Ms. Rita greets every day with a smile and a prayer
By Kaiya Hoffman, Staff Writer
After working at the CCS front desk for 16 years, Rita Saenz, aka “Ms. Rita,” has become one of the most recognized faces on campus. And chances are, she knows your name too.
Building relationships with students and families is the most meaningful part of her work, she says.
“God has called me here, and I am happy when I come in every day,” says Ms. Rita, who arrives to campus by 5:30 a.m. every day. “I spend time praying for our day, the students, the teachers, and the administration. I usually call them all out by name.”
When asked what stands out the most about Ms. Rita, Interim Head of Schools Darryl Hemphill said: “heart, soul, faith and that beautiful smile!”
“She is an outstanding individual that goes beyond the game of ‘front desk’ criteria,” he said.
Ms. Rita’s journey at CCS began unexpectedly about 24 years ago. She originally came to meet a friend (who was a CCS history teacher) for lunch. Having recently retired from teaching Pre‑K and Kindergarten, she didn’t plan on returning to a school environment. But the visit led to a new opportunity, and she has been a part of CCS ever since. She worked as a substitute teacher and for the online school before becoming a receptionist.
Her day begins long before students arrive at school. She wakes up at 4:00 every morning to pray, a routine she says guides her in writing her daily devotion, which she recites before the morning announcements every day. She describes the prayers as “given by God,” and she writes them down before coming to campus.
In addition to her daily responsibilities, Ms. Rita is also known for announcing names at school events. She began doing this a few years ago after being asked to help. She says the most challenging part is studying the names to make sure she pronounces them correctly, but she really enjoys being a part of the events and contributing to those moments.
She also serves as a morning crossing guard, another role she took on when asked.
She says welcoming students at the start of the day is one of the highlights of her routine, especially the younger students who share special greetings with her. The hardest part is saying goodbye to seniors at the crosswalk for the last time.
Even though it can get “extremely chaotic” in the front office, Ms. Rita keeps her cool and is a delight to work with, said secondary attendance clerk Misti Bodker.
“Ms. Rita is a special co-worker because she is authentically herself all the time,” Bodker said. “She has an amazingly huge heart and treats everyone equally with love and respect.”
Even with all the tasks she must tackle every day, Ms. Rita continues to find joy in showing up every day and declares: “I love my job!”
Photos by Ava Hicks/Staff
