“First thing we do, start coffee for teachers and everybody,” UPrep Main Office/Event Coordinator Leticia Chavez said.

She describes early mornings as an important reset before the school day.

“We open the office, turn on the lights, get the sign-in sheets and the sign-out sheets ready and just kind of organize for the day,” Chavez said.

According to Chavez, she and fellow Main Office Coordinator, Sashil Pillay, share much of the work that goes into running the daily operations of the school.

“We switch every day, so one of us is doing attendance while the other is making coffee for staff and faculty, stocking inventory, delivering packages,” Chavez said. “Attendance is an all-day thing, so one of us is doing that all day while the other is doing the rest, like mail.”

However, Pillay and Chavez have not always worked together. Before taking a job at UPrep, Pillay worked for 30 years at the Hearthstone Retirement Home in Green lake. As a dining room manager, she was responsible for hiring staff, training them and working with them throughout the day. Though fond of the residents, she recalls her experiences as stressful and highly demanding.

“I worked every holiday, and I worked long, long hours, and I’m on salary, right, so I don’t get overtime pay,” Pillay said. “I was so tired, and I never got weekends or holidays off.”

Seven years after accepting a position at Uprep, Pillay wishes she had discovered the job sooner.

“I should have done this earlier. I’m so happy I’m working here,” Pillay said. “I love it here, and I spend more time with my family now.”

Chavez has always worked in educational settings. While living in Oregon, she helped evaluate children with disabilities and later went on to serve in the main office position at an alternative high school. She began to work at UPrep five years ago and agrees that it was the right decision for her.

“Coming to UPrep was totally different because I’ve never been in an independent school,” Chavez said. “That was a change for me to get used to. But I love it.”

Pillay believes a large part of UPrep’s appealing work environment comes from its strong support system.

“The community is so nice,” Pillay said. “Every time anybody comes in, I always tell them how good our students are. They’re so polite.”

For Chavez, the best part of her day is listening to the chaos and fun that students bring to the workplace environment.

“All these crazy things happen in a day because every day is different,” Chavez said. “We see a lot in the main office. We hear a lot of funny jokes. The things that the kids say just make us laugh.”

At the end of the day, the job is about much more than organization—it’s about a positive attitude and the willingness to tackle challenges. After years of work in the main office, Pillay has no shortage of either of these qualities.

“I love coming here every day. I have never woken up and did not want to go to work,” Pillay said. “I’m always ready to go to work. This is such a good place to be.”