Supported by over 40 years of professional experience, Patricia Gakstatter is recognized as a leader in the field of education. Now retired, she excelled as an educator for Armada Area Schools from 1987 until her retirement in 2008. Earlier in her career, she thrived as an elementary school teacher throughout the states of Michigan and Illinois, having first entered the education industry in 1963 as a first-grade teacher. Ms. Gakstatter was ultimately inspired to enter her field by her mother, Theresa, who also worked in the academic arena.
Adjacent to her endeavors in academia, Ms. Gakstatter has served as a business leader for Shaklee since 2008. Likewise, she is a co-founder of Project CARE, a nonprofit initiative that provides food and necessary resources to struggling families, including clothing during the cold weather seasons. Having co-founded the nonprofit with her superintendent, Ms. Gakstatter is especially proud of her involvement in the initiative, as she has always been driven by the desire to provide every child with free meals during school. Over the course of the nonprofit’s existence, it has provided several services to families in need, such as ensuring that graduating high school seniors have yearbooks to preserve their high school memories.
To prepare for her career, Ms. Gakstatter pursued an education at Siena Heights University, receiving a bachelor’s degree in elementary education. She subsequently graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a master’s degree in reading education. Outside of her primary efforts, Ms. Gakstatter maintains an active affiliation with the Armada Historical Society and the core committee of Community Heart & Soul. Furthermore, in light of her achievements, she was honored as the Elementary School Teacher of the Year.
In the coming years, Ms. Gakstatter intends to continue helping others through her endeavors as a Shaklee business leader, noting that the company’s nutritional supplements have improved the quality of life of thousands of individuals across the nation. Married for nearly 50 years to Charles “David” Gakstatter, Ms. Gakstatter has two children and one granddaughter.