Tippecanoe Valley High School Treasurer Shelly Yarian stands inside the front office at TVHS. She said she enjoys getting “close” to students through her job. InkFreeNews photo by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

AKRON — Shelly Yarian enjoys getting “close” to students through her role as Tippecanoe Valley High School’s treasurer.

“It’s rewarding. I always say I enjoy when school starts, and I’m sad to see it end especially when you have freshmen that come in and then you’re with them all four years and then they leave you their senior year,” she said. “That’s probably the only downfall about this position is you get close to these kids and then they leave you.”

Yarian, of Akron, has been with Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. for nine years.

Her first job was as an instructional assistant at Mentone Elementary School.

“I wanted to leave a full-time job to take a part-time job, so I could be home with my children, and so that led me to Mentone,” said Yarian. “About two months into that position, my position out here came open, and so my mother-in-law convinced me to apply out here, and I’ve been here ever since.”

As TVHS treasurer, Yarian works underneath new TVSC Business Manager Eric Speicher and previously worked under Speicher’s predecessor, Jessica McFarland.

Yarian’s tasks include overseeing finances for TVHS sports and other extracurricular activities.

She also is “one of the administrative assistants” for TVHS Principal Brandon Kresca and Assistant Principal Dayna Kolanowski and fills in for TVHS Secretary Michelle Neese.

“I basically do all the ordering for the (TVHS) teachers when they need supplies,” she said. “(If) they need anything for their classrooms, that comes through my office. When Brandon or Dayna needs something, they’ll either come to myself or Michelle.”

Yarian said she even works “in the kitchen when we get short-staffed” or as a substitute teacher.

As Yarian originally said she’d wanted to be a teacher, she said her tasks at TVHS are “ideal.”

“I get a little bit of that teacher stuff, plus the admin stuff,” she said.

Yarian, who graduated from Warsaw Community High School, is married to Wes Yarian, a Valley grad. They will celebrate their 22nd anniversary next month.

The couple has four children. Their daughter, Jayden, and daughter, Milee, attend eighth grade and sixth grade respectively at Tippecanoe Valley Middle School. Twins Christian and Cami go to Akron Elementary School.

In her spare time, Shelly loves sports, with her and Wes being Chicago Cubs’ fans. She also enjoys camping with her family and reading.

Overall, Shelly said she likes working with her TVHS co-workers.

“We have a great staff out here. They make it a joy to come in to work every day,” she said. “You never know what’s going to happen. I say every day is a new day.”