Holly Lazarz
Office Manager Holly Lazarz moved here with her husband after both retired from the navy. Previously, she lived in Fairbanks Alaska, for three years where she experienced Alaskan native culture.
“They have a… really heavy native culture there,” Lazarz said. “Alaskan native culture is really strong in Fairbanks, so that was really cool to experience. A lot of my kids’ teachers were native and were Nupiac and Athabaskan…. and they incorporated those into their classroom.”
After moving here, she originally applied for a human resources position in the school district, but the position had already been filled. However, her resume mentioning her office manager experience stayed on file, and they later called to see if she would want to fill the office manager position.
“I check people in and out of the school, I organize all the substitutes for all the teachers, I manage their leaves and their absences…[and] all the paperwork side of things,” Lazarz said. “I like busy work, and I like feeling like I can check things off of a task list.
When working, she is motivated by being prepared for what is to come the next day.
“The faster I get my day done today, the faster I can prepare for tomorrow and have things ready in case something goes awry,” Lazarz said. “In case teachers get sick and need to leave in the middle of the day, or in case we have a snow day and I need to organize an early release.”
Lazarz said that staff appreciate student’s timeliness.
“I think staff in general appreciate when students are where they’re supposed to be when they’re supposed to be and have communicated with the staff that as well,” Lazarz said.
Officer Wilbur
Officer Steven Wilbur began his career as a correctional officer at the Taney County jail.
He also worked at a college, as a reserve officer and courtroom bailiff.
“The courtroom was interesting just because you get introduced to a lot of different things…” Wilbur said. “The jail was the same way– I enjoyed it … but I enjoy the school police by far the most.”
Wilbur is motivated by knowing that he is part of creating an environment where people can feel safe, secure and can come to learn.
“Making the connections and forming those relationships with not only the staff but the students as well, I think is really motivating,” Wilbur said. “ Through all that, you build trust within the community.”
He met his wife at College of the Ozarks in Branson. They enjoyed the Nixa area and decided to stay here. When he was working in the Christian County Sheriff’s Office at the courts, he missed the job he did at college. An opportunity arose, and he took a position at the high school.
“I just like being able to come in, and I like being able to help people,” Wilbur said. “I guess hopefully being a positive influence… helping people through hard times. I feel like in the school setting it’s a little bit easier to do because there’s the opportunity to spend more time getting to help people and learning about them.”
Wilbur said he strives to be a positive light among the student body.
“In recent years, law enforcement hasn’t… necessarily [had] a real popular image with people,” Wilbur said. “I want to show that there’s more than just the negative. We’re here to help and move along too.”
