Whether payroll is due, the bills need paying, or board reports require accuracy down to the last cent, Harrisburg School District relies on the steady hands of bookkeeper Lenae Milam. For the past five years, Milam has brought not just her accounting expertise but also a calm, compassionate approach to a job that keeps the financial heart of the district beating.

Her journey into accounting started early. Born in Centralia and raised in Carrier Mills from the age of five, Milam grew up in a family surrounded by healthcare professionals—her mother, grandmother, and stepmother all nurses, and her father the head of a hospital lab. While medicine was in her family’s DNA, she discovered her own path in high school. Business teacher Diane McDermott offered accounting as an elective, and Milam realized she had a knack for numbers. She joined Future Business Leaders of America, competing in accounting events and earning a trip to state. Though she fell ill and couldn’t attend, the experience solidified her passion. “That was when I knew I wanted to do accounting,” she said.

After graduating from Carrier Mills High School in 2006, Milam attended Southeastern Illinois College and then McKendree University, where she completed her bachelor’s in accounting and went straight into her MBA. She worked at an accounting firm in Marion for two years, where she learned payroll and bookkeeping—skills that weren’t taught in depth in college but quickly became her professional foundation. Later, she transitioned into healthcare bookkeeping, working for nursing homes and management companies before eventually joining Harrisburg Medical Center. When both of Harrisburg’s long-serving district bookkeepers were preparing to retire, Milam was encouraged to apply. She trained under them for nearly a year, learning the intricacies of school finance.

Today, Milam carries that responsibility largely on her own, especially after the departure of colleague Pamela Rizkallah, who became superintendent in Cairo. “It’s been busy, but I’ve always worked a lot,” Milam admitted. “Payroll has to be right, bills have to be paid, and staff rely on us to make sure everything runs smoothly.”

A typical day for Milam rarely follows the script she writes for herself. She starts by checking emails, responding quickly to staff requests, and then diving into scheduled tasks—processing payroll, preparing board packets, or reconciling bank statements. Some days bring audits, others new insurance enrollments, or large state reporting deadlines. “Every day is different,” she explained. “That’s what keeps it interesting.”

What keeps her going is not just the work itself but the people she works alongside. “The team up here is amazing,” she said. “Anytime I need something, they’re there to help. It really feels like a family.” She also points to the vital role of building secretaries across the district, who manage their schools’ finances before they ever reach her desk. “I don’t know if they realize how much I appreciate them,” she said. “They make sure everything is ready, and without them I couldn’t do my job.”

Milam is quick to credit administrators, too, from the superintendent to the special education director and curriculum leaders. She sees her job as part of a larger partnership that ensures staff are paid, students are supported, and resources are allocated where they are needed most. Even the student worker who helps organize files each afternoon is part of that effort. “It’s all about teamwork,” Milam emphasized. “We’re here for the staff, and we try to do everything we can to support them.”

Looking ahead, Milam is realistic about the challenges schools face. Budgetary constraints are tightening, and districts everywhere are being asked to do more with less. But she remains confident in Harrisburg’s ability to weather those challenges with the right focus and teamwork. “At the end of the day, it’s about making sure staff and students have what they need,” she said.

For someone who once thought she might follow her family into healthcare, Milam has found her own way to serve the community. Instead of caring for patients, she supports the educators who care for students. Instead of tracking charts, she balances budgets. And in her role as bookkeeper, she proves every day that behind every teacher, classroom, and program, there are people like her working quietly to keep the district strong.

It may not be glamorous, but for Lenae Milam, it is deeply rewarding. “I love my job,” she said simply. “I wouldn’t change being here for anything.”