Receptionist Edie Waye views school from several different angles

As one of the three main secretaries in the office, receptionist Edie Waye is very familiar with the comings and goings of students and staff. However, over her 15 years at the school, she has seen more perspectives of the school than just observing student traffic.

Waye worked as a special education document para for 8 years before switching to her full-time office job.

“I don’t really know [why I went into special education]. I really didn’t have any big experience or anything,” Waye said. “I just liked the field. I liked being with different kids and going to different classrooms.”

When she started her new as an office receptionist, the differences between the two positions became apparent to Waye.

“I didn’t have to study and help kids. Sometimes when kids took a test, I felt like I had to take a test,” Waye said. “I did a lot with math, and with that you really have to pay attention, it’s not like elementary school math. You have to learn the terms so you can help teach the kids.”

Waye adjusted to her new position well according to her colleague, receptionist Lynn Bath, who has worked with her for six years.

“Mrs. Waye is calm and collected in any situation no matter how much of an emergency,” Bath said via email. “It really helps to keep your cool in situations like that and she can definitely calm the storm.”

As a parent of students, Waye gained another perspective of the school.

“My daughter was going to start here. So, my husband asked me to get permission from my daughter to work at the same place she would be,” Waye said. “I asked her and she said ‘You’re not going to like high school,’ but I did.”

While some students may think having a parent work at their school is odd, Waye’s family enjoyed the experience.

“It was fun. They were used to it because they had me in elementary too,” Waye said. “My daughter was a really good student. My son was ornery, so he would get in trouble so he would make sure he told me before the teacher did. [But] my son liked it when he needed lunch money.”

Eventually, Waye’s daughter Lainee grew up and became an educator in the De Soto district as a first grade teacher.

“It was cool because at convocation at the beginning of the year when everyone goes, it was fun to see her there,” Edie said. “She even worked with some teachers that she had.”

As Waye’s husband was a Board of Education member for four years, every member of her immediate family was involved in the district in some way.

“I like everything about the school district. It’s a high-achieving school district,” Waye said. “The people who work at Mill Valley are really nice. It’s a good school to work at; the teachers care about what the students are doing.”

However, staying at the school since its opening had its hardships as well.

“[Saying] goodbye to teachers who are retiring or leaving, or kids that are graduating, sometimes it’s hard to see them grow up and move on,” Waye said.

Bath said an upside of working with Waye is that the two have become good friends.

“Mrs. Waye is not only a co-worker, she has become a friend,” Bath said. “It is so nice to be able to say that all of your co-workers are also your friends. It really makes this a great place to work.”

Waye said she and Bath even think alike.

“Lynn and I answer questions for each other sometimes, or finish each other’s sentences,” Waye said. “I’ll start to ask her something … and she’ll finish the way I would.”

Seeing Waye every day is one of Bath’s favorite parts of her job.

“Mrs. Waye is one of the most pleasant people I have ever worked with,” Bath said. “This is by far the best office environment [in which] I have worked.”

To Waye, the office is one of the most exciting places in the building to be, and she is happy to stay.

“I like [working in the office] because it’s kind of the central hub and lots of things happen,” Waye said. “It’s always fun here. [We’re] behind the scenes … We see the students’ problems, how the teachers react. We see the 360 of the whole operation.”