School bookkeeper loves the kids
When Trish Fitzner’s youngest son went off to school, she went along with him and took a job at the Pea Ridge school cafeteria. Within a few years, she was the cafeteria manager, a position she held for 10 years.
After taking a couple of years off, she went out to find another job and was hired as the bookkeeper for Apple Glen Elementary Schools. This year, she moved to the same position at Cooper Elementary.
She believes she’ll like her new position because Cooper, although still a part of the Bentonville District, feels like a smalltown school, she said. She’s already seen the staff of the school interact in ways that show they really like each other.
As the bookkeeper, she has to record spending in dozens of different accounts, she said. Like most businesses, spending school money means getting a purchase order and saving receipts. It’s her job to make sure the school district doesn’t overspend.
She also helps the principal during budget season. She can pull up expenses and compare them to the previous budget to pinpoint which areas truly need more money.
Fitzner didn’t go to school for accounting, she learned on the job.
She spends part of her day in the back part of the office on bookkeeping but, whenever the front office gets busy, she’s out there helping out. She loves interacting with the kids.
“It keeps you young,” she said.
Her sons are grown up now. Both are married and she has three grandchildren.
She still lives in Pea Ridge and spends most of her free time with her grandchildren.