Teacher and Staff Appreciation Spotlight | Laura, Gayla and Jeanine Orchard's Business Office

Parents' Association interview with The Orchard School’s Business Office team. Get to know a little bit more about Gayla Williams, Chief Accountant; Laura Miller, Financial Analyst and Jeanine Lansing, Office Services Coordinator.

What is your role at the Orchard School?
Gayla: All accounts receivable - I work closely with our tuition management company and parents. I used to do all the billing and now I have to ensure that all the billing is correct, I’m also Audit Liaison - we have two audits a year. I do most of the posting into the general ledger, all the fixed assets (everything that comes into the building!). I audit payroll, do the financial reporting for the Parents’ Association (PA)  which involves five different departments and work on any special projects that Courtney assigns. There is overlap between us but I collect the money, Jenine pays all the bills, and Laura is a wiz at financial analysis.

Laura: I primarily do financial reporting and analysis - gathering and analyzing data, helping out with the budget and forecast, and any other projects as assigned.

Jeanine: I process all invoices, pay all the bills, work with the PA with all their invoices and payables, reconciling accounts, and special projects.

How long have you been at the Orchard School?
Gayla: Ten years.

Laura: This is my second year. I came in August 2016.

Jeanine: I started January 8th. So two months!

What made you choose the Orchard School?
Gayla: I have an accounting degree and over thirty years of experience in the financial sector - IBM, Xerox.. I’ve been doing this for a minute! At the beginning of my career I worked for a nonprofit and realized after working with the for-profit sector for many years I had enough - you don’t make as much money [in the nonprofit arena] but you get fulfillment. This position was part time and my husband was traveling a lot [educational consultant]. I loved his interaction with kids and teachers - all for producing better human beings. I thought - haha! I would love to do that. My first month here I had to get used to kids running around. One of the joys of my life was kindergarten recess duty. I think everyone should be able to spend an hour with five year olds. I remember a  7th grader now when she was five she asked me “Why do you wear so much black?’ I thought about that and started to add more colors. Being with the children gives me an appreciation and empathy for the teachers and the work that they do.

Laura: I’ve always worked with nonprofits and having a flexible part time schedule is perfect. It took me fifteen years to find the perfect work/life balance but I’ve finally found it!

Jeanine: I have four children so I love being around children. I felt that I could have a good work/life balance [at The Orchard School]. I came from a title insurance firm working fourteen hours a day and I needed the balance.

Gayla: Only Courtney (Orchard’s CFO) is full time. The business office has always been tiny. When I came there were two full time and one part time. We are all [Gayla, Laura and Jeanine] part time now. It’s a lot of work but we get quite a bit done. We run very lean but tight and clean!

Could you all share a little about yourselves with the Orchard community?
Gayla: I’m originally from Atlanta, Georgia. My husband Chris Chalker and I moved to Indiana after the 1996 Olympics because of his job. We spend a lot of time with family and friends. I read and volunteer. I like to travel - no kids, no pets! I hope to leave this place better than we found it. I try to have a whole functioning life.

Laura: I’m from South Bend, I went to Purdue University. My husband Mike and I moved to Indianapolis after Purdue. We live in Noblesville and have an almost sixteen year old son Mark (named after my husband’s grandfather). I love to travel anywhere. We recently purchased a camper - we’ve camped down at the Indy 500. I’ve fallen in love with working out - I try to get there[Monon Community Center] four or five times a week and I feel fantastic. I’ve discovered PiYo [pilates and yoga] and I love it! Family time - we have a family dinner almost every week. That balance is so important.

Jeanine: My husband Tom and I have four girls - Catherine, Courtney, Allison and Emily. We are big proponents of private education. Our youngest graduates from Cathedral [High School] in May and our third Allison graduates from Purdue in May with a degree in Mass Communications. Our oldest works at Accenture in Chicago  - she’s a digital analytic manager and our second daughter is working on her doctorate in Audiology at the University of Iowa. All our girls went to Purdue and Emily is about to go there. I was hoping for a Wildcat as Tom and I went there but… I like to entertain, to be with the girls - the gift of time with them is very important to me. I like to cook, go out to eat, play golf occasionally. Being a mom is my favorite thing. I’m originally from Paducah, Kentucky but we’ve been in Indiana for thirty-three years.

What is your superpower?
Gayla: I think it’s compassion. The ability to be empathetic. People see me and they might think - really?...but it is.

Laura: Being highly organized  - that helps me with being able to notice trends. I like working with numbers  and data so for me it’s easy to see the trends. I make spreadsheets for everything! Vacations….I analyze data for fun. My son is in music at Noblesville High - Jazz Band, Marching Band, Pep Band and Percussion Ensemble - I have a spreadsheet for their {percussion ensemble] competition team!

Jeanine: Probably kindness and making everyone feel like they’re the most important thing when I’m talking to them.

Gayla as you’ve been here the longest - what is your view of Orchard?
Gayla: Things are changing constantly. Orchard is a private progressive school and we are steeped in tradition. We try to stay fluid and progressive so things keep changing. That’s the beauty of Orchard - we try to get better. Courtney is big on intentional spending - getting back to thinking about the mission. We try to ensure that kids get quality education.

Letter Boxes are located in the Center; next to the Elementary School Art Room; in the Early Childhood hallway; and near the Middle School Administrative Office. Now you can drop off your letters of appreciation to all of your favorite SUPERHEROES disguised as teachers, administration, maintenance, cafeteria staff, and Kids Connect staff. Letters will be delivered during Teacher and Staff Appreciation Week, March 12-16.


Click here to read the previous Teacher and Staff Appreciation spotlight.
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  • Barbara White
    Enjoyed your article.working in harmony & enjoying circumstances lends itself to inner joy & work production. Blessings.