Secretary

Prairie Lakes Area Education Agency; Storm Lake (IA); On-site; USD 28,000 - 31,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental insurance

IPERS retirement plan

Life and disability coverage

Job summary

Prairie Lakes AEA is seeking a Secretary in Storm Lake to provide clerical support, greet visitors, manage schedules, and coordinate office functions. The role requires a professional demeanor, strong communication, and the ability to handle confidential information.

Responsibilities include supporting staff with meeting coordination, data extraction from agency systems, phone routing, and backup support for other secretaries. Travel between sites may be required as part of duties.

Qualifications

• Education: High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience: Clerical/secretarial experience preferred.
• Administrative and office management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Models a positive and professional image of Prairie Lakes AEA and demonstrates high customer service.
• Greets and directs visitors; answers questions and handles office issues as they arise.
• Coordinates schedules, meetings, and meeting spaces; prepares packets and presentations; handles correspondence and mailing.

Skills

Customer service

Secretarial skills

Scheduling coordination

Data entry / data extraction

Confidentiality

Team collaboration

Problem-solving

Time management

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Google apps

Microsoft Office

Job description

Starting Date: Immediately

Job Description

JOB TITLE: Secretary DATE: October 2026

WORK GROUP: Special Education GROUP: Classified Association

REPORTS TO: Regional Administrator

QUALIFICATION

• EDUCATION:
• High school diploma or equivalent required
• EXPERIENCE:
• Clerical/secretarial experience, preferred
• Administrative and office management experience, preferred

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Models a positive and professional image of Prairie Lakes AEA, demonstrating a high degree of customer service to clientele, visitors, and co-workers
• Greets, directs, announces, and/or escorts all visitors as appropriate; anticipates visitor’s needs; answers questions and attends to office and/or agency issues as they arise
• Provides timely support to staff for tasks including but not limited to: coordination of schedules; meeting supports, coordination of meetings and meeting space; resource assembly; development and/or photocopying of documents; preparation of packets/presentations; correspondence/mailing; technology troubleshooting; and coordination of office/agency-wide scheduled functions and activates
• Creates, maintains, troubleshoots, extracts data/information from agency systems/software
• Operates or backs up incoming telephone lines to route incoming calls and place outgoing calls to appropriate personnel
• Manages and maintains confidentiality of student and staff information and confidential records
• Collaborates with relevant agency departments and staff to support business functions that may include purchasing, mileage, and time sheets
• Coordinates incoming and outgoing mail; coordinate maintenance of postage machines/supplies
• Participates in meetings, workshops, committees, and professional development opportunities
• Supports/prepares necessary documents to order equipment, supplies, and online print orders
• Provide backup to other secretaries in their absence
• Additional Duties as Assigned, such as:
  • Support to liaisons and chairs for assigned PLAEA Departments
  • Support staff at Lakes Educational Partnership, Shelter and Prison Programs
  • Schedule and assist with hearing booth and speech appointments
  • Event Coordinator for PLAEA office as assigned
  • ACHIEVE Data Entry
  • Referrals Birth to 5 years old, school aged, and CAPTA
  • Order/maintain assessment materials for departments
  • Travel accommodations and registration for staff

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Knowledge of standard secretarial procedures and office management techniques, including record management, word processing, filing, telephone, video and phone conferencing, note taking, gathering/organizing data, and maintaining calendars/schedules for offices and/or assigned personnel
• Computer experience using PC, including Google apps, Microsoft products, web-based tools, as well as the ability to learn new applications and resources
• Strong oral and written communication skills, correct English grammar, punctuation, spelling, and proofreading
• Strong interpersonal and customer service skills; in person, in writing, and telephone etiquette
• Ability to work diligently to produce an accurate work product
• Ability to problem-solve
• Ability to communicate and work well with others
• Ability to anticipate, organize, and prioritize the needs of many individuals within the office and meet multiple timelines
• Ability to team with others in accordance with Prairie Lakes AEA’s expectations

COMMON TO ALL EMPLOYEES

• Uses effective oral, written, and collaborative skills
• Is self-motivated, reliable, organized, detail and quality-oriented
• Regular, predictable, consistent attendance is essential
• Engages in continuous improvement of professional practice to build skills needed to perform job duties and meet agency goals
• Prevents and resolves conflicts using effective problem-solving skills
• Demonstrates effective interpersonal skills
• Demonstrates business appropriate personal presentation
• Demonstrates cultural competence and behaviors consistent with Prairie Lakes AEA Value Proposition Statement

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to travel between schools and sites served.
• Normal, routine levels of activity related to bending, carrying, climbing, hearing, lifting, reaching, sitting, standing, vision and walking, and may also involve above‑average levels of activity at times that can’t always be anticipated.

BENEFITS: Enjoy a strong benefits package featuring fully paid single health and dental insurance, employer-paid life and disability coverage, and a generous IPERS retirement plan.

PAY SCHEDULE: This position is classified as Grade C, with a pay range of $20.31 to $22.83 per hour, depending on education and experience.

Position Type: 1.0 FTE

Salary: $20.31 to $22.83 Per Hour

Equal Opportunity Employer

All employers submitting a job opening for posting on the Teach Iowa system will not discriminate in hiring on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, gender, age, physical disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, marital status, or status as a veteran. A bona fide religious institution may choose to exercise the allowances in Iowa Code section 216.6.(6)d. Employers may have additional developed specific equal employment opportunity policies and procedures; please check with employers.

Job Requirements

• Citizenship, residency or work visa required

Contact Information

• Jennifer Sammons , Administrator of Special Education Related Services
• Storm Lake
• Phone: [phone]
• Email: [e-mail]

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