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Home > Resources > Leadership
A Caring Adult in a Different Setting
by Gary Heyder
In schools where people know each other well and focus on supporting academic and
personal growth, meaningful relationships blossom in offices, in the library,
on the basketball court, or in the lunchroom, wherever adults pay close, caring
attention to students. Gary Heyder, custodian at Hilliard Weaver Middle School
in Hilliard, Ohio, one of thousands who support CES school communities nationwide
in countless ways outside the classroom, talked with Horace about his connection
with students and the meaning of his work to the school community.
I am one of five custodians. I’m the first one here in the morning, getting
the building open and prepped for the day. I set the tone for the school—the
kids need that friendly atmosphere. I love my job, love working with kids.
I am not a teacher, and that’s important—kids can talk with me about things
that aren’t school related: cartoons, baseball cards, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, skateboards.
There are kids who I target: kids who struggle, who spend time at the principal’s
office Sometimes, their home lives are not what they should be, and sometimes
I can find ways to build relationships with them. I am a person in the school
building who gives kids a different perspective on life. I didn’t go to college
and am not a teacher, but I still can help kids.
Sometimes a teacher will come to me and say, “This kid and I need a break from
each other. Can she hang out with you for this period?” I show these students
what I am doing for the day, and I say, “Come on, help me do this.” Then we
pick up trash, or fix lockers, and just talk. Being with a caring adult in a
different setting really works with some kids who are angry, shut down, or having
a hard time. You are an adult and a role model. If you’re having a bad day,
you have to show how to handle stress and pressure in a positive way.
Safety is a huge issue in schools. Because I don’t teach, I have the freedom of roaming the
building. I greet any adult immediately. Nothing beats the eyeball, checking someone out.
That promotes a positive feeling—parents feel like their kids are safe at school.
I graduated from this school district; I’ve been here since 1970 and I’ve watched it grow
and change. Hilliard is one of the fastest growing districts in the state. All the time,
we’re getting new families in and diVerent kinds of students, especially more ESL students.
There’s a girl that I see every day who speaks Spanish; she can’t say very many words in
English yet, but we have made a bond. I am a familiar face. I am a non-threatening person
for her because I am not a teacher.
I think that having a building that isn’t run down helps kids learn. If you’ve
got bathrooms with stall doors broken of, people can’t feel good about their
school. The district believes in that and spends the money. The custodians wear
uniforms, so when you see us you know who we are. It makes a difference Kids
know we’re there, and we are proud of taking an active role. Teachers can only
do so much, so custodians and other school staff members feel like we have to
help kids make the right choices when parents and teachers aren’t there.
We believe that if we can personalize our jobs and make the students realize
that someone has to clean graffiti, they’re more likely not to do it. And we
see the effects of our leadership: the baseball team always cleans out their
own dugout after school. We want them to be as proud of the school as we are.
Gary Heyder, Union Secretary
OAPSE Local #310
Page last updated: September 08, 2003
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