Vazquez becomes the welcoming face of the office

PHOTO: Margarita Vazquez, administrative assistant at DHS.

By Christopher Kim

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Every day, hundreds of students, parents and visitors coming into the office are welcomed by the administrative assistant at the front desk. 

Since Feb. 6 that person has been Margarita “Maggie” Vazquez. 

“I’m usually the first person that people see (coming in),” she said. “I’m kind of just directing traffic and helping people get to where they need to get.” 

Additionally, Vazquez is in charge of checking in visitors, cataloging the information for the daily bulletin board on the Blue Devil portal and answering calls from teachers and parents for a wide range of questions before directing them toward appropriate personnel at the office. 

“I just get all the questions talking about attendance, about counseling, about classes, enrollment, scheduling appointments, people who want to donate things, so it’s a lot of different things to keep tabs on,” she said. “If there is no one up here, not a lot of things get done and it just turns into chaos.”

As a former student at Davis High, Vazquez developed relationships with the office staff and maintained them even after graduating in 2020. 

“In the years before working here and after graduating, I would come by and do a few things or pick up a few things because I have siblings and cousins that go here,” she said. “So I was always here and I would keep in touch with everyone.”

It was through her connection with former front desk secretary and current bilingual paraeducator Nancy Serrano-Montoy that Vazqeuz was notified of the availability of the position earlier this year. 

“(Nancy) has been a family friend for years,” Vazquez said. “She actually let me know the position was available and so that’s how I applied.”

Despite the hectic nature of the job, Vazquez takes it in stride and enjoys being able to work with and help people in her job.

“I just love the environment. I love getting to know students on a more personal level, I love my coworkers (and) the staff is amazing.”

Vazquez is especially appreciative of athletics secretary Laurie Williams and the principals’ administrative assistant Kate Prien along with other staff members who have helped her ease into the job.

A month into her new position, Vazquez is simply appreciating the job and taking it moment by moment, learning everything that she can. 

“It’s really cool to be back and get to be with some of the staff I’ve been with before and get to be on the other side of things.”