August 23, 2023
By BARTON HENLEY
Rutherford County Schools
The 2023-2024 school year marks year three of existence for Plainview Elementary School.
Principal, Dr. Mark Gonyea, continues to partner with his staff to work to establish a culture of excellence across every inch of the school.
“We want there to be collaboration across all levels at our school,” says Gonyea. “And we want kids to love learning and want to come back the next day.”
Gonyea says that is what success looks like to him: kids loving to learn and teachers loving their job.
“We want people to take pride in our school. We want parents to have a great experience partnering with our school.”
Dr. Gonyea wants the school culture to impact children and families.
“If parents had a negative experience in school, we want to change that and give their kids an incredible experience in school.”
Gonyea, who is in his 29th year of education, wants everyone who comes through the doors of Plainview Elementary to know that they are valued and loved.
Plainview has a unique school mascot, an otter, that most of the inside of the school is themed off of. For example, their auditorium is named the "Ottertorium."
Daily, as children enter the school premises through its front doors, they are greeted by one of the school's guiding principles and prompts to embody the idea of being "#OtterlyAwesome."
Being #OtterlyAwesome encompasses qualities such as showing kindness towards others, practicing forgiveness when wronged, and maintaining honesty while making commitments.
“This [slogan] is a reminder to our children, and our staff too, to be excellent in everything we do,” says Gonyea. “It’s a daily reminder for everyone, including myself.”