m happy with the job,” Roman said.
