Justus Gage volunteer Donna Klimczak ran a daycare out of her home until she was 63 years old.  When she retired, she knew she had more to give. 

“I was just born to work with kids.  I just like everything about them,” Klimczak said.

Klimczak has been active at Justus Gage for the last nine years and “Coach K” for the fourth and fifth grade spelling teams for the last three. Her help includes spelling tips and treats for correct answers. 

“If someone gets a word wrong, she gives the rest of the team a chance to spell it,” said fifth grader Cameron White.

“She’s just really nice and fun to work with,” said fifth grader Emily Hunt.

Klimczak has been a fixture during Justus Gage events like field trips and field days in addition to her classroom contributions. She finds great satisfaction in the “light bulb” moment she often sees in class but cannot identify one age level or thing she likes best about volunteering. 

“I just like everything,” she said.

“Donna is such a blessing for our JGage student body.  She truly cares about every interaction she has with a student.  She understands how impactful student/adult interaction is toward the success of each child but she needs to give herself more credit for the lasting impression she leaves,” said Justus Gage Principal Bryan Henry.

Justus Gage Elementary Staff