Connect Canyons
Learning is about making connections, and we invite you to learn and connect with us. Connect Canyons is a show about what we teach in Canyons District, how we teach, and why. We get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great: students, teachers, principals, parents, and more. We meet national experts, too. And we spotlight the “connection makers” — personalities, programs and prospects — we find compelling and inspiring.
Connect Canyons
Ep 86: Anchors Aweigh: Celebrating CSD Retirees as They Set Sail on Their New Adventures
Every retirement marks the end of an era, but also a time to reflect on the profound impact one's career can have. As we bid farewell to our Canyons School District retirees, we're especially privileged to share the story of Connie Crosby, a true cornerstone of our education family. Her role in establishing the McKinney-Vento program in Canyons School District has been nothing short of lifesaving, offering a beacon of hope to homeless students and ensuring their educational journey continues against all odds.
Join us in celebrating Connie's remarkable contribution—a journey that began with her own challenges and evolved into a lifelong mission to empower the youth she so passionately serves. This episode isn't just a farewell; it's a tribute to every member of our school system who's made a difference, a testament to how each role, no matter how seemingly small, contributes to the greater good of our children's future.
Welcome to Connect Canyons, a podcast sponsored by Canyons School District. This is a show about what we teach, how we teach and why we get up close and personal with some of the people who make our schools great Students, teachers, principals, parents and more. We meet national experts too. Learning is about making connections, so connect with us.
Speaker 2:This week we celebrate those members of our Canyons family who are retiring and starting the next chapter of their lives. We've heard many of their stories. Some always knew they wanted to work in education, others wound up teaching by chance, and still others simply wanted to try something new. As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise and teach thousands of children every year. Our district runs by the many hands who work in a variety of fields, whether teaching students, keeping them safe, or being the first person they see in the morning and sometimes the last person they see in the afternoon on the bus ride back home. Welcome to Connect Canyons. I'm your host, frances Cook.
Speaker 2:We wanted to highlight one of this year's retirees who is not only one of the first employees to be hired by the newly created Canyons District, but has been a staple in ensuring every student is cared for, whether that's a hot meal, a new pair of shoes or even a place to stay. For decades, connie Crosby has chosen to be an active member of that village and a voice for those who can't yet speak for themselves. We spoke with Connie about her work and, while she's the last person to brag about her accomplishments, her work has changed thousands of lives for the better. Many within the district even refer to her as St Connie. Her story is the perfect example of the dedication we see across the district and a way for us to say thank you to our retirees here's.
Speaker 3:Connie's story. I was hired in April of 2009 to start the McKinney-Vento program for Canyon School District and it's been an honor to do that. I've really enjoyed it. It was a lot of work starting a new program, but well worth it.
Speaker 2:Can you explain to me what the McKinney-Vento program is? Okay, so the McKinney-Vento program is Okay.
Speaker 3:So the McKinney-Vento program is federal law. It's been around since 1987. It says that each school district must have a liaison to help those children who experience homelessness, to be their liaison with the schools, with the courts, with housing, with many other resources, food, workforce services. So I liaison back and forth with those agencies, got to know some wonderful people, been able to do that, worked up to become I'm on the board of directors for the road home, enjoyed that Many opportunities to work with parents. I think my most successful thing though doing this is having the trust of the district, the board, the administrators and, most importantly, the trust of the parents that trust me with their kids every day to get them enrolled in school.
Speaker 2:It's a unique position to have and it's very needed. But what was your passion? What drew you to working with homeless and working with these students?
Speaker 3:I grew up in, I guess, what we'd call today a dysfunctional family. When I was a teenager, I left home. I was on the streets myself, so I had experienced that. So I really enjoy working with our unaccompanied youth that are on the streets because they can be successful Helping them get scholarships, helping them with FAFSA, helping them get in college or helping them find a career path. That's someone helped me. So what really turned my life around is I went to Bingham High and I had a school counselor who took me in, who mentored me, who said you can do this. She helped me get a scholarship to Southern Utah State University. That's where my college career began and I wanted to pay that back.
Speaker 2:What would you say is your biggest takeaway from your time working as a liaison?
Speaker 3:How resilient our children are. I work with children that have had a lot of traumatic things happen to them, and we work through it and they are so resilient and they have become very successful. Many of the children, too, that are experiencing homelessness are very, very bright.
Speaker 2:If, given the resources and the opportunities, they excel. It's what seems to me like what can be a very challenging, very rewarding but very challenging position to be in. In researching and watching some of the videos and reading some of the articles about the work that you've done, it's clear you're not in it for the paycheck, you're not in it for the pat on the back. Everyone already tells me you don't like the spotlight. I know what will you always remember.
Speaker 3:You know Pamela Atkinson's been my mentor. I don't know if you're familiar with her.
Speaker 2:Yes, I have met her?
Speaker 3:Yeah, so she's been my mentor. I don't know if you're familiar with her. Yes, I've met her. Yeah, so she's been my mentor, and one time, years and years ago probably over 25 years ago her and I were in a meeting together and I was really quiet and didn't say much. And then I pulled her aside after and said this is what the children are thinking. And she told me right then you need to stand up and be the voice for those children that don't have a voice. And that's kind of what's driven me, because, by nature, if you asked around here, they'd tell you I'm pretty outspoken, but I'm really not. But when it comes to advocating for children, I'm outspoken with the legislature, with the district, with whoever will hear, so that our children can be successful. That's what it's about, as you're speaking.
Speaker 2:I can see your eyes lighting up when you talk about the kids. You do not seem the type of person to me who, when you retire, you're just going to go sit on a beach and take up crocheting. What are your plans once?
Speaker 3:you retire, so I will remain on the Board of Trustees for the Road Home. I am going to do some advocacy with the legislature for our children. As you watched, our homeless funds were significantly kept by the legislature this year. I think that I will. My goal is to continue to be a voice for those in need who perhaps aren't in a position to have their own voice.
Speaker 2:How do you want the families that you've worked with your co-workers here, how do you want them to remember your time in education and your impact?
Speaker 3:I want them to know your time in education and your impact. I want them to know that they make a difference and that they're important and they can succeed. I'll talk to parents. Well, I was just talking this morning to a mom who's been in prison and she just got her daughter back at the road home and she said I've messed up my child's life. I know, because a police officer came in. This little girl just went to pieces because her recollection of a police officer's mom being arrested. And I said you know what, your daughter's resilient and so are you and you can do this. And then I have another student that was practically raised at the road home with his mom. She's in and out. We've housed her. There's some mental health issues. They're back at their own home. Nobody knows that. He's experiencing homelessness, has his whole life. He's getting a scholarship, he's an athlete, he's going to graduate, he's a straight-A student and I told him that's my payday.
Speaker 2:We want to thank Connie for sharing her story, and all of the retirees who sat down and spoke with us about their time working in education. They shared many memories the things that they will carry with them, and the common theme in all of their stories was they wanted to be remembered as someone who cared. Thank you to all of our Canyons retirees for all of your years of dedication and hard work and compassion for our students. You will be missed. If there's a topic you would like to hear discussed on Connect Canyons, send us an email to communications at canyonsdistrictorg.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to this episode of Connect Canyons. Connect with us on Twitter, facebook or Instagram at Canyons District or on our website, canyonsdistrictorg. No-transcript. No-transcript.
