Custodians are often the first ones in and the last ones out. We get to school before most of you have even hit your REM cycle, and we’re still here long after the student laughter has faded and the staff lug home their three bags of “homework.” We fix what breaks, mop what spills, clear what clutters, shovel what piles up and somehow keep the wheels from completely falling off.
But being a custodian is more than a mop and a ring of keys.
A custodian is someone who knows more than they say and sees more than you realize. We are caretakers of more than a building: We’re caretakers of memories, safety and spaces where children learn, play and grow.
We notice when a student is struggling, when a teacher could use a hand, when the playground has uninvited flying guests that make recess an adventure or when the sidewalk is too slick for little shoes. Schools may be built with bricks and beams, but they stand because so many people care — and custodians care deeply.
So on this National Kiss — sorry — Custodial Workers Recognition Day, thank you for letting us do what we love. And if you see one of us in the hallway today, don’t worry — a smile or quick wink is all we need.
Mark Glende, of Rosemount, is a school custodian.
