Unsung heroes keep our schools functioning
Bus drivers, paraeducators, school nurses and food sever staff play key role
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A new school year is fully underway.
We're guessing that students all across the area went back to school filled with a mix of excitement and maybe a little anxiety. The same might be true of their parents, especially parents of the youngest children going to school for the first time.
Their teachers were waiting for all those kids when they walked into school for that first day of classes. It is easy to view teachers as the central figures in the American education system. They are entrusted with preparing our children for the future by helping them to gain knowledge, skills and confidence. They work five days a week with everyone from rambunctious first graders to snarky teenagers. It is by no means an easy job.
But teachers and principals are hardly the only ones involved in the education process in schools. There are others who are often overlooked, but are critical to the operation of schools.
The bus drivers get children of all ages to and from school. Plus, they transport teams to games and musical groups to special events. They are driving big vehicles full of kids. And on a regular basis, they're doing that early in the morning and late at night.
In the schools, there are paraeducators to help the teachers. They work under the supervision of teachers to do things like lead small group activities and do one-on-one tutoring. Many paraeducators work in special education classrooms.
Then there are the custodians. Keeping schools clean and safe with all essential systems functioning is a fulltime role. And custodians are the ones who have to deal with one of the grossest things that can happen in a school. Somewhere during every school year, a kid throws up on the floor and custodians have to clean it up.
And the custodians' work doesn't end when the school year does. After the last student leaves on the last day of school, they begin deep cleaning the buildings, a process that lasts almost until the next school year begins.
School nurses are stretched thin keeping track of health records and taking care of kids who get sick or hurt.
Every school still has food service staff, serving kids breakfast in the morning and lunch in the afternoon.
All of those folks play overlooked roles in helping our kids grow into educated adults prepared for the future. They all deserve our thanks and respect.