Plainfield Community School Corp. honors three retirees, recognizes April student award winners

Plainfield Community School Corp. opened its May 8, 2025, regular meeting with a recognition segment honoring three longtime employees who are retiring at the end of the school year and with student awards for the district’s April value of the month.

The retiree recognitions mattered to the meeting because the three honorees together represent decades of service to the district and were highlighted by board members and colleagues as part of the district’s year-end acknowledgements.

Miss Bell, acting presiding officer, said the district was “extremely happy” for the retirees and noted the group represents decades of service to Plainfield schools. The board recognized Kelly Jacobs, who Miss Bell said was the first person she hired 20 years ago and who worked as assistant principal, principal and most recently as an English teacher. In her remarks, Kelly Jacobs said, “I have loved every minute of it,” and noted she recently returned from a six-week medical leave and that a new granddaughter, born April 6, will take some of her time in retirement.

The board next recognized Marissa Donnell. According to remarks during the meeting, Donnell was hired as an assistant principal at the high school in 02/2010, served four years in that role and later became principal at Clarks Creek. The board thanked Donnell for her years of service and introduced a brief video in her honor.

Don Jones was honored for 40 years with the district. The board noted Jones spent 31 years as a teacher and the last nine years as the district’s athletic director. Jones told the board he began teaching after applying broadly to districts and called the last four decades at Plainfield “wonderful,” praising the leadership and colleagues he worked with.

The board also presented student recognitions for the district’s April value of the month, “respect for the environment.” Winners named at the meeting included students from Brentwood, Central, Clarks Creek, Guilford, Van Buren, the middle school and Plainfield High School. The board invited winners to come forward with their nominators and take photos with trustees.

The recognitions portion concluded with the board thanking the retirees and congratulating the student winners; board members and honorees then moved on to the regular business portion of the meeting.

Less-critical details: the board indicated the retirements collectively represent about 75 years of service to Plainfield schools and invited family members and colleagues to participate in the recognitions.