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Rural School Board Member

GARY DOKE

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Gary Doke has spent the last twenty-two years serving the students, parents, patrons and staff as a School Board Member working to improve and support the Halfway R-III School District. During his tenure on the board, Mr. Doke has been recognized for his outstanding leadership abilities by his peers, by being elected to serve ten of those years as board president.

The words “encouraging and supportive,” best describes the dedication that Mr Doke has provided, by putting the children of the school first in the decisions he supports as a board member.  He loves rural education, small schools, and Halfway R-III.  The dedication of over two decades of his life to the service of the Halfway community describes how Mr. Doke has been instrumental in the progress and achievement of Halfway R-III Schools.

Described as one that definitely knows how to run a school Board meeting, he brings the experience and business sense that is needed in this position.  Patrons of Halfway know that Gary will not always tell them what they want to hear, but his answers will always have the schools best interest in mind.  He has a way of dealing with patrons as well as teachers and administrators and everyone knows he will do his research and always do what is right.

A nominator shared that, “Early on in my career as a teacher, I was amazed at his level of involvement with his own children and his ability to “Do what is right for ALL kids,” in his role as a board member.  He has always been able to look at the ‘whole picture’ in education and not just the snapshots that are often provided to him by citizens of the district.  Through his leadership on the board, meetings are actually friendly, productive meetings without the drama associated with some other districts. 

Halfway R-III Schools provide amazing educational opportunities in well-kept facilities with excellent staff whose work relationships are more like family.  Thanks to the dedication and hard work of Gary Doke, makes him deserving of the honor as Missouri’s Outstanding Rural Board Member for the 2015-2016 school year.