Although many admit that work done by administrative staff may go unnoticed, students acknowledge the importance of them in maintaining their schedules and ensuring that their school days are seamless.

As Westwood’s newest assistant registrar, Ms. Rachel King’s bright personality and smiling face are the first admirable qualities students tend to note about her, but the work she puts into helping the student body is a close second.

 “[As] the assistant registrar, I assist [analyst registrar] Ms. Cooper, with everything related to transcripts, grades, diplomas, and everything in between,” Ms. King said. “We help kids get enrolled, we help them withdraw and go to other places, and just assist everywhere in between.” 

Ms. Cooper was the assistant registrar the year prior, and is now the analyst registrar for Westwood. She is currently training Ms. King through her first year in education. Fueling Ms. King’s rationale for choosing this subject area was her family, who greatly influenced her to seek out a position in education. However, in picking a specific job role, Ms. King’s enjoyment for the administrative aspect of the school system proved that the registrar position was a perfect match for her interests.

“I come from a long line of educators. My dad was a principal, my mom was a testing coordinator, [and] my sister is still a high school math teacher back in Magnolia, [Texas]. So, it’s kind of a family business,” Ms. King said. “I saw that they had an opening here [at Westwood], and I just thought it would be the best way to merge the [education and administrative aspects].”

As Ms. King happily reflects on her time so far at Westwood, she notes that the community has welcomed her with open arms.

 “It’s felt like a good fit, [and] everybody’s been so welcoming. I feel like I’ve picked up on everything pretty quickly,” Ms. King said. “It’s just a really nice environment to be in.” 

Heading into this new position and school year with enthusiastic goals, Ms. King wants to step up to the plate with a zealous attitude. Ms. King hopes to make the most of Ms. Cooper’s mentorship, and hopes to fully take over her role in the future, without assistance. She truly enjoys her job, and feels a sense of purpose and satisfaction as she goes through her day-to-day tasks. 

“My goals are definitely to learn as much as I can,” Ms. King said. “In my other positions it’s just like, ‘if you didn’t show up, you didn’t show up’. But this, working in a school, helping kids get enrolled, helping them with even the smallest parts of education, you don’t really think about those aspects. Knowing that that’s what I’m helping with is very rewarding.”

Ms. King is also somewhat new to the Austin area, [and] is in the process of exploring and getting to know the city. She is very active in her community, and loves getting outside to join recreation leagues. 

“I am originally from the Houston area, [and] I moved to Austin at the end of 2021,” Ms. King said. “My boyfriend and I joined a few rec leagues. We’ve made a lot of friends, and turns out that actually a lot of them went to Westwood — I didn’t know that at the time.”

Coincidentally, Ms. King’s rec league participation connected her to Westwood. She heard of the school and the position through the friends she made in the leagues.

“When I was searching [for a job], a friend jokingly said, ‘Well why don’t you just try Westwood? That’s where I went.’ And then I went and looked, and they had an opening,” Ms. King said. “So I reached out, and it [all] just worked out.” 

Outside of school, Ms. King mostly indulges in the art of mini golf, and any activity that takes place in the outdoors. 

“I would say I’m huge into mini golf. Regular golf, not for me. Mini golf, I’m all about it. I’m very competitive in that alone,” Ms. King said. “I love anything where I can just kinda get out and have fun, and it’s just really entertaining. I do like to be outdoors, but not in the heat, which is a bummer because we live in Texas.” 

Starting the school year strongly, Ms. King is approaching her new job with a positive attitude and readiness to do her best in her position as assistant registrar. 

“I [am] just try[ing] to be the best I can at this role,” Ms. King said. “I do enjoy the day-to-day [tasks], being able to come in, have set [goals] that I have in front of me that I’m kinda able to just knock out, [and]  know that I’m actually doing it for something [good].”