Today we thank the people who keep our school functioning smoothly, and cleanly – our lovely custodians – for Custodian Appreciation Day! In every school there is someone who takes care of the mess made in the lunchroom or picks up the garbage left in the parking lots, and a lot of times they go unrecognized or unappreciated, however, custodians do much more than that; making sure that every appliance is up to date and that students are able to focus on their schoolwork. I had the pleasure of interviewing two custodians in Granite School District, aiming to tell their story, and tell other people about who is working every day to keep their schools running.

The head custodian at Olympus High School, Coulton Ford, has been a custodian since he was fourteen years old, and works alongside others in the janitorial staff at Olympus. Many days are very hectic, and most likely will not be the same as the last, each bringing new challenges and opportunities, but talking to, and having relationships with a student is something that can make the job even more interesting. Off campus he engages in Paintball Competitions that have taken him all over the world, like to Russia, Germany, and France! Coulton said that one thing that people can do to lessen the load and show their respect and appreciation towards janitors at any school would be to be respectful of the amenities that the school provides, as sometimes they can be difficult to replace in a timely manner, and to notice the work that the custodians put in for the school.

Andrew Cleveland, the head custodian at Driggs Elementary, was also able to give me his day-to-day schedule. He has been a custodian at Driggs for almost 5 years, and loves the relationships and stories that the kids tell, as well as working with teenagers who get their first job as janitors, teaching them the valuable skills needed to work. He loves the mountains and hiking, and is also an active member of his church. One thing is the same, and that is that nothing is – everyday is different! But, to prepare for the unexpected, Andrew told me how he gets to the school around 6:30 to disarm the alarms and start his day. Some days he scrubs the hallways, or inspects areas from the night staff and checks the cameras. Once the school day starts, he goes about setting up the lunch room, fulfilling teacher requests, checking emails, and then returning to clean up the lunchroom.

Having the opportunity to talk with both these amazing custodians told me one main thing, and that is that appreciation is one huge key to respect! Noticing that the school doesn’t stay clean without this essential staff, and that they put so much time and effort into keeping the school safe and clean is the biggest thing that a student or staff member at any school could do to show their acknowledgement and respect towards a custodian. So, for Custodian Appreciation Day, on October 2nd, look around your school or workplace and notice the work that your custodians put in to make the environment more pleasing and accessible, and appreciate it.