Wise Guys Wednesday Words of Wisdom: Get to Know Your Custodian and Secretary!

It's Wednesday, and that means it is "Hump Day!" You are now half-way through your week, and there is light at the end of the tunnel! We are here to brighten your day with Wise Guys Words of Wisdom!

This feature will be appearing on our blog once a week, on Wednesdays from mid August to mid June. The goal is for you to leave with a smile on your face and hopefully a spring in your step to help you finish off the week of school.

The third installment is all about getting to know your secretary and custodian.

THE SECRETARY

For the first teaching job I ever had I was assigned a mentor. Almost immediately, she told me that I needed to remember that the secretary is one of the most important people in the building. So it was my job to make sure I introduced myself and was friendly to her. I took my mentor's advice, and boy, oh boy, was she right!

First year teachers don't know everything, and I was definitely in that boat! I needed help finding parent contact information, filling out beginning of the year paperwork, locating cum folders, and so much more. The secretary was like an angel sent from above! She always smiled when I asked her questions, and was quick to find the answer for me. I knew I could count on her. When it came time for Winter Break, I always made sure I gave her a little present to show her how much she meant to me.

Throughout the year, I needed her even more. For every sick child that she had to comfort, for every behavior issue she had to deal with as they waited for the principal, and for every time I forgot to do attendance, she was always there. She never batted an eye, and never gave a scowl or mean look toward the students. That, to me, was amazing!

THE CUSTODIAN
Another important person in your school building is the custodian. It is extremely important that you connect with your custodian early. Trust me, you will need there service frequently during the school year!

Before the school year even starts, your classroom will probably need some arranging. You may be missing desks, need file cabinets moved, or even have to add/take away tables and bookshelves. The custodian is the one that will be doing all of this. At the beginning of the school year, your custodian is extremely busy, so you have to be patient and let him/her know that you understand that it is a busy time of year for them too! That will go a long way for you! It might even move you up on his "to do" list!

During the school year, the custodian will be called to your room for: adding rolls of paper towels, delivering packages that are heavy, adding/taking away student desks, and the worst, cleaning up sick children's vomit. Yuck!

Besides all the needs in your classroom, remember the custodian is responsible for the whole building, including the cafeteria and bathrooms. So just imagine what your custodian's day looks like, and give him/her a break. Be patient, understanding, and show them that they are valued. 

We hope that you are able to take away from this blog post that you need to establish good relationships with the secretary and custodian. We would love to hear if you followed our advice!

Stay tuned for the next installment of Wise Guys Words of Wisdom next week!