From A Proud Custodian
Submitted by Allen Gwinn on Fri, 07/18/2008 - 16:43.
We received this, originally, as an anonymous comment. I felt it was worthy of posting on the front page:
My mother is a retired teacher 1969-2007. She was one of the first 13 Hispanics to force her way into the DISD "good ole boy system."
Being a Hispanic male my mother has many times asked me why I would not consider being a teacher. She says, "The young Hispanics today do not have enough positive role models mijo". "You have a way with explaining the most complex things so that even closed young minds can comprehend."
Well Mom, I always respond, first of all I love my job. I love to clean the school and make a clean safe environment for the kids to learn in. Would you want your kids getting sick? When you make a school beautiful and inviting there is no question about job satisfaction. The crew has pride when a school is clean. Thus I am happy being a custodian. The schools I have cleaned smell good and are bright and clean. The rest rooms are disinfected daily and do not smell. Students like what they see and show pride.
The I tell her, "Mom you know, after seeing the long extended hours teachers put in without pay, because they are salaried. The look in the eyes (despair) of struggling new teachers like "what I have gotten myself into."
I tell them do not quit. If you can make it the first 3 years you make it. The lack gratitude and pay that teachers get for all the long hours of paper work and learning new teaching systems they have to learn every time a new Super come to town.
"You could not pay me enough money to be a teacher." My mother would some times look at me and say, "I could have made so much more income with my Masters from SMU than what I did."
I respond: "Mom just remember you became a teacher to make a difference in the lives of these kids so that one day maybe they could maybe save the world from its own indifference."
Some how this makes her feel better.
I may be seen as a lowly janitor in some eyes but I know the kids respect me because they know I am here for them. Who do you think gives the children lunch money, when their parents forget, so they do not have to eat peanut butter sandwiches. Or tells them to wash their hands. Or digs out money or other items out of the trash when they throw it away by accident.
Maybe I should just join the U.S. Army and go off to fight in the war.
[Ed Note: Sir, you do more than honor the title of "janitor." I am extremely honored and humbled to be reminded, by you, that there are folks like you who are committed to doing what are perceived by some to be insignificant jobs in the District--and who truly make a difference in the lives of others doing it. In many cases, it means the difference between a student who drops out, versus a student who sticks with it and graduates.
Please never believe yourself to be "lowly" or insignificant. Please stay in DISD and keep doing what you're doing. There are some students who, 20 years from now, won't remember who taught them math. But they'll remember you.
What a great testimonial! Thanks for sharing.]
To Our Custodians
I love this quote and you can substitute the word "custodian" for the word streetsweeper if you like.
Thanks!
Thank you for the important service you provide to our students. I am proud to be a member of an organization that includes both teachers and support personnel (Alliance AFT). I was proud to march around the administration building with security personnel, teacher assistants, office managers, administrative assistants, custodians and teachers. I will continue to wear black tape around my district name badge to show my support for our hard working support personnel. I am ashamed that my district continues to ignore the thousands of hardworking people who don't bear the title teacher, yet impact students in very meaningful and real ways. Don't underestimate your importance. What success we have in the classroom begins with you. You may be left out when it comes to raises, stipends and bonuses, but some of us know how important you are, even if the current administration doesn't.
[Ed Note: One of these days, maybe I'll tell about the janitor at my high school, along with the crossing guard, and the impact they had on my life as a kid.]
Custodians needed
Whenever I see a custodian working, I think of the Jimmy Buffett song, "It's My Job." No matter your job, always give it your best.
You can tell how important a person/job is by how long it takes for us to notice oif they aren't in the building. If teachers don't show up, it is immediate. Right after them, the cafeteria people and the custodians.
Phones can go unanswered, and forms not filled out. But no classes being taught or rooms being cleaned--that is important.
Actually, ALL of our jobs are important. I just think that sometimes, myself included, get wrapped around the axle about who is in charge, when we all know that the school keeps going on, no matter who our boss is. As long as we are there for the kids, doesn't matter if we push chalk or a broom.
Backbone of the School
I love this post. It reminds me of what I was taught by my family--most of whom were classroom teachers-- long ago:
The custodians and teachers' assistants and other support personnel (bus drivers included) are the backbone of the schools' employees. Never forget them and how important they are to making sure you can do your job every day. Respect them and make sure they know you appreciate them. They are the first people your students' see every day. They feed them and watch over them. They make sure your room is clean and ready. They bring them to school and then take them home. They are so important.
That is why is so very disappointing that the board and the downtown administrators (you know who you are) couldn't find a way to give them a raise. Many of these employees struggle to make ends meet. I personally know of at least five who work second jobs. Yet they put their kids through college and pay for beautiful weddings and genuinely love what they do and don't spend time complaining about how they are mistreated.
I salute all of those who choose to work in their conditions. I admire their work and their dedication even when they aren't paid enough or treated with the respect and dignity they so richly deserve.
I am honored to call them my colleagues and my friends.
Thank you for all you do for the students and for me. I am grateful.
Custodial Staff
I COMPLETELY AGREE!!!
I am from a teaching family. I am proud to say that I disappointed my mother by going into education as well. (She wanted me to do anything but teach because it is so difficult to make ends meet. I couldn't pass up the opportunity to be a rebel again).
Anyway, one of the most important things that she taught me is to realize who actually "runs" the school. The first person you make friends with is the office manager. She is the person who is "the keeper of the knowledge". She will be able to get you answers and make things happen much faster than the principal.
