Craig Junkermeier and Laryssa Schulze
Lead Custodian and Student Support Specialist at Plymouth Creek Elementary
Plymouth Creek Elementary is proud to recommend Craig Junkermeier and Larysa Schulze as Wayzata Public Schools' February Employees of the Month. Craig is the lead custodian and Laryssa is a student support specialist at Plymouth Creek.
As lead custodian at Plymouth Creek Elementary, Craig Junkermeier takes pride in the way he serves and maintains the building, from ensuring visitors and staff enter and exit the building safely during the winter months, to keeping the inside spaces impeccably clean. Craig is accessible throughout the day, is an excellent communicator, and works hard to build relationships with the adults in the building. One of the best things about Craig is the way he engages with students. Craig has assumed the role of the building's mascot, Shadow the Panther. While in costume, he has been known to greet students in the morning with high- fives, handshakes, and the occasional push-up contest. He shows up at the Fun Run, the Book Fair, school assemblies, and in the hallways “just because.” Preschool students look forward to Craig riding the scrubber through the hallways and waving to them when he rides by their classroom.
A colleague shared the following: “Craig spends time in the cafeteria during lunch. He greets the kids and has even taken the time to point out specific student needs to me as he sees them in the cafeteria - above and beyond his 'required' expectations.” Another staff member said, “Craig maintains our Plymouth Creek School with a magical touch. Our school is well kept and maintained both indoors and outdoors. It is a welcoming school due to its cleanliness and well-kept equipment. Craig is always checking in to make sure folks receive what they need in an efficient manner.”
Student support specialists, Larysa Schulze, also provides a similar level of service to staff, students, and families at Plymouth Creek Elementary.
Larysa exudes warmth and empathy wherever she goes. She is able to identify the needs of individuals with whom she spends time and works tirelessly to meet those needs in school-appropriate ways. She provides a safe space for struggling students and teaches tools and strategies for students to reach a variety of goals. Larysa works with members of the staff to support classrooms and provide professional development. Most recently, she took on the role of managing the building while the principal was out on leave. She was able to continue her duties while adding on the roles of staff support and professional development, scheduling, managing safety drills, and the day-to-day problem-solving that comes with an administrative role. She lives and breathes Plymouth Creek’s intended legacy of “Love them first” while she leads the restitution work we are doing for students.
One colleague shared, “Please mention Larysa's stamina and perseverance! She was 'Wonder Woman' while you were out on leave: keeping the office running smoothly, leading staff, supporting students and staff, making copies... if it needed to be done, she was there. She continues this dedication every day.” Another shared, “Larysa is a nurturing teacher who goes above and beyond to reach out to each and every student at their level to provide effective and culturally responsive teaching. She not only values students’ strengths but also acknowledges their weaknesses in an asset-based framework. Families, students, and staff are lucky to have her positive energy at Plymouth Creek.”