From Alaska to the Persian Gulf, Holly Lazarz’s career path has taken her across continents before bringing her to the front desk at Nixa High School, where she oversees the daily operations of the school’s front office. Her role includes managing communication, assisting with administrative needs, and helping to ensure the school day runs smoothly.

Before arriving at Nixa, Lazarz worked in grants and budget management for the Fairbanks North Star Borough School District in Alaska. There, she managed funding for the district’s Social-Emotional Learning programs and served as a liaison between the district and the state.

She lived in Fairbanks for three years, an experience she described as unique both professionally and culturally. Alaska’s native cultures played a significant role in the local education system, where teachers incorporated native cultures into their classrooms, which influenced both instruction and scheduling.

“In Fairbanks, we had the Algonquin tribe and the Athabascan tribe,” Lazarz said. “The school schedule was dependent on their fishing season and their hunting season.”

Lazarz and her husband moved to Missouri after starting a family. Both she and her husband had previously served in the Navy, where they met during a deployment.

“We met in the middle of the Persian Gulf on the flight deck of the USS Port Royal,” Lazarz said.

Her father served 20 years in the Navy, as well as several other family members, such as her grandparents, aunt and uncles.

“It was kind of this family lineage thing,” Lazarz said.

Growing up in the military meant frequent moves. Lazarz was born in Biloxi, Mississippi, at Keesler Air Force Base. She later lived in Virginia Beach, Iceland and New York before joining the Navy herself. She enjoyed her military service and would have continued her career if not for the challenges of balancing home and work life.

“My first appointment away from my son was difficult,” Lazarz said. “I would still be in the Navy right now if it wasn’t for me starting a family.” 

Lazarz is currently completing a master’s degree in human resources, which she expects to finish in the Spring. Lazarz said she hopes to return to higher-level administrative work in education, similar to her role in Alaska. 

As she continues her work at NHS, her experience across education, military service and administration have shaped her professional expertise. 

“I’ve been able to bring a lot of different perspectives with me wherever I’ve worked,” Lazarz said.