Susan Ginsberg, Principal’s Secretary, Hollifield Station Elementary School

December 7th, 2016

“Talented” and “dedicated” appropriately describe Susan Ginsberg, the principal’s secretary at Hollifield Station Elementary School. But in the front office, where she sets the tone for the whole school, perhaps even more important is her natural knack for working with others. “I like taking care of the staff. I feel like I’m needed to help them and that I make a difference,” Ginsberg said.

“Susan is the glue that holds our school together,” principal Lisa Booth explained. “She is the face of our school to parents and families, as well as takes on tasks not usually done by a principal’s secretary. If Susan sees a need, she’ll fill it and handle it all with a smile on her face.”

With “achiever” and “responsibility” as two of her top Strengths, Ginsberg thrives in a “jack of all trades” type of role. Her favorite projects involve design, so she happily takes on creating school instructional cards, certificates, PBIS tools and more. She also coordinates substitutes, creates the school’s daily e-newsletter, manages bills and payroll, and does “basically whatever is needed to make everyone’s day a little easier, so teachers can focus on their students,” Ginsberg said.

Ginsberg’s “empathy” and “relator” Strengths also come into play at her work, where her desk candy jar is a favorite stop for many staff members. Booth appreciates Ginsberg’s warmth, saying, “Susan helps keep our staff engagement high by creating a welcoming environment for staff members.”

Ginsberg has always held “people-oriented” and customer service-related positions throughout her career. With a bachelor’s degree in business management, she worked in purchasing, project management and office administration in California before starting a family and eventually moving to Maryland and later joining the HCPSS in 1999. She served as a paraeducator at Hollifield Station and a human resources secretary at the Central Office before returning to her professional home as principal’s secretary.

Ginsberg’s family chose to live in Howard County based on the school system’s reputation. As a proud parent of three HCPSS graduates and longtime staff member, she has embraced the close knit nature of the school system. “Every place I have worked in HCPSS feels like it’s family,” Ginsberg said. “I love working here at Hollifield. I love everyone I work with.”