 TAWANA HEARD
Education Secretary/Student Services Officer
Office hours:
9AM - 6:00PM
What do you consider your most important role at the school? My most important role at the school is to make sure that all of the resources that I have available, such as housing, employment leads, and carpooling assistance are always up to date.
How does a grad go about getting a copy of their transcripts? To obtain a copy of student transcripts, the request must be in writing and include the following: name at the time you attended SHS, social security number, date of birth and the address where the transcript is to be sent. Official transcripts are $3. Unofficial transcripts are free of charge. Personal checks are not allowed; only cashier checks or money orders are accepted. Cash is accepted if the student wishes to come in with the request.
What other Student Services are there? If you are in need of personal assistance such as housing information, counseling referrals, non-industry related job leads, car pooling assistance and enrollment verification services, the Student Services Department will do their best to make sure the information you receive is updated and available for you.
Past experience: Omni Hotel, St. Mary's Nursing Home
Education: Sawyer School of Business- Word Processing Specialist
Likes: Swimming, playing pool, video games, Bid Wisk, volleyball, watching basketball, football and baseball games “Go Pistons and Tigers” Keep trying Lions
Dislikes: Roller coasters, music videos, reality TV shows
Favorite place: If I ever get there -- Hawaii
One thing you'd like to learn: Computer engineering
Pets: Dogs, tropical fish
Favorite writer: Tyler Perry
Favorite director: Francis Ford Kopala
Favorite movie: Scarface, Godfather, Training Day, Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Norbit
Places traveled: Washington DC; Pittsburgh, PA; Raleigh, NC; Toledo, OH; Chicago; and Toronto, Canada
Greatest accomplishment: Haven't accomplished it yet.
Special talents/skills/hobbies: Advising, Singing my favorite songs, hair braiding, playing cards and shooting pool
Things people associate with you: I am known for having a big heart when it comes to giving advice -- I'm never too busy to help friends and family that are in need.
What do successful students have in common? Very good attendance, excellent notes, great study habits, and constantly asking questions when unsure of assignments
What do you watch when you turn on the TV? I like to watch comedy shows, action packed movies, and some drama movies.
Do you have a favorite radio station? My favorite radio station is 105.9FM
What would people be surprised to know about you? People will be surprised to know that I love shooting pool and playing video games.
Favorite air personality: My favorite air personality is Russ Parr in the morning.
What is the primary reason you listen to the radio? I could be on my way to work, when I turn on the radio it makes me smile because they often tell a lot of jokes, or just talk about current events in a joking manner that gets my day off to a good start.
What song do you wish would disappear from radio? I'm sorry 2004, by Ruben Studdard. It's a great song; they just play it too much.
Favorite local newscast: Fox 2 Detroit
Favorite local news reporter or anchor: Lucy Noland
Favorite TV program: Tyler Perry’s House of Payne (TBS) Wednesday nights at 9PM
What is your take on reality TV? We can do without all the Joe Millionaires, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and My Big Fat Obnoxious Fiance. I don't like them at all. They seem so pre-programmed or fake.
Favorite TV commercial: All of the Geico insurance commercials, especially when the dog is lying on the floor, laughing on his back, with his legs in the air because his owner opened up the bill for his car insurance. Also most Super Bowl commercials
What TV ad bothers you the most? The Swiffer dust jet. She is just too happy while dusting. No one is ever that happy to dust.
Who would you most like to interview? Denzel Washington (excellent actor)
What would you like to see on TV? More black men and women sitcoms, movies and commercials and less sex. I'm sick of every time I hear my favorite song and it comes out on video, I have to see half naked women.
 MARCH 2003
TAWANA ROBINSON HONORED FOR 10 YEARS OF SERVICESure, she had worked before, but not anywhere like this. Among Tawana's most memorable moments is the day she became a member of the staff at Specs Howard School.
"When I'd had my third interview and they told me I was hired, I'll never forget that," she says, still beaming with pride.
To commemorate her 10-year anniversary with the company, President and CEO Jonathan Liebman presented Tawana with an award (pictured above) in the presence of Founder and Chairman of the Board Specs Howard, Director Lisa Zahodne, and partner-in-crime Education Administrator Terri Harms.
Tawana's first day of work was March 8, 1993. Hired in as the front desk assistant/receptionist, Tawana immediately felt at home in the friendly family-like environment.
"They'll bend over backwards for you," she says of her employers. "They have for me."
After spending some time in the admissions department as the department's administrative assistant, she moved on to her current occupation as Student Services Officer and Education Secretary.
As the student services officer, more aptly titled M.O.M., Tawana is the point person for students to turn to when they need assistance in finding jobs, adequate housing and transportation to and from school.
"It's like I'm their mother," she laughs, but only partially joking.
While she is the keeper of the attendance book and has to get after the more truant students, she really has their best interests at heart. Among the more enjoyable activities she organizes are the annual Halloween costume contest, Red Cross blood drives and graduation ceremonies.
While organizing the monthly graduations on her own can be stressful at times, Tawana says she can't see herself working anywhere else and plans to make her career at the school.
"This is the longest I've worked anywhere," she says. "I'm very happy here."
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