Gayle Haab Named 2025 Jan Jones Service Award recipient

Gayle Haab is a shining example of serving students and education through volunteer service. We were so happy to present her as the 2025 Jan Jones Service Award recipient at the banquet!

Gayle’s efforts have significantly contributed to inspiring growth and success of our community, both inside and outside the classroom through several avenues. She is chair of the education committee, co-chair of the finance committee and has served on the co-curricular committee of the Hononegah School Board. She has been president of board of directors of the Winnebago County Retired Teachers Association since 2020, with over 400 members. Gayle and her board plan events and keep members apprised of critical information through newsletters. The WCRTA also does altruistic projects for the community at large. She and her team packed more than 8,000 meals in one shift for the Kids Around the World program. The WCRTA provides scholarships for aspiring teachers and celebrates new retirees from Winnebago county. Golden Apple teacher award recipients are invited to attend the celebration to share advice and wisdom with future educators. Gayle serves on the Illinois Retired Teachers Association Board of Directors which has over 40,000 members. She also serves as the IRTA Region 1 Director where she presides over six counties. Gayle has served as co-president on the Alpha Delta Kappa board and continues to serve on the board. Gayle has taught every grade level from K-12 in her 35 years of teaching! She taught art and physical education in the Kinnikinnick District (KSD), coached volleyball, and started the track program at Roscoe Middle School. In retirement, she volunteered at the North Suburban Library with the KSD art department to teach art lessons and make projects with elementary through high school students. Gayle has been a VetsRoll volunteer since 2016. She is one of 170 assistants who transport 220 veteran on 10 coach buses to Washington D.C. She helps with fundraising throughout the year to provide an all-expense paid trip for senior veterans. She co-chairs the student volunteer program for high school students to assist the veterans. She provides the training and mentoring program for students so they can help veterans in wheelchairs and be their companion throughout the trip. These students gain so much from this experience! Gayle has also been a junior leader for the North Main Rustlers 4-H Club for more than 25 years. 4-H organizations teach members that they have an important role in making the community a better place to live. Gayle is an excellent mentor to students in and out of the classroom as well as their teachers who shared that they love her advice, expertise and humor.