How would you describe Niwot Elementary School’s front office staff Judy Gould and Jan Tornow? Their official titles are secretary and clerk respectively, although they have done and still do just about every job in the school. "We wear many hats," said Judy. "We do the budget, work in the nurse’s office, work in the workroom cutting papers, work in the cafeteria, tell lost kids where to go." Mary Baisley also helps Jan as clerk since "life" at Niwot Elementary is so busy.

Jan is also responsible for attendance, registration and keeping records for all the students. "We cover for each other a lot. We work as a team," replies Jan. And team they are. Kindergarten registration is a "biggy" for them. They are responsible for sending letters to incoming kindergartners, registering them and also sending records for students who leave.

Another busy time is the May Carnival where Jan has sold tickets for 29 years and with Judy’s help for 20.

What brought them to Niwot Elementary? Jan began working in 1969 when her kids went there. She started working in the classroom as a parent helper, and volunteering in the office. Then gradually she started working two hours a day in the office and as a teacher’s aide. She also worked in the lunchroom, and part time in the district’s administration building. "But that was many, many years ago," she said. "I didn’t work here full time till my children graduated from Niwot High School. My youngest daughter graduated in 1981.

Jan and her husband Bud moved to Colorado for health reasons. Jan has worked for four principals. 

Judy’s husband Jim died in 1982. He was born and raised in Niwot. Judy was born and raised in Longmont and has seen all the changes in the area. "Niwot Elementary used to be at least half farming and half business families. Now there might be three ranching families left in the community," Judy recalls.

What brought Judy to Niwot Elementary was a full time job, "to raise my kids. They went to Burlington Elementary and on to Niwot High School." Before that, she worked at Mt. View Elementary in Longmont during the mid 1970s.

Jan and Judy are like family. They celebrate family birthdays , holidays and Mother’s Day together. Even their kids are close. Since Jan has no grandchildren, she shares Judy’s, who call her Grandma Jan. The year before Judy’s husband died was the year both of Jan’s daughters were gone for Christmas. Jan and Bud were invited over to Judy and Jim’s. It’s been that way ever since.

Both women agree that there have been many interesting "experiences" at the school. Once, they seemed to have "lost" a kindergartner. Everyone looked inside and out, but they couldn’t find the child. Finally he was found, under the shelves between the kindergarten rooms asleep. Another kindergartner had to quietly finish her art project by the coat racks. She took her scissors and cut off all the tassels on the other kids’ hats.

Another time, a kindergartner made it all the way down to the bus garage and was found by the bus driver curled up asleep. Judy said, "With the number of kids here we have been very fortunate."

With the split shift, Judy starts work at 7:00 a.m. and finishes by 3:30 p.m. Jan works from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Jan laughed, "8:30 is plenty early for me!" 
 
Teaming with Beth Layman, Jan also does story telling for first grade. She used to do this for several grades, but that was a long time ago. "It’s my replacement for grandchildren," she remarked. "We have dress up according to book themes. [Recently,] we had a teddy bear tea party theme for the class. We made little hats for the kids. We take time preparing for this, something I hope to continue after I retire."
 
It was Jan’s idea to decorate the office for the seasons and holidays. Also, there is a large teddy bear on the office counter that "takes attendance." The kindergartners know where to place attendance sheets. The outfits are changed for the seasons or for themes. Among other things, the bear has been Snow White and a drum majorette. Many times the rest of the office staff will follow the bear’s theme.

So how would you describe Jan and Judy? Flexible, very flexible.