Custodians receive minimal recognition for maximum effort
The custodial staff garners little recognition for the task of keeping the school building functioning.
Among this culturally diverse group are cafeteria workers, who receive a level of gratitude that is not proportional to the amount of work they put in.
Custodian Myriam Amado, from Colombia, works throughout all lunch shifts, and has been with the school for the past seven years.
“My favorite part of [the job here] is that I can talk to the students [while I] clean,” Amado said. “I want to make sure the students are happy, and I see them as my [own] children.”
Amado was a former business administrator before coming to the United States. Currently, in her spare time, Amado said she stays active with hobbies and family.
“Apart from work, I like to paint, read, dance and [spend time] with my 16-year-old son,” Amado said.
Maintenance worker Miguel Morillo, who is from Peru, has been working in this position for 13 years and said he is looking forward to retirement next year. Morillo also said he is proud of his grounds maintenance work, from which he said he derives personal satisfaction.
“I like working outside [even if] the weather is hot or cold,” Morillo said. “In the winter there is more trash because of heavy winds […] and when there is a lot of snow I come in early.”
Back in Peru, Morillo served in the army after high school and later became an architect.
“I am not scared of anything because of my [military training],” Morillo said.
When Morillo retires, he said he would like to travel the world and work on improving his English-speaking skills.
Building supervisor Jesse O’Neill grew up in Arlington, Virgina and has worked at the school for nearly three years. O’Neill said his interests outside of work are more dynamic and unconventional.
“I build and race cars, and have been doing it since I was a teenager,” O’Neill said. “I also like to ride my Harley, and sometimes I ride it to work. When I retire, I would like to travel around Europe.