In many professions, those who work behind the scenes often play a much greater role than meets the eye. This statement rings true throughout the education system, especially when considering the role Ms. Elizabeth Kimbark plays at Green Hope High School. She serves as the school’s Attendance Clerk and plays a critical role in ensuring the school runs smoothly by managing various forms of documentation for students and staff.
At around 6:30 a.m., Ms. Kimbark’s kicks off her workday by checking her numerous emails. Soon after, students begin to arrive, dropping off attendance notes that she then enters into PowerSchool. Throughout the day, Ms. Kimbark checks Verkada, the check-in platform, and updates the attendance as needed. At the end of the day, she sends out reminders to teachers to fill out their attendance and generates a report of the Verkada data.
In addition to managing attendance, she also assists with many other tasks, such as dispensing medication to students who have medical plans during lunch. Working alongside the school nurse, she helps provide any necessary medical documentation to ensure students are receiving any extra support they may need, such as an elevator pass. She also manages the school’s Lost and Found and distributes lost items back to their owners.
Although Ms. Kimbark loves her current role, she didn’t always envision herself working in a school setting. “I never thought I would work in education,” she stated. Prior to moving to North Carolina in 2018, she was a restaurant owner for fifteen years. It wasn’t until her daughter attended Green Hope that she began to consider a different career path. Serving as the secretary for the PTSA, she began getting involved in the school’s community and decided to make her role more permanent, by applying for the attendance clerk position once it opened in 2021.
Throughout the three years that Ms. Kimbark has worked in the school, she has made countless memories and connections with students and staff. Her favorite part of the job is getting to see the students daily and learning more about them. Similarly, she loves the community of staff members and enjoys getting to collaborate with them. Ms. Kimbark’s favorite memory at the school was getting a shout-out at last year’s graduation. “I felt so honored to be recognized by those that matter,” she shared.
Outside of school, Ms. Kimbark takes time to enjoy the little things. “I love a good pour-over coffee, doing yoga, listening to music, and cozying up with my two dogs, Bibbs and Ginger.” She also enjoys spending time with her niece and nephew. Together, they enjoy ice skating and singing karaoke.
At first glance, Ms. Kimbark may seem like “just” the attendance clerk, but behind the scenes she’s alway hard at work, keeping Green Hope High School functioning seamlessly, all while greeting students with a warm smile and always displaying unforgettable compassion.
