Two custodians from Whitley County schools received Above and Beyond awards at the Whitley County Board of Education (BOE) meeting on Aug. 22.
The two custodians were Lloyd Crawford from Pleasant View Elementary School and Thomas Mason from Whitley Central Intermediate School. Superintendent John Siler presented the awards.
“I think some people think because the kids are out of the building that things calm down,” Siler explained. “There are some folks that are in the building every day that don’t always get thought about, and that’s our custodians.”
Custodians work every day during the school year. In the summer, people don’t get to see their hard work until they come back to school in the fall.
“They move all the furniture. They strip and wax the floors. They paint doorways, do landscaping, and pressure wash the sidewalks,” Siler said, explaining just some of the many tasks that custodians complete when no one is watching.
Principal Randy Love of Pleasant View Elementary nominated Crawford for the award.
In a statement written by Love and read aloud by Siler, he acknowledged Crawford’s hard work over the summer, saying “He pressure-washed the sidewalks, restriped our parking lot, hung signs and bulletin boards, moved furniture, and took on every task that was asked of him without hesitation.”
In addition to his exceptional work ethic, Siler noted that Crawford interacts positively and encouragingly with students every day. He also helps coach the elementary football team and assists staff, parents, and visitors with flat tires, dead batteries, or locked cars.
Siler concluded, “Lloyd does an excellent job, and our staff can always count on him.”
Principal Heather Roaden from Whitley Central Intermediate School nominated Mason for the award.
Roaden expressed her appreciation in a statement, read aloud by Siler, saying, “Thomas devoted his time and energy to making our school shine this summer. He added glitter to the wax in our upstairs foyer, painted door trims and entries in our school colors, and is always our go-to person.”
Siler concluded with, “We’re thankful for his big ideas and hard work that make Whitley Central Intermediate School a clean, safe, and welcoming place for our Cardinals to learn and grow.”
