The journey into education was unplanned, but in the end, everything came full circle.
Jay Staley wanted to pursue a career in banking and finance in the 1990s, but life led him in another direction.
“I started in banking and finance. I started coaching at Cascade (High School) and transitioned to the teaching program,” Staley said. “I fell in love with the kids.”
Staley, now the assistant superintendent of finance and operations for Clark-Pleasant Schools, is moving on to a new venture at Baker Tilley LLP, a public accounting and consulting firm with U.S. headquarters in Chicago but with an office on the northside of Indianapolis.
Staley has spent about half his life at Clark-Pleasant schools.
Although the district changed somewhat during his time there — the student body increased from about 2,200 to almost 7,000 students — he said the family atmosphere kept him from going elsewhere.
“Clark-Pleasant is a great school district; it’s very much a family atmosphere,” Staley said. “I can’t be more happy with the experiences I’ve been able to take on.”
Clark-Pleasant schools hired Staley in 1996 as a physical education and swimming teacher at Clark-Pleasant Middle School, where he served for three years. During the 1999-2000 school year, Staley got promoted to athletic director, and then served as principal of Clark-Pleasant Middle School until 2012, when he transitioned to the district’s central office. There, he served as the business office coordinator, in charge of personnel and state and federal grants.
In 2015, Staley was promoted to business director, and then in January became assistant superintendent of finance and operations, Staley said.
Staley was able to transition back to business and finance while still being at the school district via conversations with J.T. Coopman, Steve Sontag and Karen Canary, who were the superintendent, business director and treasurer at the time, respectively.
“They would time track meets when I was athletic director,” Staley said. “They opened my eyes to the world of school business. They encouraged me to follow that path and look into the school business world.”
During his time at Clark-Pleasant schools, Staley is most proud of serving as defensive coordinator in 1999 when the Whiteland Community High School team made the state semifinals, as well as overseeing the opening of Ray Crowe Elementary School, he said.
Despite Staley working in a wide variety of roles, each job always had the same goal, he said.
“First and foremost, it’s the kids, trying to give them opportunity possible to be successful as they come through school and then graduate,” Staley said. “(It’s also) working with staff and being able to support them and provide for what they need.”
Staley will finish his time at Clark-Pleasant at the end of December before transitioning to his role as a consultant and a director within the municipal services department for Baker Tilley. In that role, he will continue to work with schools throughout the state on their financial planning, he said.
Although his new job will keep him close to education, Staley will still miss his time at Clark-Pleasant, he said.
“I will miss the people, there’s great people here at Clark-Pleasant,” Staley said. “With day-to-day operations, I will stay connected to schools. I will continue what I enjoy doing, working with school business offices.”
