The Tie That Binds

A 20-plus year veteran of the Putnam County School District has rolled with the changes to be named the District-Related Employee of the Year last month.

Executive secretary Jackie Smith has worked most of her 26 years with the district in the Human Resources Department, though she had a stint at the former Beasley Middle School. 

Smith has probably interacted with most employees in the district in some form. 

Schools may seem like islands, run by a principal, that report data and represent the district. It’s Smith and Human Resources’ job to bridge the gap with employee-related changes, departures and arrivals.

A school system has elements of the public and private sector, Smith said.

“Education has to have an in-between because it cannot solely run as a business, and we can’t solely run it as a service,” Smith said. “It’s kind of like we’re in the middle.”

Smith keeps employee information up to date and processes vacancies, resignations and new hires. Smith also assists with preparing for school board meetings.

“It’s really processing the paperwork for people coming or going, or whatever they need to do,” Smith said.

Smith has seen the district transition from paper to digital for several processes, including whether it is vacation and sick days, direct deposit and applications. She helped employees navigate the challenge.

“The biggest change was basically moving into a paperless world,” Smith said. “Now, it’s all done online.”

Smith felt shocked and honored when she recognized her information being read at the awards ceremony, she said. Smith was initially worried what people would think because members of the Human Resources Department helped organize the ceremony. 

The judges for Smith’s category and Support-related Employee of the Year came from the county’s business community, Human Resources Director Tonya Whitehurst said. The Teacher of the Year judges are former educators or administrators.

Whitehurst called Smith reliable, dependable and resilient. She said Smith possessed a deep background knowledge of the school system and balanced a hard-working spirit and a calm presence in her role.

“She’s my go-to when I’m stuck on something,” Whitehurst said. “I’m like, ‘Hey Jackie, walk me through this.’ Whether it’s this department or a school where a secretary is out, she’s willing to be a resource for anyone who has that type of need.”

Smith called her co-workers her working family, saying there’s never a dull moment in Human Resources.

“Honestly, I just love helping people and being able to put a smile on a face,” Smith said. “If there’s a challenge, you tell me, and I’ll go from there.”

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