Beloved School Secretary to Retire After 37 Years
March 23, 2022
Paula Amen, the beloved staff member of Bartlesville High School, has decided to take leave by the end of the school year. According to Amen, “It’s just time. I had been told I would know when it was time, and I did. No one thing tells you that, but for each person, it is probably different. It is not unhappiness certainly; it’s just time.” Although she is leaving now, she did note that her experience at BHS was greatly enjoyed.
Paula Amen has been with BHS for the last thirty-six and a half years (1985). To get to where she is, Amen had gone through “sixteen years in school, culminating with a bachelor’s degree in English.” She notes that a degree is not necessary for retirement, but that much education is never a bad thing. She had found that she was not meant to be the teaching type, to her surprise (“I attempted to teach English but found that I wasn’t a teacher and I didn’t like it at all”).
Amen found out about the counseling position through a neighbor, “…my neighbor who worked at BHS at the time told me about a half-time position in the counseling office at BHS. I interviewed, and they chose me.” Later, and after seven and a half years in the counseling office, there was an opening for a full-time position in the principal’s office. When Amen expressed interest in the position, she was accepted by the principal to be his secretary/administrative assistant.
Now, Amen is looking towards the future. She looks forward to finding some free time and recreation. Amen stated that volunteering is a probable outcome for her because “… The need is great, and I’m sure I can find something I will enjoy.”
As a parting gift, from Mrs. Amen to the students and teachers of BHS, a piece of advice; “I had to think about this one because I’m not much on telling people what they should do. However, I would say three things: always be kind, work hard, and be responsible. To adults, which students will become, I would also say that if you don’t enjoy what you are doing, find something you will enjoy… What I will miss most at BHS is the people. I spend more time with many of them than I do with my family.”
A retirement party will be held for Mrs. Amen in the conference room from 2 to 4 p.m. on Friday, February 18th. Mrs. Paula Amen, you will be missed.