Rural Support Staff Member
Gayle Donley, Aurora R-VIII
Outstanding Rural Support Staff Member
Gayle Donley
Aurora R-VIII School District
The English language does not contain enough glowing phrases and adjectives to describe the impact that Gayle Donley brings to the support staff in the Aurora School District. For the past several years, Gayle has served the district as a building secretary, in a couple of the district buildings, and now serves as the district bookkeeper and Board Secretary. She performs her duties with a very positive attitude, and always has a smile for everyone.
Behind every successful school district is the individual that takes pride in his/her ability to run a school office with a quite, friendly efficiency that results in the needs of both the staff and students being satisfied without stress and complication. As the first contact for people coming into the building, Gayle is the type of secretary that can deflect conflict and channel problems in the right direction. Mrs. Donley is always the go-to person when anyone has a question and she almost always knows the answer; and if not, can quickly direct them to where they can get the answer. A kindergarten student once wrote, when asked what Mrs. Donley, as secretary, did at the school replied, “Mrs. Donley runs the school and Mr. Jones (Principal) is her helper.”
One of Gayle’s first assignments as a building secretary was to help get the students to and from school safely. Her diligent work with the transportation department and bus drivers ensured that all students were accounted for from the moment that they left home until they returned home. Each year she would help every student, parent, teacher, and especially the principal overcome those hardships, trials and rejoice in the successes and accomplishments of the new-year.
From building secretary to now the position of district bookkeeper and Board Secretary, Gayle is always the go-to person when anyone has a question and she almost always knows the answer; and if not, can quickly direct them to where they can get their answer. You might say she is well versed on district history as well as procedure and policy.
Gayle Donley has a simple work ethic, “to work until the job gets finished”. Gayle is a professional, conscientious and precise, making it fitting for her selection as Missouri’s Outstanding Rural Support Staff member for 2012.