Jeanette Adolf has missed very few days of work the past 30 years.
She rarely gets sick, and she lives close enough to KinderCare Learning Center that she's even made it there in a blizzard.
Friday is Adolf's last day at the day care. Although she said she isn't ready to fully retire, it is time to move on.
“To enjoy life a little more … to have more time,” Adolf said about her decision. She has accepted a job as a nanny.
For most of her 30 years at KinderCare, Adolf has worked with the 3-year-olds. She said she likes all ages of children, but she's the most “in-tune” with the 3-year-olds, she said.
Also, for most of her time there, she has opened the building in the mornings and prepared it for the day. She greets the parents and the children when they arrive.
“The hugs, the smiles, you just get so much love here,” she said.
Adolf has stayed in touch over the years with several families whose children attended KinderCare. She has attended high school graduations of some of her students. Others have returned to the center to work on staff.
She is a close friend of KinderCare's director of nearly 20 years, Deb Jennerman.
“I've made so many friendships over the years,” Adolf said.
She is looking forward to seeing people who she hasn't seen in a long time at her going-away party Friday.
Adolf started working at KinderCare Learning Center when her twin daughters were entering junior high school. She lives nearby and thought she would apply. She wasn't confident she'd get the job, but she was confident she'd like it if she did.
“I've just always enjoyed working with kids,” she said.
Adolf's favorite daily activities are story time and singing with the children.
“This is a very busy job, but it is so rewarding,” she said.
Jennerman, like Adolf, struggled to hold back the tears as they realized Adolf's last day was just around the corner. Not only is Adolf a good friend, she's been a solid member of the staff for 30 years and is a genuinely kind person, Jennerman said.
“She's calm, she's patient, she's considerate, she cares,” Jennerman said. “She takes really good care of her classroom.”
She said children need consistency, they need to see a familiar face every day, and Miss Jeanette, as the kids know her, provides that consistency.
“I'm gonna miss Jeanette very, very, very much,” Jennerman said.
Anyone who has known Miss Jeanette is welcome to attend the party Friday at noon at KinderCare Learning Center, 2007 Smith Road.
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