School custodians are the invisible and often unsung heroes of education, and no school would be able to survive without them.
In schools across the country, custodians do more than keep campuses clean. Earlier this year, for example, Andy Markus, a custodian in Utah, was named the National Education Support Professional of the Year by the National Education Association for his mentoring, which has improved students’ behavior and academic engagement.
And when custodians stay at a school for years, they develop expertise and institutional knowledge that can be invaluable, school leaders say. But often, schools face problems with keeping these employees, in part due to low pay.
According to Zip Recruiter, the median average salary for most custodians is around $35,000 annually. That's not a lot, particularly if one has a family and lives in or around a high-rent district. So, when the students in a Richardson, TX, high school discovered that their trusted and beloved custodian was suffering from an extended illness, this North Dallas County community went above and beyond to help him get back on his feet.
The power of consistent influence is the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson, TX swimmers organize a swim-a-thon to benefit beloved custodian.
The power of community led to something good for a school custodian at J.J. Pearce High School in Richardson ISD.
The swim team learned their custodian, Mr. Le, was sick. He'd been out for eight weeks with a healthcare issue. And, the teenagers wanted to help. In a week, they organized a swim-a-thon to raise money for him.
Despite the depictions of nefarious or drunken custodians in television and film, this position really does (and should) command respect. Just like administrative and teaching staff, custodians are highly vetted and staffed by trustworthy individuals who probably do a better job watching over your children than the principal and some of the teachers. As Mr. Le's story shows, they also tend to have a great relationship with the student body. So much so that the students of J.J. Pearce immediately sprang into action for Mr. Le in a most innovative fashion. That's a powerful testament not just to the caliber of Mr. Le, but the caliber of the students who populate the school. (emphasis added)
More of the Feels: Feel-Good Friday: North Carolina HS Students Build Tiny Homes to Restore Their Community After Hurricane
See It: University Students Brave Brutal Temps to Build Spectacular Ice Chapel, Celebrate Candlemas
For more than an hour on January 16, students swam non-stop, logging more than 4,000 meters, with every lap dedicated to helping their beloved custodian, who was always there for them with a smile and a high-five.
At the end of the swim-a-thon, Mr. Le arrived at the natatorium for a huge surprise. They'd raised more than $17,000!
And there was more. Coach Eric Ewing shared the good news that they'd also gotten Mr. Le a new car and bike to help him get to work.
He'd been walking or biking an hour each way to get to work.
Mr. Le is blessed not just in the generosity of the gifts, but in the love and respect of the students, and the supportive embrace of the school community. You can't put a price tag on that.
WATCH:
Editor's Note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what's good in the world, with columns like "Feel-Good Friday," "Start Your Weekend Right," and "Hoge's Heroes."
Support our work! Join RedState VIP and use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member