After 22 years, Sandy Bauman won’t be greeting Bowling Green High School students as they return to the building later this month.

She retired as secretary at the end of July.

“I always did think I wanted to be an elementary secretary,” Bauman said. “That was my dream job.”

She served as substitute in the elementary offices for five years before landing at the high school in 2001.

“I loved it. I loved the little kids.”

But then Bauman started subbing at the high school for six weeks at a time and fell in love with the older kids.

“When the job came open, I thought, I’m going to stay here,” Bauman said. “I always say they’re just little kids in big bodies. I think we have the greatest kids. They’ve always been so respectful to me; they’ve never made me feel old. I love them, they are so awesome.”

Hugh Caumartin was the superintendent and Jean McCulloch was the high school principal when she was hired.

Bauman graduated from BGHS in 1974 and served as an office aide. The rooms upstairs feel and smell the same as when she was a student, she said.

She took cooperative office education classes because she said she knew she wanted to be a secretary. Bauman went to school in the morning, learning shorthand and typing, and then worked in the afternoon at Henry Filters.

The company hired her after graduation, and she worked there until 1982 when she had her first son.

Her three sons all graduated from BGHS, in 2000, 2003 and 2005. Her mom, Donna (Peinert) Snyder, is also a Bobcat alumna.

Bauman had been at the school long enough she started to see the second generation of students walk through the door.

“It was very weird at first,” she said with a laugh.

Bauman said she did pretty good learning the names of most of the students in the building.

She had the regulars — especially those who were tardy every day. But some kids she never saw, which means they’ve never been in the office.

Principal Dan Black said that Bauman was more than a familiar face.

“In any situation, Sandy always was a calming presence in the office and greeted every student and parent with a smile. Her knowledge of the position will be missed, she often took care of many things without anyone knowing,” Black said.

Bauman remembers when the doors were left open and she didn’t have to buzz people in, and when kids used to come to the office and ask her to call home because they were sick. Now they text their parents.

In retirement, she plans to travel more to see her eight grandchildren now that she doesn’t have to worry about vacation time.

“I just want to be able to go whenever I want,” Bauman said, adding that her husband, Ken, retired two years ago.

They have been married 42 years.

Bauman said she will miss the kids and the parents the most.

“I love the interaction with all the kids and the teachers and the parents,” she said. “Since I went here, my kids went here, I’ve never known any other school district.”

Bauman has considered volunteering at Kenwood Elementary, where a granddaughter attends.

“I am a true Bobcat. I love Bowling Green. I love our schools.”