Behind the classrooms, the buses, the bell schedules, and the daily rhythm of Monmouth-Roseville Schools is work that rarely draws attention but makes everything else possible. In the district office, Carol Winston, Deena Neal, and Shelly Smith spend their days navigating numbers, timelines, reports, and regulations with precision and care—ensuring that the complex machinery of a public school system runs smoothly for students, families, and staff alike.

Carol Winston's connection to the district stretches back more than two decades. She began in 1999 as a school secretary, immersed in the daily bustle of hallways filled with students and teachers. Nine years later, she moved to the district office for payroll and human resources—a role she has now held for 18 years. In that time, she has become one of the first faces new employees meet, guiding them through paperwork, background checks, and benefits.

After years surrounded by the energy of school buildings, the district office took adjustment. "It was like, so quiet," Carol says, "busy, but quiet." Her work quickly revealed its importance. Payroll is personal—the assurance that people who dedicate their lives to students are supported in return. As Carol prepares for retirement at the end of this school year, she reflects on nearly 27 years of service marked by historic moments, institutional change, and countless individual connections. What lies ahead is time for travel, family, and a two-year-old granddaughter in Chicago.

Deena Neal's path into education began in the classroom. She joined the district more than 21 years ago as an instructional aide, working with kindergarten and first-grade students and witnessing the growth that unfolds over a single school year. Later, she transitioned to the high school as the principal's secretary. Six years ago, Deena stepped into her current role as district data coordinator and registrar, managing state reporting, student records, and transcripts.

Her work lives largely behind the scenes, but its scope is vast. From registration data to compliance reporting, Deena manages systems that ensure accuracy, accountability, and continuity. She works closely with building secretaries across the district, reinforcing that details matter—because they affect real students and real families. "Family first, always," she tells the secretaries she works with. It's more than personal philosophy—it's leadership practice. All four of her children graduated from Monmouth-Roseville, and she still keeps scorebooks for the basketball team, maintaining her connection to students beyond office walls.

Shelly Smith brings a different but complementary background to the team. She joined the district in 2014 after working in accounting at a church and an architectural firm. Education was new territory, but she knew almost immediately she had found the right fit. As district bookkeeper, Shelly manages fund accounting, tracks state and federal grants, and ensures that financial resources are used exactly as intended. She also serves as board secretary support, helping prepare reports and maintain continuity between board meetings and district operations.

Shelly describes the difference as night and day. "I had never worked for an employer quite like this," she says. The family-oriented culture opened her eyes to what work could be. That philosophy, they emphasize, is supported from the top. "Mr. Fletcher is incredible," Shelly says. The family-oriented culture isn't just rhetoric—it's lived daily.

Together, Carol, Deena, and Shelly form a tightly connected team. Their offices sit just feet apart, and their work is deeply interdependent. Payroll, budgeting, reporting, and compliance intersect daily, requiring trust, communication, and shared problem-solving. They celebrate milestones together, including an annual tradition each September marking the successful close of one school year and the beginning of the next.

As Carol prepares to step away, the team struggles to accept what's coming. "We're still not admitting it," Deena says quietly. Roles can be filled, but chemistry takes time. Still, there is confidence in the foundation they have built together—a foundation defined by professionalism, mutual respect, and shared commitment to serving Monmouth-Roseville Schools.

Their work may not unfold in classrooms, but its impact is felt there every day. In the quiet efficiency of the district office, these three women have helped ensure that teachers can teach, students can learn, and a community can continue to trust the system that supports its children.