Photo Credit: Courtesy of NAYS
Kim Turner loved competing in track during her high-school days. She thoroughly enjoyed being a member of the school’s cheerleading squad, too. But her favorite memories—the ones that still resonate and are powerful enough to put a smile on her face decades later—are from her days as a youth-sports participant. And those memories have made a defining difference in how she handles the challenge-filled position of director of New Kent County Parks and Recreation in Virginia.
“My best memories were from recreation-youth softball,” says Turner, a member of the department since 2006 and its director for more than 3 years. “My mom was one of my coaches. In my job, it has encouraged me to look at the impact of parent-child relationships and creating a positive environment for both of them.”
Turner shares her thoughts on the rewards and challenges that accompany the position of providing an array of programs for kids ranging from pre-school to 15 years old.