When people think of an administrative assistant, they most likely think about someone who shuffles papers, answers phone calls and exchanges email.
These people have never met Dana Quinn.
As the administrative assistant to Head of Upper Campus Craig Floyd for the past two years, she does so much more that a typical assistant does.
She’s a mother and a soccer referee. She’s a sports enthusiast and she never fails to make someone smile.
Most importantly she’s the go-to person, someone to lean on, a shoulder to cry on, and much more.
“Even though I am not at OVS, I know Mrs. Quinn cares [for me] and will always be there for me,” said former Ojai Valley School student Sasha Valenzuela.
Five days a week, Mrs. Quinn’s day starts bright and early. She gets to her office at 8:00 am and is already in constant demand.
“I walk to the door with about usually five students behind me asking questions,” Mrs. Quinn said. “I get students whatever they need, put them on the nurse list, and get them on the bus if they’re [too] sick [for school] to go to the health center.”
Ten minutes after arriving, she’s already at her desk taking phone calls. On average, she takes 150 to 250 calls per work week. So, for 150 to 250 people, she’s the voice of the school.
“My favorite is when you have two phone calls coming in at once and having to juggle that, putting something on hold,” Mrs. Quinn joked.
On top of that, she takes attendance, reads and answers over 30 emails daily, and discusses with Mr. Floyd to see what else needs to be done.
Beyond her administrative duties, she is a mother of two, a certified soccer referee, enjoys fishing with her family, playing sports (especially soccer), hiking, riding her bike, and more.
Mrs. Quinn started playing soccer in first grade and continued playing competitively through high school. Her daughters — Molly, 11, and Lily, 8 — are avid soccer players too and Mrs. Quinn enjoys playing with them in her free time.
Mrs. Quinn is not only Mr. Floyd’s right-hand, but she is also depended on by the students of Ojai Valley School. Beyond the usual tasks of helping students organize their appointments and getting them the medications they need throughout the day, Mrs. Quinn can be a source of support.
Senior Caroline Morrow knows this very well. One day, Morrow was having a rough day and started crying in the office. Mrs. Quinn took her to the former girls dorm to a lookout at the entire city of Ojai.
“She told me ‘Take a second to look at Ojai, I come here sometimes when I’m sad and I think it will help you to be here,’ ” Caroline said. “Mrs. Quinn stayed there consoling me for the entire eighty minute period.”
Mrs. Quinn attended an all-girls Catholic school from fifth grade to senior year.
“School was not easy for me,” Mrs. Quinn said.
Mrs. Quinn was diagnosed with dyslexia in third grade. Reading and writing were challenging for her so you she used special tools like audio books to help her.
“There’s this stigma with being diagnosed with dyslexia, that you must be stupid, but that’s not the case,” Mrs. Quinn said. “I had a math teacher tell me I’d never go to college, that just infuriated me.”
The day she was accepted to college, she immediately told her math teacher. Mrs. Quinn did not let the disbelief and skepticism she received discourage her, it just fueled her to keep pushing and prove those who doubted her wrong.
Mrs. Quinn knows first hand how hard high school can be and her high school experience is one of the factors that inspired Mrs. Quinn to work at a high school.
“I want to give back, I want to make it fun. I want students to know that they are not alone and I am here to help them,” Mrs. Quinn explained. “I want everybody to know that there’s so much more than grades. It’s the person you are, the way you act to others, and what you give back to your community.”