Elaine Best’s career at National Heritage Academies® (NHA) began with a newspaper ad.
“I told my husband, ‘That’s my job. That’s me, right there.’”
Elaine laughed as she remembered the moment. It was 1999. She worked at a small Montessori school and was ready for a new challenge. When she read the NHA job description for a front office staff position, she knew immediately she had found her place.
And after more than two decades as the Registrar at Great Oaks Academy, Elaine still smiles when she talks about the nearly seven hundred students she supports every day.
Growth and Mentorship
Elaine’s early years with NHA were marked by firsts.
She assisted with Walton Charter Academy’s launch and helped open Great Oaks Academy in 2004 and again in 2006 when the school moved to its current building in Warren.
She was responsible for setting up offices, building systems, and adjusting as the schools grew.
“You really are a jack-of-all-trades in the office. You do everything.”
Those experiences shaped her career and eventually led to a mentoring role, helping train and support office staff in new NHA schools across the country.
“I was proud they chose me to be a mentor. Helping other schools set up their offices, showing them how to do things the right way -- that meant a lot to me.”
Change Over Time
Elaine has seen a lot evolve over the past 26 years, from paper processes and manual count days to streamlined systems designed to support busy school offices.
“NHA is always trying to make things better. They look for ways to take things off our plates so we can focus on students and families.”
One of her greatest joys is seeing former Great Oaks students return with their children.
“That’s one of the biggest compliments. Parents are choosing to come back. Our curriculum isn’t easy, but they want something that challenges their kids and helps them succeed.”
Elaine believes the Moral Focus™ curriculum is one of the reasons why families return to Great Oaks.
“They know what compassion looks like. They know what it means to go above and beyond.”
And Elaine applies those same virtues to her work in the school office.
“You need to be generous with your time. Parents need you. Staff need you. The kids need you. That’s the bottom line.”
Work That Feels Like Family
Ask Elaine what keeps her going, and she’ll tell you it’s the people: the administrators and staff who have supported her over the years.
She speaks fondly of her longtime colleague Bonnie Rinkus: “She’s like a sister to me.” After all they have been working side by side in the registrar’s office for 22 years!
When asked to describe her NHA journey in one word, she says, “Rewarding. It’s been a rewarding experience to be here.”
Fun Fact: Jeeping Runs in the Family
Elaine and her family have been Jeeping for decades, traveling everywhere from the Michigan dunes to the Smoky Mountains and Colorado trails. One Jeep has even become a family heirloom.
“It’s been with us since our kids were little. Now our grandkids are enjoying it.”
Congratulations on 26 years, Elaine!
About Great Oaks Academy
Great Oaks Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Warren, Michigan, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies (NHA®) network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through high school across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.
Visit Great Oaks Academy's blog to read more stories like this.