Job Description
Title: Receptionist
Reports to: Business Manager
Classification: Non-exempt
Part-Time / $20 per hour
Closing date: 7/21/26
Sussex School believes in the power of joyful, student-centered learning. Our progressive K-8 program creates an environment where learners, educators, and administrators alike are empowered to think deeply, create boldly, and engage authentically with their world.
Sussex employees:
- Value student voice and choice while maintaining high academic expectations
- Embrace the flexibility and creativity inherent in progressive education
- Model lifelong learning through continuous reflection and professional growth
- Build strong relationships with learners, families, and colleagues
- Bring curiosity, humor, and authenticity to their practice
Successful Sussex employees understand that building and maintaining a school is both an art and a craft. They create nurturing spaces where learners feel safe to take risks, ask challenging questions, and discover their unique paths forward. Our employees work collaboratively to develop a school that prioritizes the growth of learners as humans, always keeping our core values of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Courage, and Citizenship at the center of their practice.
The role involves partnering with families, colleagues, and administration to support each learner's journey while actively contributing to our vibrant school community.
Qualifications:
- A bachelor's degree in education (or working on one). Knowledge of elementary and middle school operations and administrative processes is advantageous.
- Previous experience in receptionist or administrative roles, preferably within an educational setting, is highly desirable. Experience with student information systems (SIS) and school management software is a plus.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are essential for interacting with students, parents, teachers, and other staff members. The ability to convey information clearly and professionally is crucial.
- Strong organizational skills are necessary for managing various tasks simultaneously, maintaining records, and ensuring smooth daily operations of the school office.
- Attention to detail is vital for accurately maintaining student records, processing paperwork, managing school supplies, and handling family information.
- The ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders, including students, parents, faculty, and administrators, is essential. A friendly and approachable demeanor fosters positive relationships within the school community.
- Effective problem-solving skills are necessary for addressing challenges that arise in the school office, such as scheduling conflicts, student enrollment issues, or technical difficulties with administrative systems.
- Proficiency in using standard office software (e.g., Google Suite) and familiarity with educational technology platforms (FACTS) are beneficial. Knowledge of databases, spreadsheets, and online communication tools enhances productivity in the role.
- Demonstrated integrity and discretion in handling sensitive information, such as student records and personnel matters, are critical. Upholding professional standards and maintaining confidentiality are paramount responsibilities.
- A commitment to providing excellent customer service to students, parents, and visitors contributes to a positive school atmosphere. Patience, empathy, and the ability to resolve inquiries or concerns courteously are essential traits.
- The capacity to adapt to changing priorities, unforeseen circumstances, and busy periods in the school office is important. Flexibility in managing tasks and willingness to assist with various duties contribute to overall efficiency.
- A genuine passion for supporting the educational mission of Sussex and contributing to the academic success and well-being of students is fundamental. A commitment to fostering a safe, inclusive, and nurturing learning environment is key.
- Solid technology skills
Job duties
The Receptionist reports directly to the Business Manager and serves as an active member of the school’s Administrative Team. The Receptionist is responsible for being the first-line presence for customers. Sussex School has an enriching educational atmosphere that supports critical thinking, creativity, courage, and citizenship in its students and staff. Staff are highly engaged and enjoy progressive education's flexibility, autonomy, and creativity.
Major job responsibilities:
FRONT OFFICE
- Serve as a first-line presence to respond to parent and teacher needs, questions, or concerns.
- Answering phones
- Answering emails
- Monitoring gate entry and security systems
- Placing orders for staff
- Data entry tasks
- Monitoring student status and assisting families with enrollment packets or answering questions
- Prepare and distribute all necessary information materials for families and staff at the start of and throughout the year, including staff, student, and community handbooks and directories.
- Form creation and distribution
- Develop and maintain parent and staff email groups.
- Support all mailing tasks.
- Maintain the all-school Google Drive for documents and forms.
- Order all-school-use office supplies; maintain printer and Lost & Found.
- Review and update daily attendance in FACTS.
- Supervise student medication dispensation.
- Set up all school and individual student professional photography sessions.
- Assist SPA with Staff Appreciation and other programs as needed.
FAMILY AND STUDENT RECORDS AND DATA
- Maintain the relationship/family database(Bloomerang) lists: changing group status when families graduate or withdraw and adding new parents and grandparents.
- Oversee current student files and immunization records, requesting records for new students and sending records of outgoing students to schools upon receipt of records requests signed by parents.
- Review emergency and medical information in FACTS for students and create student emergency-form packets for field trips, both hard copy and digital in the shared teacher drive.
- Maintain all student lists: enrolled students; new families; Big/Little matches; birthdates; mixed-grade homerooms and groups; medical information; and others as needed.
- Assist in creating student accounts in the LMS system or portfolios for all incoming students.
- Create/maintain current, graduated, and withdrawn student file folders.
- Assist with compliance with student data record keeping.
- Work with the Marketing and Admissions Director to maintain the fundraising database, including merging duplicate contacts, coordinating effective procedures for recording, reporting, and acknowledging gifts in a timely manner.
Other Duties:
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Activities, duties, and responsibilities may change at any time with or without notice.
Minimum Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
- Ability to communicate effectively using strong verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community
- Ability to work on multiple projects simultaneously
- Strong planning and time management skills
- Knowledge of Google Suite apps: Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Sites, Pages, Classroom, and Forms
- Ability to lift at least 25 pounds
- Ability to walk up a flight of stairs
Work Environment:
This job operates in a professional school environment.
Physical Demands:
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; and talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, and ability to adjust focus. Close vision such as see well enough to read, work on computer and recognize faces.
- Occasionally lift up to 25 pounds.
- Generally works in standard office conditions and climate.
- May work in varied extreme outside weather conditions during special activities and fundraising events.
- Works in a highly stressful environment dealing with a wide variety of challenges, deadlines and a varied and diverse array of contacts.
- May work at a desk and computer for extended periods of time.
Position Type/Expected Hours of Work:
This is a part-time, approximately nine-month position, when school is in session. This excludes holidays and Thanksgiving, winter and spring breaks.
If you wish to join our fun and hardworking team, please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to Business Manager Carolyn Rigg at [email protected].
EEO Policy:
The School is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and to providing employment, compensation, promotion, transfer, and unrestricted access to training at all occupational levels. The School prohibits discrimination and harassment due to an applicant’s or employee’s membership in a protected class. The School does not discriminate in violation of the law on the bases of the protected categories of race, color, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender, and sexual orientation), age, disability, genetic information, or military/veteran status in its employment practices or hiring practices.
Pay: $20.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
