Connie Crosby spends her days making sure that children who live in local homeless shelters are provided a pathway to a better life. From before sunrise to well past sunset, Crosby, who is affectionately known as “St. Connie” throughout Canyons District, works tirelessly to secure basic health, nutrition and educational needs for families who just need a little boost to break free of the cycle of poverty.

Not only does Crosby ensure that homeless students have backpacks, books, pencils, and clean clothes as they head to school, she’s relentless in arranging immunizations, doctor visits, vision testing – even the delivery of juice for diabetic students.

For these reasons, Crosby was honored on Monday, May 11, 2015 with the third-annual Canyons District Above and Beyond Award, which is presented yearly by the CSD school nurses to one person who has consistently gone the extra mile to help the nurses promote student health and safety.

“Many times it’s difficult to narrow down to just one person because so many people in our district go out of their way to help students and families,” said Martee Hawkins, the team lead for CSD school nurses. “But we didn’t have a hard time this year. It was a unanimous decision … (Crosby) is a true advocate for our students and an asset to Canyons School District.”

Crosby accepted the award at a ceremony in the Wasatch Room of the Canyons Administration Building. District administrators, including Superintendent Jim Briscoe and Assistant Superintendents Drs. Kathryn McCarrie and Bob Dowdle, as well as several principals who regularly work with Crosby, attended the award ceremony.

Crosby thanked the nurses for the honor and expressed appreciation for the District’s ongoing support in providing assistance to students who qualify for services under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act