Right as I stepped into Ms. Polanco’s quaint office she was absorbed in something else. She was moving in and out, going on her phone or one of her computers to do something and informing Mr. Reese of a visitor he was having. 

She’s been working here for seven years. She met her husband as students at McCaskey and graduated in 2001. Previous to this job she worked in banking, then was a stay at home mom for six years.  At first, she was attracted to the job due to having summers off and being able to be with her kids. Now, she loves it. 

Her official position is the attendance secretary, meaning she’s in charge of the attendance for substitutes, field trips, sports, musicals, school based therapy, peer mediation, and assemblies, so much. Or as she’d put it, “Basically, anything you could think of outside of what teachers do for attendance, I do that.” Not to forget all the “fun and awesome” letters to send home about tardies, and absences, and reaching up to ten parent excuses. 

She has a list taped up to the wall to remind herself of all the daily attendance things she has to do. ParentVUE attendance, when a parent submits that their child will be absent whether it’s a doctor, parent, or legal excuse. Going through voicemails from many different people. Even though it’s nonstop, Ms. Polanco says, “It’s fun though, it’s busy work. It’s never dead.”  

She likes the fact that her office is in the front as opposed to near the nurse’s office where it used to be.  This way it’s easier for parents to reach her, and that students have to check in with her and be held accountable. 

Although pleasant, the job does come with some frustrations. Students cut and are rude to her, especially when they bring food like McDonald’s which they’re not supposed to. During lockdowns, she has to keep people in and keep people out, which has annoyed some parents. Coming from a family of seven she says she’s used to getting the brunt of everything. It prepared her to take all of this.   

In the end, it’s enjoyable to be where she is everyday. As a student who comes in later than most other students, she’s a nice face to see before I start my school day.