“She consistently goes the extra mile to not only exceed her duties as site coordinator, but also to offer extra support to Adventure’s Plus staff and students.” - Kacey Joslin, Anoka-Hennepin staff member.
Supervising 18 staff members and more than 200 students outside of regular school hours is a big job, but Corinna Nunnery, a site coordinator with the Adventures Plus school-age child care program at Oxbow Creek Elementary, is dedicated to providing students and staff with the support they need to be successful.
“She frequently plans events to bolster our moods, providing food and prizes at her expense,” said Kacey Joslin, the staff member who nominated Nunnery. “She also does frequent check-ins and finds resources to help her staff solve problems.”
“My staff is special,” said Nunnery. “I want them to grow and stay with the program.”
Nunnery has worked with the Adventures Plus program for 15 years, first as a child care assistant and site leader, before moving into her current role. Staff members say Nunnery’s door is always open. She sacrifices her time and reprioritizes her responsibilities to allow for student interaction.
“There are countless examples of her constantly carving out time in her extremely busy day to offer a listening ear, going beyond her duties as a site coordinator to give a student the one-on-one attention they need,” Joslin said. “For example, she created a space in her office for a student who loves the Titanic to build a giant replica or to curl up under a blanket when he is overwhelmed.”
In an effort to support student well-being, she created an open panel for students called “Kids Voice” so the students in the program can develop confidence and share their ideas to make Adventures Plus even better.
“Students leave the program space feeling that they were heard and knowing they can count on us,” Nunnery said. “The same goes for my staff. To listen and help is why I’m here.”
The 2024 Above & Beyond Awards ceremony to honor Nunnery and 14 other exceptional employees will take place April 3 at the Educational Service Center (ESC).
