Literacy Links

Youth in Adult Education

Inside TCALL

In the second of our profiles of TCALL staff members, we introduce you to Lea Ann Schroeder. While Lea Ann began her work at TCALL in the Clearinhouse library as the library assistant, for the past few months she has been also operating as TCALL’s front office assistant. In the coming months, Lea Ann will be transitioning into that role full-time. We feel that Lea Ann’s extensive knowledge of the library’s operations will help her in responding to your immediate needs. She will be the first contact person many of you have when phoning or e-mailing TCALL, so it seems apropos that we take the time to introduce her to you in this quarter’s TCALL staff profile.

How long have you been working for TCALL?
It will be two years in June.

Your job responsibilities at TCALL recently changed. Can you please tell us a little bit about that?
Our TCALL Center Director Dominique Chlup and our Clearinghouse Project Director Harriet Smith were entertaining the idea of hiring a front office person to help with clerical overflow as well as to help other office personnel. I felt like I could manage my library responsibilities and help out where needed. I continue to take telephone orders, mail out requests, along with other library functions in the morning hours. In the afternoon, I simply walk across the hall and take on the front desk duties. I answer phone calls; I have been helping Harriet organize presenter information for the upcoming COABE conference, and helping Stella Earhart with the bulk orders of BEST testing materials.

What’s been the biggest adjustment with your new job responsibilities?
I would have to say the physical walking away from one set of duties to move on to the afternoon set.

What three adjectives would you use to describe the work that you do and why?
The variety of things I do makes my job colorful, knowing that I am helping others gives a sense of fulfillment, and knowing that I am able to help, even though it may be indirect, others achieve their goals makes me feel I am blessed.

What one thing you would change about your job if you could?
I would open up the two main work areas of TCALL and have my work station more centrally located to make my activities more fluid and creative.

What’s the most interesting thing that has happened to you since you began working at TCALL?
I have stepped into the world of business travel. I know many people do not consider their business travels the best part of their jobs; however, it is new and fresh compared to carpool/soccer mom travel.

If you could change jobs with one other person at TCALL, whose job would it be and why?
If I could trade jobs with someone at TCALL, it would be Ms. Melaney Dodson our webmaster! My reason for this ties in with other comments I have made about my desires of my future with TCALL. That being said, Mel seems to have her hands in all aspects of TCALL. And that is what I want. Thank you for this opportunity.