Attendance Clerk Carol Hess announced Jan. 16 that she will retire at the end of the school year after 33 years in the building.
Hess said her decision to retire came down to timing and readiness for the next chapter.
“I’m tired. I’m ready to go,” Hess said. “I’ve done everything I can here.”
Each morning, Hess arrives at school at 6:30 to start writing passes for the day. She said she individually listens to every phone call and handwrites about 300 passes per day. Over the past three decades, Hess estimated she has written more than 550,000 passes.
When receptionist Sherri Laughlin started at BVNW in 2020, she said she recognized Hess from when Laughlin’s son graduated from Northwest in 1996. She said Hess helped her get adjusted to a new job.
“When I was new, there were lots of questions about where to direct people that had certain questions, and she just knew how everything worked,” Laughlin said. “She was just a very welcome face every morning.”
Laughlin said the two of them work closely together, often sharing lunch in Hess’s office and supporting each other through challenging days.
“We just got to know each other well,” Laughlin said. “She’s a very compassionate person, and we keep each other sane.”
Hess’s knowledge of the school comes from being there since day one. She started at Northwest in October 1993, transferring from Blue Valley North, where she worked as a bookkeeper. Before that, Hess began her career in the Blue Valley School District in 1981 at the district office as secretary to the assistant superintendent. She left the district for several years to work as a paralegal and open a print shop with her husband before returning in 1993.
Hess said her experiences as a high school student influenced her to approach her role with empathy. Growing up on a farm, she said morning responsibilities and caring for her father caused her to be late to school nearly every day.
“When I was in high school, I hated it. I didn’t think anybody cared if I was there or not,” Hess said. “When I came here, I thought, maybe I can make a difference in somebody’s life.”
Junior Lille Duran said Hess has made a meaningful impact on her life. Duran said because of her frequent doctor’s appointments, they started getting to know each other.
“We started talking, and she noticed that I’d come in early, and then we just started having conversations, and started to grow closer into a friendship,” Duran said.
When Duran is feeling anxious or stressed, she said she goes to Hess for comfort.
“I just hug her, and we talk, and she lets me tell her how I feel and what’s going on in my life, and then all of my anxiety and stress just dies down,” Duran said.
Broadcast teacher and softball coach Kim White said Hess’s presence extends beyond the attendance office. White has worked with Hess for 27 years, initially connecting through student absences when her athletes and broadcast students needed excuses. White, who now considers Hess a friend, said she will miss the casual conversations they shared about their families and life outside of school.
“It’s going to be very hard to replace Ms. Hess, for the person that she is, for the colleague that she’s been and for just a wonderful human being that I feel fortunate to call a friend,” White said.
In retirement, Hess said she plans to spend time with her three granddaughters in North Carolina and visit her daughter in Illinois. She also plans to spend more time quilting and making memory bears for her friends and family using clothing from deceased loved ones.
At home, she said she looks forward to spending time with her two cats, as well as volunteering at the animal shelter Wayside Waifs and the Kansas City Zoo.
White said she is grateful for Hess and will miss seeing her every day.
“She was always there for whatever you needed and willing to help,” White said. “As a school, we’re gonna miss somebody who truly knows how things work around here and who has truly been an integral part of this building since the day it opened.”