The second person you seek as your new best friend is the custodian. She is the "keeper of the keys" and will help you in times of GREAT need!!!
As I add to my years of service, I remember my mother, her words and her actions. Not only was she a friend to all but she would never ask anyone to do anything that she wouldn't do herself. I see teachers spill their own drinks and instead of cleaning up their own mess, they call the custodian. I have seen teachers snap and point rather than speak to convey a message. The custodial staff is not here to be the personal assistant to each teacher and student. If you make a mess and are able, clean it up or ask for the necessary supplies to do so. Never ask someone to do what you are not willing to do yourself. Model this for students. Have you ever seen a middle school cafeteria when ketchup is part of the lunch? Open packet, throw top on floor, squeeze packet on food, squeeze remainder on table, throw empty packet on table or floor. They don't care, someone else is there to clean up the mess they have made.
The custodial staff does so much more than prepare the building for learning. I have seen students talk to the custodians about problems that they will not talk about with anyone else. I have seen special education students work harder than they ever have just for the opportunity to work with the custodian for an hour.
Thank your custodian for everything they do by not taking them for granted.
Custodian
Course they are with the rest of us...no raises no matter how hard you work.
But he makes an excellent point.
Just the Facts
The money may not be there to give raises. Schools work for the public and when the public is broke, well, there is no extra money to pay folks, no matter how much they deserve it. Please do not work less hard, is it working for the money of for the hugs?
Back To School Kick Off
Who the heck is paying for that stupid "Back to School Kick-off" that we all have to go to in August at the American Airlines Center? I bet if they weren't waisting money on stupid crap like that there'd be enough to give everyone a raise.
[Ed Note: The Texas Public Information Act is your friend!]
Kick Off with a Kick!
I applaud the bravery of Dr. Hinajosa. I really do.
Cannot find money for a teacher raise (spending it on Broad hires.)
Dismisses Spruce teachers via answering machine.
Comes up with this incredible new grading policy and passes it through tame Board.
And he is still going to the AAC to stand up in front of thousands of teachers to expound on his visions and goals?
No wonder central admin. gets to watch it on TV in their offices where it is safe from thrown vegetables and epithets.
Public Information
While the access to records seems like a good thing, I have noticed that the district picks what they want you to have and keeps the rest hidden. I have requested MANY records and not only do they not respond with all the information, they don't respond in a timely manner either. I can assure you that if YOU don't meet their timeframe, it's a problem but, when THEY don't meet the time allotted, they make excuses and still withhold information.
So, if you are trying to get any information from the district, be prepared to only get what they want you to see.
[Ed Note: You know, you can call the Attorney General's Open Records Hotline and work with them. They will call the District and ensure that you're getting what you requested.]
Low Pay
Considering a sub custodian makes just $6.50 an hour, is why the district has a high turn over rate, thus workers who do not care. The average custodian makes $10.89 an hour and do not even ask what the cafeteria workers make. Sorry but hugs do not put food on the table. There are a lot of illegal workers who get jobs making $12.00 an hour. Now if there was not a strict code of requirements such as clean record etc... Then I could understand. But who do you want in the same building with the children?
Let Administrators Get Hugs Instead
You can't be serious. While all of us went into public service for the right reason, support personnel deserve pay raises just like the rest of the staff.
In fact before I wrote my reply I went to the local gas station, filled up my gas tank, and then offered them the same amount I paid for last year and a hug. For some reason they wanted the $30 difference in lieu of the hug.
Lets pay the central administrators 300k while the support staff get screwed again.
Working for Hugs
If the custodians should work for hugs in an economy where inflation hit 1% in just the month of June, I suggest the entire central administration try the same approach.
DISD is not a paltry living for those at the top. Where most children live, the efforts of the custodians and staff matter. Kids can see the efforts of the labor of these employees on a daily basis.
As taxpayers, we might ask exactly what we have received for the millions spent on the Office of Transformation. Akin to the Wizard of Oz, no one knows who is behind the curtain. No one knows how money flows in and out, to whom or for whom, or why.
Now the former IT Whiz is moved over to the Transformation Office? How are these two jobs similar, other than the person in charge exists in the comfort zone of the superintendent?
Exactly how long does it take the district to be transformed? A year, a decade, until the Broad people finally give Hinojosa his new career? And how many people are going to be made wealthy by this "transformation" that refuses even a cost of living raise to the employees who help maintain the classroom environment?
Employees: Board Meeting
Okay, so we all agree, the ESP (Education Support Personnel) got screwed on no raise.
We all agree that somehow, we teachers have to be experts in one area, but apparently, you don't have to be an expert in a field to run a department in that field--in the Dallas ISD.
We all agree that there is a "man behind the curtain" quality to this.
So, how many Dallas ISD employees will I see at the next board meeting? Come on, don't wait for a big blow up to occur. That is what they count on, for you to ignore them until they already made up their minds.
Now, maybe nothing would change if the gallery was overflowing with teachers EVERY month, but how will we ever know if it only overflows when a disastrous decision is about to be made?
So, I keep saying this:
Employees have the power to influence decisions if you would just use it. QUIT depending on your union reps to do all the work. Seriously. Aimee speaks, Dale speaks, I speak, Rene speaks. Great! We represent our respective members, but they are used to seeing us.
It truly rattles them to see a whole group of NEW people at a meeting.
So, turn on the TIVO for Burn Notice and get down there for the next meeting. (August)